A Guide to Car Wrapping Costs in 2024

Without a doubt, "how much does a car wrap cost?" is the most frequently asked question we get asked. Perceptions of costs can vary widely, as can the factors which influence the final total, so before we jump into the core of the article let's answer that first aspect.

Car wrap prices for 2024 in the UK typically range from £1,800 to £,5000+VAT and thankfully this has not changed much as a result of last years horrendous rises in inflation. This means that vehicle wrapping remains an affordable and attractive solution for many vehicle owners who either want to personalise the car to make it stand out, or who need to add branding to a fleet of company cars.

During the course of this article we will go into more detail about specific costings, but if you just want a quick ball-park figure, here's a quick summary:

(Van owners may prefer to checkout this dedicated article on van wrap costs.)

Whilst every job in unique and therefore needs to be quoted on a case-by-case basis, in this article we will highlight the top factors which impact on pricing, plus things you should consider when requesting for a quote from any vehicle wrap installation company:

This article includes:

• The benefits of car wraps
• Factors that can affect the cost of vehicle wrapping
• How vehicle size affects wrapping costs
• Full wraps vs partial wraps
• Texture, finish or design features
• Quality of vinyl
• Condition of the vehicle
• How car wrapping costs can vary based on location
• Ways to reduce costs
• How to contact us for your personalised quote

Note: The prices in this blog are a good guide of what you can expect your wrap to cost, however it does vary based on your specific needs and may vary from place to place around the country. At Complete Graphics, we aim to be honest with our pricing and know we are not the most expensive, but are also not the cheapest. We simply believe in using good quality materials, and strive for great workmanship, giving you the best possible finish from your wrap. If you have any wrap related questions, please do contact us as we are always happy to help.

The Benefits of Car Wraps

Car wraps provide a wide range of advanages, and we've written a dedicated article on the top 5 benefits of vehicle wraps here, but by way of a quick summary, vehicle wraps:

• Cost effective – A good paint job can be often twice or even three times the price of a wrap
• Fully customisable – You don’t have to have just one colour. Talk to our design team to find out how utilising our swatch range effectively can help you achieve more.
• Protection – A vinyl wrap protects the original paintwork. If you own your vehicle, it will help preserve its value. If your vehicle is leased or on a PCP, a wrap will reduce the damage of stone chips and scratches – no one wants hefty fees when returning a leased vehicle!
• Advertising opportunities – we're not always talking about large advertising graphics, but even a small nod to your company or business that you can point people to is a valuable investment

Factors that can Affect the Cost of Vehicle Wrapping

As with anything, there are a number of different factors involved when it comes to the cost of vehicle wrapping:

• Size and type of vehicle
• Coverage
• Texture, finish or design
• Condition of the vehicle
• Location

How Vehicle Size Affects Wrapping Costs

The cost of a standard finish car wrap is usually between £1500 - £3500. Every vehicle has to be taken on a case-by-case basis due to the unique shape of each vehicle but here is a rough guide:

Small Car

Small cars (think of your 3 door coupe, or Fiat 500 sized vehicles) tend to be around the £2k mark, usually just under or just over with less coverage and less application time needed.

Medium Car

Going up the scale, medium sized vehicles, such as a Tesla Model 3, Audi A5, BMW 3 Series, usually cost between £2300 - £2800 + VAT.

Large Car

Larger vehicles, (Range Rovers, Land Rovers, VW Amarok), will be between £2500 - £3000 + VAT. The main cost involved for larger vehicles is usually vinyl due to the high coverage involved.

Campervans

Whether it’s a VW T5, or a converted Iveco Daily, a wrap is a great way to personalise with bright colours or bring on the stealth mode with a matte black or satin grey wrap. Van wraps tend to be between £2300 and £2900 + VAT, dependant on dimensions of the vehicle and the brand/finish of the vinyl chosen.

Full wraps vs partial or half wraps

We’ve looked at the guide prices for full car wrap costs, but there are many ways to achieve an outstanding finish without wrapping the whole vehicle.

Partial wraps 

Top or bottom, front half, rear half, or graphics... These are just a few of your options when it comes to partial wraps.

As a guide, for a VW Transporter lower half wrap, you can consider it will be around two thirds of the cost of a full wrap. Half the coverage doesn’t always mean half the price as many of the complex panels such as bumpers are located on the lower half of the vehicle.

