Car Wrapping vs Car Resprays

Vinyl vehicle wrapping and a paint respray are completely different options when it comes to changing the colour of your car, and many people every day decide between the two for a wide range of reasons.

Without help, you could spend hours weighing up your options, debating between the advantages and disadvantages of each one, so the good news is we’ve done the leg-work for you a full breakdown to help you identify which is the best solution for you.

Before we get into the side-by-side comparison, there are a few reasons specific to each option as to why you might consider one over another. Each of these are situation specific, and you may find they don’t apply to your circumstances. If that’s the case, keep scrolling for the quick fire round below...

Advantages of a car respray vs a car wrap

Whilst we’d naturally love for you to have your car wrapped, there are scenarios when a respray may actually be the right choice.

Previous Damage

If you have had some damage in the past to your car, a few panels have been scratched up and the current paintwork isn’t great, then you might look into having your car resprayed. That’s because the original paintwork will normally have to be stripped back, and dents filled in before it is ready to spray. A good paint shop will always have a good blend out back to the original paintwork either side – look out for this on their work.

Exact Colour Match

Many people will consider spray painting or vinyl wrapping to change the colour of their car, but you might be looking to restore it back to an original condition. In this case, you will likely be looking for a respray. With vinyl, you pick from a swatch book and it can be with you the very next day. With paint, you can have almost any colour you want, but will pay a premium for the privilege and end up waiting a while to get it just right...

Advantages of a vinyl car wrap vs a respray

We’ve written a whole article about the benefits of vehicle wrapping, but let’s run through a couple of reasons while you’re here:

Full customisation potential

You don’t have to just pick one colour... If you can’t decide, our in-house designer can put together a design bespoke to your taste, colours and vehicle! Get in touch to chat to the team about the limitless possibilities!

The freedom for a spontaneous decision

With vinyl wrapping, it’s as easy as popping by the office, picking your colour and booking in, usually within the same month! We can order your vinyl to be delivered to our unit the next day. If you need a little time to decide, you can order a FREE sample to be posted straight to your house.

The quick fire round: Which is better?

Cost

The big question on everyone’s mind: “How much will it cost?”

For a good quality respray, you should be looking to pay no less than £4.5k-£7k+VAT, depending on your vehicle and the preparation work needed.

A professional, full exterior wrap on a car, will usually be between £1.8k-£5k. For the full breakdown on pricing, check out our article on how much it costs to wrap a car. There are the options for more specialist vinyl, including chrome and flip colours, which will really have your car stand out among the crowds but these do come with a bigger price tag.

Speed of Application

When you look into a respray, you can expect the time for your car to be in the shop to be anywhere between a few weeks to a couple of months. You have to be careful when the paint is fresh, as it takes time to cure.

Wrapping a car is often a much quicker process, both from booking in, to lead times and the actual time that your car will be off the road. We typically have a 2-4 week lead time for booking, and a vehicle will be in for 5 working days. Once it’s wrapped, our advice is to leave it 2-3 days before washing it, to give the glue a little time to set.

Level of Detail

There are different levels of finish for both respraying and wrapping. With respraying, you can decide if you would like just individual panels to be paint corrected or a full respray. When you are looking into vinyl wrapping, there are the options of a full exterior wrap, or a full exterior wrap and door shuts. Door shuts are when the doors are removed and the wrap is applied in the parts of the body of the car that are visible from the inside.

Durability – Damage Protection

Paint has no protective qualities to it at all. If it gets scratched, it is damaged and will need a respray. Some very light scratches can come out with a good quality polish

Vinyl wrap is not only a colour change but a protective layer on the paint. Light scratches, road tar, road grit and the like will affect the wrap, but ultimate protect your paint and bodywork underneath.

Durability – Which will last longer, a respray or a vinyl wrap?

A good paintjob will last up to 10 years if looked after very well. After this point, you can expect it to fade, the lacquer will begin to fail and you may begin to see rust spots where the paint has been chipped or damaged.

The vinyl wrapping industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies advancing and being developed every day. Vinyl used to only last a couple of years, but these days high-quality cast vinyl, such as 3M or Avery Dennison, has an expected lifespan of around 5-7 years. Beyond this point, the vinyl may start to fade or become much more difficult to remove but it should last much longer if regularly cleaned and kept under-cover.

Ease of Maintenance

Both a respray and a wrap have similar levels of maintenance required. Whatever you do, don’t take it through a machine car wash! And we advise against pressure-washing too close to the vehicle.

The best method for cleaning is a simple bucket and sponge, with a drying cloth. A snow foam wash is also a good way to get rid of the initial dirt and grime to reduce the risk of scratching your paint or wrap.

Whether you’re opting for a wrap or a respray, a worthwhile investment is a ceramic coating. This hydrophobic, invisible coating helps to stop dirt and mud sticking to the car, as well as preventing rain drop marks as the water will run straight off! A ceramic coating can last anywhere between a year and 5 years, depending on the grade of finish you opt for.

If you would like to learn more, check out our top 5 tips for looking after vinyl car wraps.

What should I go for? A respray or a vinyl wrap?

Once you’ve considered your options, weighed up the pros and cons, and counted up the cost, it is time to make a decision.

We may be a company who provide a vehicle wrapping service, but we are also honest individuals, who look to provide the best service for our customers, whether people decide to go with us or not. So, if you need any more advice, feel free to call the office and chat to the team: 01993 684112.

If you are based near or around Oxfordshire, you might want to just pop in for a coffee and a chat: Unit 3, Ringwood Farm, OX29 0ND.

Or if you’re a busy kind of person, an email might be easier. Visit our contact form to fill in your details and we’ll get back to you within the next working day.