Beginner’s Guide – Vinyl Wrap Car Panel

Vinyl car wrapping can help protect the vehicle’s original paintwork from light scratches, chips, and UV damage. Wrapping a car with vinyl is not easy; it takes time, effort, and patience, but if you are up to the job, you can follow our step-by-step guide below to jumpstart your skills in vinyl wrapping for vehicles. This article will give instructions on how to wrap your car with vinyl.

What you will need

• Squeegee
• Heat gun
• Vinyl Wrap

Procedure

1. Wash the car with soap and water, then dry it up.
2. Cut the vinyl using the length and height of the panel you are working on as a reference. Remember to add at least a quarter-inch of allowance for edges.
3. Cover the entire SUV side with the vinyl; make sure the vinyl reaches up to the roof and the bottom of the running board.
4. Start fitting from the center of the panel.
5. Use the soft side of a squeegee to flatten the wrap and push out all the air bubbles as you apply the vinyl.
6. Warm the vinyl with a heat gun to help shape it to the panel’s contours and minimize tension lines on the vinyl.
7. Remove the vinyl cover on the part you are working on for a better fit.
8. Using a squeegee, fit the vinyl downward until you reach the wheel well; cut the vinyl along with the wheel’s shape, and give a quarter-inch allowance. Sometimes, it is necessary to stretch and warm up the vinyl.
9. Tuck in the vinyl inside the wheel and use a heat gun to anchor it in its place.
10. Use the cutter to slice into the gap between the gas cover and the quarter panel for the gas cover. You can then open the lid and tuck and warm the vinyl behind the cover. Then proceed to step number 6. Otherwise, please follow steps 5.1 to 5.7. If you want to wrap the gas cover separately, you may remove the two bolts on the backside of the body.
11. Peel the vinyl off the cover.
12. Cut and place new vinyl on the gas cover.
13. From the center, press the vinyl onto the cover, smoothing out air bubbles along the way.
14. Pull the vinyl towards the backside of the cover and fold it in. You may take the plastic film off to be able to stretch the vinyl better.
15. Trim all excess vinyl on the backside of the gas cover with a cutter.
16.  Use a heat gun to help the vinyl smoothly adhere to the gas door edges.
17. Shape the vinyl to the edges of the panel using the heat gun.
18. Trim all excess vinyl with a cutter.
19. Use a heat gun and your hands to help the vinyl adhere and smoothly cover the quarter panel edges.

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope you find the Beginner’s Guide – Vinyl Wrap Car Panel guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your vehicle.