When Should I Replace or Update My Vehicle Wrap?

APRIL 15, 2021| SpeedPro

Many companies upgrade their fleet of vehicles with wraps designed to serve as mobile advertisements. These wraps can spread brand awareness and make people in your community aware of your products or services. To ensure your wraps represent your company in the best light, you should replace or update them when they begin to show signs of wear or you want to change your marketing strategy.

Learn more about the reasons to replace a vehicle wrap and some answers to common questions about fleet wraps.

Reasons to Replace a Vehicle Wrap

Over time, any vehicle wrap will need replacement. Marketing strategies change, and environmental factors can damage fleet wraps. In situations where your branding changes or your fleet wraps are damaged, you’ll need to replace your vehicle wraps with new ones. Since you’ll likely want to keep your vehicle wraps looking their best, it’s crucial to recognize when it’s time to replace your older wraps with new ones.

Here are some of the primary reasons to replace a vehicle wrap:

Fix Damaged Wraps

While most wraps are made out of durable materials, they can still be damaged due to several factors. Especially as they get older, wraps are more susceptible to harm, with these damages causing the fleet wraps to lose their professional and attractive look. By knowing the most common forms of wrap damage, you can be better prepared to catch damages early.

As you try to keep your vehicle wraps in the best shape possible, check out the main forms of vehicle wrap damage:

• Faded wraps: Over time, vehicle wraps tend to fade due to extensive sun exposure. Faded wraps reduce how visible your wrap’s imagery and text are, causing many potential viewers to overlook your wrap while on the road. Since you want as many people to see your wrap as possible, you should replace your fleet wraps when they fade.
• Stained wraps: If contaminants stay on your car too long or someone spills something on the wrap without cleaning it quickly, stains can develop on your vehicle wrap. Just like a stained shirt, stained vehicle wraps are going to draw attention to your graphics for all the wrong reasons. Ensure your vehicle wraps look professional by replacing stained wraps as fast as you can.
• Peeling wraps: When vehicle wraps age, are improperly cleaned or get dirt under them, they’ll begin to peel. A peeling wrap can make your vehicle look unprofessional and turn away potential customers or clients from your company. Once you notice peeling, it’s time to replace your fleet wraps.
• Damaged panels: If your vehicle was in an accident, your car’s body panels might have been scratched or dented in the process. Damage to a body panel likely means your wrap was damaged as well. However, you may not need to pay for a full new vehicle wrap if you can use a partial wrap to cover the body panels after repair.

Update Branding

If you take good care of your wraps and buy from a trusted supplier, you may not need to replace your vehicle wraps for a long time. Even when you keep your wraps in the best shape possible, you may want to update or replace your fleet wraps when your company’s branding or marketing strategy changes.

For example, many companies like to update their wraps if their overall design strategy is changing. Over time, some graphics or color schemes can go out of fashion. By replacing your vehicle wraps with new ones containing the most in-fashion design trends, you can help the public perceive your company as an industry leader and avoid looking like you’re falling behind the times. Additionally, if you’re making a major change, like a new logo or company name, vehicle wraps can help inform the public of it.

Since vehicle wraps may feature information subject to change, you’ll likely want to plan to replace vehicle wraps around times when you’ll be adjusting time-sensitive information. For example, many companies offer special deals over certain periods, and vehicle wraps can help these companies make their community aware of these promotions. Eventually, a company may end the deal and offer a different one, making a replacement vehicle wrap a must-have.

How Long Does a Car Wrap Last?

Generally, custom car and truck vinyl wraps last anywhere between three to six years, with some lasting even longer. Factors such as washing frequency, sun exposure and harsh weather can all affect a car wrap’s life span. If you take good care of your car wrap and have it professionally installed, it’s much more likely to last longer.

Could Vehicle Wraps Damage My Car If Left on Too Long?

Leaving a vehicle wrap that’s started to fade or crack can cause the vinyl to bake into the vehicle’s surface. To avoid this kind of damage, replace the vehicle wrap in a timely manner.

While vehicle wraps can damage your cars, they can also protect them. A properly installed vinyl wrap provides excellent protection to your car’s original paint job, extending its life span significantly. Repainting your vehicle can cost significantly more than simply adding a new vinyl wrap on it, making vinyl wraps an excellent option for paint protection.

How Can I Make My Wrap Last Longer?

With regular vehicle wrap maintenance and cleaning, you can extend the life span of your wrap. Start by washing your car regularly, using a gentle cleanser and soft cloths or sponges on the wrap. Additionally, you’ll want to wash from the top of the vehicle to the bottom so dirty water doesn’t stay on the wrap, potentially harming it. Spot clean any stains or spills right after they happen, especially if corrosive materials are resting on the wrap.

It’s also crucial you don’t use any abrasive or harsh cleaners that could damage the wrap. Since you’ll want to be gentle with your cleaning, avoid using pressure washers, especially those set at high. If you have matte or textured car wraps, don’t use polishing wax. When you’re done cleaning, let the wrap air dry, as a heated dry could harm it. Additionally, try to keep your vehicle out of rough weather as much as possible.

Choose SpeedPro for New Vehicle Wraps

If you’re ready to add professional vehicle wraps to your fleet, turn to SpeedPro. As a nationwide network of studios specializing in large format graphics, we can help you replace or update your vehicle wraps. We offer multiple vehicle wrap options, and we can customize a wrap to your exact specifications.

Find your local SpeedPro studio today to add new vehicle wraps to your fleet.