Tesla has only a hand full of colors to choose from, so wrapping your Tesla will make it really stand out among the fleet. Having a car vinyl makes a statement, shows a personality, or offers a unique touch. You can let your imaginations run wild with all the creative options out there! So, today let’s talk about the basics and help you decide what’s best for you and your ride.
What is a vinyl wrap?
In its basic form, a car vinyl has adhesive on one side and a color on the other. It’s made out of mostly Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and is about 6-8 mil thick. It’s used to customize your vehicle to match your style.
NOTE: You can NOT wrap over ceramic coating as the vinyl adhesive won’t stick very well. You’ll need to get that polished off if you want to wrap it.
How long does it take to wrap a full car?
About 2-7 days depending on the complexity of a project. This encompasses the prep work, removing badges and other parts of the car to get better coverage, lastly, the actual wrapping part.
Should I wrap or paint it? What’s the difference?
Wrap your car if you:
- Have good OEM paint (not repainted)
- Want to protect your OEM paint from the elements and keep it intact
- Like changing your color often
- Want to change the color of your car in days, not weeks (as it would be for paint)
NOTE: Vinyl wrap is not designed to “hide” imperfections. If you have rust or bad paint, we don’t recommend wrapping as it will rip off your paint when removed. It’s very important to know whether the car has OEM paint or not, as it has a higher chance of taking the paint with it during removal.
What parts of the car are actually wrapped?
It depends on the installer, but it’s common that the car vinyl only wraps around the edges where it’s visible from the exterior. Interior areas like door jambs and trunk sills usually cost extra to wrap because it requires more removal and time.
How long will the vinyl last on my car?
It depends on whether you take care of it. If you hand wash and do NOT run it through an automatic car wash, then that will help its lifespan. If you take good care of it, you’re looking at around 5-7 years. Most manufacturers typically provide warranty as well. Alukovinyl for example provides 1 year for those areas like the hood and roof that get exposed to the sun and 3 years for the areas like doors. At our Wrap Shop, we provide a 1 year warranty from peeling, discoloration, or any defects, so make sure you check with your shop too.
How do I remove the wrap?
One benefit of wrapping your Tesla is that it shouldn’t damage your OEM paint when removing it if done correctly. When removing, it’s important to use steam or heat and pull the vinyl wrap towards you so it creates the least amount of tension between the adhesive and the paint. Don’t rush and take your time. You should be able to remove it on your own. We have a video to help out here. If you’re not comfortable doing this though, then don’t! Wrap shops will typically charge an hourly rate for removal. Here’s another video detailing how we removed a hood wrap and put another on.
How do I wash it after it’s been wrapped?
It’s important to wash your vinyl wrapped vehicle frequently (twice a month). Bird droppings and bugs can stain if left for too long due to their acidic nature. To avoid that, use waterless wash and a microfiber to remove it as soon as you see it. The longer it stays, the more chance it’ll stain. For normal washes, we recommend using our Car Wash shampoo. It is PH balanced, biodegradable and perfectly safe for the car vinyl. Use the two bucket method and hand wash it. If you have a pressure washer, that’ll be fine, but be careful around the edges and spray a good 6 feet away from the vinyl.
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