7 Tips on How to Wrap a Vehicle for Your Business

Tip 1: Find a Reputable Vehicle Wrap Business

Installing a vehicle wrap can be a daunting process, and while these 7 tips will certainly help you sometimes it is better to let a professional do the work for you. It is highly recommended that you seek a professional and knowledgeable vehicle wrap business to perform the vehicle wrap installation and vehicle wrap design. With that said, it is not impossible to wrap a vehicle on your own if you follow these tips.

Tip 2: Choose the Right Vehicle Wrap Material

There are a number of materials that can be used in the design and installation of a custom vehicle graphics. Aluminum, Acrylic, PVC, wood, polystyrene, foam and other plastics, can all be used to create custom vehicle graphics. However, the most commonly used and the material most highly recommended is Vinyl. Vinyl vehicle wraps are cost effective, durable, and maintain their look and feel for up to 5 years.

Tip 3: Use the Correct Vehicle Wrap Equipment

If you are going to install a car wrap whether it is for race car graphics, or you are just wrapping the company van, you are going to need the proper tools to do so effectively.

• a tape measure - for positioning
• a squeegee - adheres vinyl to vehicle
• a razor-knife - remove excess vinyl
• an air release tool - removes air bubbles
• masking tape - holds vehicle wrap in position
• a heat gun or propane torch - heating the vinyl to make sure it goes into curves, crevasses etc.



Tip 4: Clean the Vehicle

Once you have the proper tools you are going to need to thoroughly clean the vehicle. This is an extremely important step. If you want the vinyl vehicle graphics to adhere properly to the vehicle it must be completely free of dirt, grime, and whatever else may hinder proper adhesion.

First, wash the vehicle with soap and water. Do not use any surface finishing such as wax as this will severely hamper adhesion. After the vehicle is completely dry you should clean it with alcohol and solvent prep liquid. I recommend paying special attention to any areas on the vehicle that may have excess dirt and grime build up such as cracks around the hood, trunk or windows. Use a lint free towel to dry the solvent before it evaporates.

Tip 5: Prepare Your Vehicle Wrap

Before you move on to installing the vinyl vehicle wrap make sure the positioning of the wrap is what you desired. You can position the wrap on the vehicle before installation simply by using some masking tape. This will ensure that when you begin to install your vehicle wrap or fleet graphics everything will be in the exact place you wanted it.

Tip 6: Find a Friend

An experienced wrap installer can apply a wrap on their own. Otherwise, I recommend having another person assist you in the process as this will make positioning the vehicle graphics much easier. Each wrap installation is different depending on the vehicle. The amount of curves, cracks, and crevasses on a particular vehicle all determine how difficult or easy an installation will be.

Tip 7: Proper Installation of Your Custom Vehicle Graphics

Make sure you apply an adhesive to all edges and surfaces where the vinyl panel will need to be cut. Once you have applied the panel to the vehicle, work your squeegee to adhere the vinyl to the vehicles surface.

The most important things to avoid while performing the vehicle graphic installation are bubbles, and wrinkles. To avoid this, try changing the angle at which you are using the squeegee and never chop at the material because this will only make the wrinkles worse.

If wrinkles are becoming a major issue use your heat gun or torch to relax the vinyl. Be sure to let the vinyl film cool down before starting to squeegee again to prevent excess stretching.

These basic tips should guide you on your way to a successful vehicle wrap installation. Keep in mind that there are businesses that specialize in vehicle wrap installation that can do an excellent job and have your car back to you in approximately three days for a very fair price (depending on the company). Search around for some quotes, and preview any companies design before you make a final decision, should you decide that wrapping a vehicle on your own is not an option.

Article: Vehicle Wraps, Vehicle Graphics, Fleet Graphics

Move Your Message with Vehicle Wraps

For businesses looking to reach a broad audience with a vibrant, cutting-edge message, vehicle wraps are a perfect solution. You've seen them before—you're driving down the street or strolling along the sidewalk and you see a car, truck, or bus that looks as though it has been given a very expensive and mind-boggling custom paint job. Then you notice the design carries an advertising message, emblazoned in bright bold colors, encompassing every inch of the vehicle, even the windows.

