Everything You Need to Know to Wrap a Car Yourself

You will need a small budget, tools, time, and patience to wrap a car yourself. Before wrapping a car yourself, read this article to learn from our experience and avoid common pitfalls.

Over the last few years, we have wrapped several cars and done a lot of 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 vinyl wrap a car yourself?” Yes, you can wrap a car yourself as long as you have the time and patience required to wrap a car. Vinyl wrapping a vehicle is not difficult but requires patience and time.

How to Prepare a Vehicle for Vinyl Wrapping

Preparing a vehicle for the vinyl wrap is the most critical part of wrapping a car. 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 are producing a clean surface to work with. Remove any last-minute debris or contaminants while the vehicle is wet using a clay bar.

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

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

To vinyl wrap a vehicle yourself, you will need the vinyl itself, which varies in price significantly depending on Size, Brand, Color, and Finish. To wrap a vehicle, you must purchase a 5-foot x 60-foot vinyl roll for most size 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 may choose, you will be saving. Thousands of dollars by vinyl wrapping your vehicle yourself rather than a shop.

An auto body shop will charge between $2,200 – $5,000 depending on the vinyl of choice and the vehicle size for a full vehicle wrap. The price varies mainly because there are countless vehicle vinyl wrap brands, including Avery Dennison, 3M, KPMF, Vvivid, SOTT, etc.

For colors, the vinyl wrap comes in any shade you could ever imagine, from Single Colors, Color Shifts, Chromes, Patterns, etc.

For finishes, you can purchase different types of vinyl with 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, different amounts of vinyl will be needed accordingly. For smaller-size vehicles like convertibles or coupes, expect to need, on average, a 5 ft x 50 ft vinyl roll.

For sedans, expect to need, on average, a 5 ft x 55 ft vinyl roll. For SUVs or larger vehicles in general, expect to need, on average, a 5 ft x 60 ft vinyl roll.

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 vehicle varies slightly due to the 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 a 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 film 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.