Everything You Need to Know to Wrap a Car Yourself

Have you ever wanted to try a new color on your car but don’t want to spend thousands to have it wrapped or painted professionally? You can wrap your vehicle at home for much cheaper! You only need a small budget, tools, time, and patience. Before you begin, read this article to learn from our experience and avoid common pitfalls.

Over the last few years, we have wrapped several cars and done many partial wraps. All that experience and hard-learned lessons would be lost if we didn’t share them. Here, we share tips and tricks to help those looking to wrap their cars.

We often get asked, ” Can you vinyl wrap a car yourself?” Yes, you can wrap a car yourself as long as you have lots of time and patience. Vinyl wrapping a vehicle is not difficult but is very time-consuming.

How to Prepare a Vehicle for Vinyl Wrapping

Preparing a vehicle for the vinyl wrap is the most important part of the whole process. First, fill any dents or deep gashes with a primer and ensure the repaired surface is flat.

Next, wash the vehicle thoroughly to remove any contaminants or debris; you want your car to be as clean as possible. Remove any last-minute debris or contaminants while the car is wet by using a clay bar.

Dry the vehicle with an air compressor or a moisture-absorbing towel to avoid debris from a microfiber towel. Once the vehicle surfaces are flat and clean, you are ready to begin. Next, you can start vinyl wrapping your car. When you think of vinyl wrapping, think of it as applying a giant sticker on large surfaces.

How much does it cost to vinyl wrap a car yourself?

To vinyl wrap a vehicle yourself, you will need the vinyl adhesive, which varies in price significantly depending on Size, Brand, Color, and Finish. You will need to purchase a 5-foot x 60-foot vinyl roll for most vehicles, which can cost anywhere from $200 to $800 on average.

Vinyl Wrap can be purchased from places like Metro Restyling, Amazon, eBay, or even directly from vinyl-producing companies. Regardless of the color or finish you choose, you will save yourself thousands of dollars by vinyl wrapping your vehicle rather than a shop.

An auto body shop will charge between $2,200 and $5,000 for a full vehicle wrap, depending on the color and finish of the vinyl and the vehicle size. The price varies due to the countless vehicle vinyl wrap brands, colors, and finishes.

Vinyl brands include Avery Dennison, 3M, KPMF, Vvivid, and SOTT, and vinyl comes in every color and shade you could ever imagine, from solid colors to color shifts, chromes, and patterns. You can also purchase different types of vinyl with various finishes, such as a Gloss Finish, Matte Finish, Satin Finish, Metallic Finish, etc.

Vinyl Wrapping Tools

To wrap a car yourself, you will need:

• Vinyl wrapping felt squeegee.
• Heat gun
• Trim removal tools
• Vinyl cutter
• Car cleaning supplies
• Microfiber towels
• Knife-less tape
• Vinyl wrapping magnets
• Vinyl cutting knife/blade.

To vinyl wrap a vehicle yourself, you will need the vinyl itself, the necessary tools, and, most importantly, time and patience.

How much vinyl do I need to wrap a vehicle? 

Depending on the size of the vehicle and your experience level, different amounts of vinyl will be needed. For smaller-size vehicles like convertibles or coupes, you will usually need a 5 ft x 50 ft vinyl roll. For sedans, however, expect about a 5 ft x 55 ft vinyl roll. SUVs or larger vehicles in general will need a 5 ft x 60 ft vinyl roll for full coverage.

If you have never wrapped a vehicle before, we recommend purchasing some extra vinyl in case you mess up and need to start over.

How long Does it Take to Vinyl Wrap a Car Yourself?

On average, to complete a full vinyl wrap on a vehicle by yourself, plan on 30 to 40 hours or about two weeks.  The time to wrap a car varies slightly depending on skill level and the complexity of the vehicle body. If you leave it up to the experts, we have seen body shops wrap vehicles in as little as two days or up to two weeks.

5 Things to Keep in Mind When Wrapping a Car

Over the years, we have collected several vinyl wrapping tips and tricks that we will share with you based on our experience.

1. Prep is the most essential step in the entire process of vinyl wrapping. The film will not stick properly to any surface that is not clean and clear of contaminants.
2. Do not cheap out on the film. If you have a minimal budget, save a few extra bucks and purchase film from one of the above brands to ensure a quality product with air release and memory properties.
3. Using the triangle method when wrapping means stretching the vinyl in three different directions to release the air under the vinyl and get rid of any bubbles, creases, or fingers.
4. Pre-stretch the vinyl by heating it with a heat gun and stretching the film by 2% to 5% to prevent it from shrinking significantly when it cools.
5. To avoid scratching the vinyl when wrapping, spray a thin coat of water on the film when squeezing.

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope you find the Everything You Need to Know to Wrap a Car Yourself guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your vehicle.

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