It's not an expensive custom paint job. It's a vehicle wrap—a high-resolution, custom-made vinyl graphic that is applied to a truck, car, bus, or just about anything that moves. Wrapping a vehicle is like applying a big durable sticker over the vehicle’s exterior surface. The full-color printed vinyl is applied directly over the existing paint. The wrap is very durable, but is removable when it’s time for a new message or the vehicle is to be sold.

Wraps are designed by professional graphic designers working closely with the client. The wrap is printed on a solvent inkjet printer using a digital CMYK process that prints full color images onto premium wrap vinyl. The inks are specially designed not to fade for up to three years. Once the vinyl wrap is printed, it’s laminated with a gloss or matte overlaminate to help protect the surface from scratches and other damage.

It usually takes about three or four days to apply the wrap to the vehicle. This allows enough time for detailing the vehicle, applying the wrap, and allowing it to cure prior to the vehicle returning to service on the street.

Increase Your Exposure With Vehicle, Fleet, or Bus Graphics

Why go with a vehicle wrap? It’s a highly cost-effective moving billboard. Nothing gets your message before the public more clearly or more quickly than company vehicle wraps. Mobile advertising can be a highly effective form of outdoor advertising, reaching more consumers at a lower Cost Per Thousand Impressions (CPM) than any other form of outdoor advertising. Just one delivery truck with an attention-getting vehicle wrap has the ability to generate millions of marketing impressions per year! The United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration reports there are seven million miles of roads and highways in the U.S. Every mile can be yours with a mobile graphic message.

The consumer demographics are impressive. More than 95% of Americans can be reached by media targeting vehicle drivers and passengers. According to the Arbitron Outdoor Study, heavy commuters and people who drive a lot of miles have attractive socioeconomic profiles, including higher incomes, higher education, and higher numbers of children in the family.

Drivers and passengers are just some of the people who see and remember vehicle wraps. The other big target group is pedestrians. Imagine you wanted to target only people who shop at high-end stores. To reach this audience, just have your wrapped vehicle cruise down the most exclusive shopping street in town. How about racing fans? Send the vehicle to the racetrack, or better yet, follow the race circuit from town to town. College students? Send the wrapped vehicle on a tour of college campuses. With a mobile graphic message, there is no better way to target and reach a specific consumer demographic.

With a vehicle wrap, each and every day a company’s message is seen by thousands of potential customers. There's no spam filter for vehicle wrap. Consumers can't turn it off, fast forward, or change the channel. There are no pop-up blockers, and consumers don't have to click on a link to view it. Unlike junk mail, it can’t be thrown in the garbage, and unlike a telemarketer, customers can’t hang up on it. It’s right there in plain sight, and most people can’t help but look.

Billboards are stationary. On a highway location, chances are the same commuters will see the same message over and over again. With mobile graphics, the message travels and is seen by new prospects every day. Businesses can target special events, audience segments, or locations at a fraction of the cost of other advertising media. The flexibility and mobility of mobile graphics provides for a cost-effective and broad-reaching advertising and marketing message.

Flexibility is key. The message can be sent almost anywhere, anytime. When marketing requirements change, the vinyl can be removed and a new wrap applied. The information can be updated at any time with a partial patch or a replacement panel.

For Businesses, Non-profits, Civic Organizations

A sole proprietor could place a car wrap on his or her company car—the one they drive home every night. Retail stores wrap their delivery trucks so that every delivery reinforces their message. Fleets provide maximum coverage throughout a market area. Those looking to advertise while hauling goods or equipment choose a trailer wrap.

No other form of advertising offers a lower cost per impression than mobile graphics.

Stephen Hoey is President of KDF Reprographics, Inc. located in Rockleigh, New Jersey, and Warwick, NY. KDF's Color Graphics Division specializes in wide format services including banners, posters, wall murals and vehicle graphics, cut vinyl, trade show displays and more. He can be reached 888-533-2667, Steve@kdf-comp.com or on the web at http://www.kdf-comp.com/.