Some other options you have for partial wraps are roof wraps (£150-£350+VAT), wing mirrors (£95-£125+VAT), and these usually are completed within half a day.

Wrapping Individual Elements

Another option is to only wrap certain components. This provides you with a way to make your car more unique without breaking the bank. It's also a popular choice for branding on a budget for small businesses.

If you aren't quite ready for a full or partial wrap yet, they you may want to consider one of the following (again, prices depend on the type of vehicle and choice of material etc so the following are just intended as a guide.)

• Wing Mirrors (pair): £145 plus VAT
• Door Panels (each): £150 plus VAT
• Bonnet: £150 plus VAT
• Roof: £145 to £450 plus VAT

Texture, Finish or Design Features

We often have customers looking for “a blue vinyl wrap”, not realising the range of finishes available within this criteria.

Standard Gloss - Gloss finishes look like a highly polished paint job, catching the reflection of the sun and available in a huge range of colours, these are usually the most cost effective.

Matte/ Satin– Matte finishes are very popular due to the unique finish that does not have the shine and reflective nature that gloss has. Satin vinyl lies between a gloss and matte finish, with a subtle sheen without the dramatic highlights of a gloss finish.

Metallic – A metallic fleck is integrated with the pigment during the production of these vinyls which brings a traditional gleam to the body lines of the vehicle. Gloss, Satin and Matte metallic finishes are “directional” which can increase the cost as the vinyl has to be cut and applied in the same direction.

Carbon Fibre – we supply both standard Carbon Fibre and Camo texture finishes. These are usually used for roof wraps, wing mirrors and smaller details (however, there’s nothing that says you can’t wrap your whole car in this!)

Chrome – the most expensive choice but the most dramatic and eye-catching. Not only is the material expensive but it also requires a very high level of skill to achieve a high-quality finish.

When you are having your car wrapped, there is also the option to have a ceramic coating applied. The coating used will be different depending on the finish you choose and will be specific to vinyl wrapping.

Quality of Vinyl

Aside from the texture and finish of your choice, you should always ask what brand of material is to be used. Different vinyl companies produce their vinyl in different ways, for different purpose and with different price ranges. A cheap vinyl will last only a few years, whereas a good quality vinyl from a reputable brand such as 3M’s 2080 range, Avery Dennison Supreme, Hexis 20000/30000 or Arlon PLC will last between 5 and 8 years, and often longer if kept well.

Condition of the Vehicle

When you bring your vehicle to us to receive a quote, we will do a full body work check of your vehicle and highlight areas which would need attention by a body shop in order to be prepared and made ready for wrapping. We can recommend local garages to our workshop, or you can choose one more local to yourself. Whichever you are more comfortable with.

Location

The cost of living in Oxford is around 30% less than in London, UK. The prices of vinyl wrapping and other luxury services can often follow a similar ratios.

We are located just outside of Oxford, on the edge of the Cotswolds, in Minster Lovell. Not only do you have the advantage of likely more preferable pricing, but you also have the opportunity of enjoying the stunning local countryside whilst you are visiting the area. Just ask the team for the best coffee recommendations and must-see villages!

Is it cheaper to paint or wrap a car?

Generally it's far cheaper and faster to wrap a car. Painting a car will typically cost in the region of £4,500 to £7,000 + VAT, whereas as we've discovered, wrapping car costs between £1,800 to £5,000) + VAT. For more information check out our dedicated article which looks at the pros and cons of wrapping vs painting a vehicle.

Ways to Reduce Costs

If you have a company vehicle, it is worthwhile looking into how you would reclaim the VAT back.

If a full wrap isn’t within your budget, talk to our team about how you can create effective designs with less coverage, keeping within the price range you are looking to keep within.

Another way to reduce the cost per vehicle is to increase the number of vehicles you are having wrapped. If you have company cars you are looking to have wrapped, whether you have 2 or 3, or a fleet of 25 or more, we can arrange a group discount price that reflects the quantity. When you looking to rebrand or swap your cars in a few years time, you can bring these cars back and we will handle the vehicle stripping and rewrapping.

Request a Personalise Quote

The best way to obtain an accurate price is to have a chat with our friendly team who will be happy to provide you with a no obligation quote. You can take the opportunity to ask us any of your questions, we’re here to help.

To get started, simply give us a call on 01993 684112, or fill in our contact form and we'll help you create a fantastic look for your vehicle which you can be proud of.