Signage Education: Are lower cost vehicle graphics really lower?

Custom paint on cars and trucks became popular in the 1950’s, but at a cost. For nearly 50 years, if you wanted a customized paint job for that special ride of yours,  you could be looking at upwards of $20,000. Everyone wanted to customize their ride, but few could afford to make it happen. Nearly 40 years passed with few options.

Enter the era of Digital Graphics. Vehicle graphics and wraps are nothing new and have been around for many years. Long before the popularity of wrapping cars, commercial vehicles like delivery trucks and semi trucks where sporting graphics and lettering. Digital Technology now allows custom vehicle graphics at a fraction of the cost from years past. Starting with a partial wrap for a few hundred dollars, up to an average of $3,000 for full sized passenger vehicle. Great deal with great results, or is it?

We are now starting to see the end of life for many wrapped vehicles, which were wrapped 4 to 6 years ago. Not a problem, unless your vehicle was one of the less fortunate, where lower cost wrap materials were used. High end materials generally last longer and are easier to remove, with minimal to any damage to the vehicles surfaces. Lower quality materials can take more time and cost to remove, than to install originally.

Lesson of the day? If you get a bid for a $3,000 wrap and another for $2,000 for the same wrap, there is a reason. It is a very good chance, the $2,000 wrap could cost more overall. Shop wisely!