When you want to change the overall look of your car, there are many options to consider.
Nowadays, there are a variety of products on the market, offering a remarkable set of benefits.
When it comes to car wrap and Plasti-dip, you might be wondering which one is better.
Well, wonder no more with this article!
Quick Answer
Car wrap is a good choice if a lasting change of style is preferred. Car wrap lasts up to five years and also protects the car paint. Plasti-Dip is a good choice for people on a budget.
There are lots of aspects to consider when facing off these two alternatives.
Fortunately, this article will be all about breaking those aspects down!
Keep reading to decide which one better suits you!
What Is A Vehicle Vinyl Wrap
Quick Answer
Car wrap is a vinyl material that can be applied to a car to change its style. The vinyl wrap can have many colors, designs, and finishes. These panels are attached to the exterior and can last up to seven years with proper care.
One of the attractive features of a car wrap is customization.
There is great versatility in the designs that can be done with vinyl wraps.
Moreover, you can use car wrap to promote your brand, store, or business.
There are different finishes that could also give beautiful looks to your car.
You can go from a matte finish to more flashy ones like golden.
Car wraps offer many alternatives to renew the style of your vehicle.
As an added benefit, wrapping your car can offer a layer of protection to your surface.
Since the wrap will be attached to the exterior of the car, the contaminants won’t be able to reach the surface.
There are also partial wraps if you don’t want to cover the whole car with the vinyl panels.
This can also be a cost-effective alternative if you only want one part wrapped.
There’s a lot to talk about car wraps, and that’s why I decided to write a full piece about it.
Make sure to check my full article about what car wrap is to have all the insights.
What Is Plasti-Dip
Quick Answer
Plasti-dip is a rubberized product that is applied with a spray gun or spray can. This product can be applied with great ease. Coating a car with Plasti-dip is one of the simplest ways to change the appearance of a car. There are a variety of colors for this product.
Plasti-dip can provide a waterproof surface to the car.
Moreover, one of its most attractive qualities is that you can apply the dip to your tires and rims to protect them.
This is not the case with car wraps.
When you are looking for a solid color to be applied to the surface of your car, Plasti-dip can do the trick and offer some protection.
The design possibilities are similar to those of a paint job. The application process is also alike.
Plasti-dip can last for up to a few years.
Washing the car carefully and caring for the surface, in general, will expand the lifetime of the plasti-dip.
This product can also be applied on damaged surfaces.
Car Wrap vs. Plasti-Dip: A Comparison
Find a comparison of different aspects of car wrap and plasti-dip in this table:
| Criteria | Car wrap | Plasti-dip |
|---|---|---|
| Durability | 5 – 7 years | 3 – 5 years |
| Customization | Flexible | Less flexible |
| Application time | A few days | About 6 hours |
| Cost | 2500$ – 6000$ | 500$ on avg |
Durability
With proper care, car wraps can last up to seven years.
Some of the most important factors that could reduce the lifespan of car wraps are extreme weather conditions, a botched installation, and lack of care from the owner.
Caring for car wraps is paramount for ensuring the longevity and quality of the process.
In many cases, the wraps could start peeling off or cracking after a couple of years.
If this is the case, it might be due to improper care.
Keeping the wrap in pristine conditions is not an impossible task.
Staying away from abrasive contacts, inclement weather conditions, and direct sun exposure should do the trick.
It is also crucial to steer clear of pressure washers when washing the car.
There are many considerations to the duration of car wraps.
This informative article I wrote covers all of the aspects! Don’t miss it to understand all the details.
In most cases, the Plasti-dip can last for about three to five years.
Plasti-dips will offer a protection layer to the exterior of the car that will take the blows for your paintwork.
If you care for your Plasti-dip, it could last for as long as you protect it.
Just as with the wraps, a pressure washer could cause damage and reduce the lifespan of the product.
With Plasti-dips, it is better to remove the contaminants straight away.
That way, the coating will not wear out.
Neither car wrap nor Plasti-dip require car wax to be applied to the exterior of the car.
Plasti-dips might need more extensive care to ensure their durability.
To know more about the duration of plasti-dips, you can check this article from the Paint Sprayer Guide.
Customization
Customizing a car with vinyl wraps is one of the reasons this process was born in the first place.
With car wraps, you can have almost any design you can imagine imprinted on the surface of your vehicle.
Nowadays, digital designs and many other alternatives can take customization with wraps to the next level.
If you want to promote your brand or business, you will want to wrap your car with customized panels.
From the designs to the colors and finishes, vinyl wraps are as versatile as you want them to be.
Moreover, once you feel like your wrap has fulfilled its mission, you can have it removed without damages to your car.
If you are interested in car wrap removal, you should make sure to check out this amazing article I wrote to find out how much it costs to remove car wrap!
Dive into it to know everything there is to know about the process, the costs, and the risks.
With Plasti-dip, there’s a different story. Plasti-dip is similar to a paint job.
You can go for a plain color, maybe even two, but nothing past that.
There are not as many customization possibilities as with car wraps.
Plasti-dips can offer a solid color to the exterior of your car with a shiny finish.
When it comes to any particular design, this product falls short.
It doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything with Plasti-dip, but the options are considerably reduced in contrast with vinyl wraps.
Application Time
Applying vinyl wraps to your car is a lengthy process that can consume some time.
Depending on the size of the vehicle, the process could take up to a week.
Moreover, there are a variety of tools needed for wrapping a car.
Before delving into the wrapping, the surface of the car needs to be prepped.
This preparation can also cause the application to last longer.
If the exterior has extensive damage, then the time will increase.
For small cars with little problems on the exterior, the wrapping should not take more than a couple of days.
In this sense, wrapping a car is a relatively fast process.
The truth is that even in the most exceptional conditions, car wraps cannot beat Plasti-dip in speed.
Applying the Plasti-dip is a practical process that should not take more than six hours in total.
Plasti-dip requires several layers, and each layer needs to dry before going forth with the next one.
Just for this is the process a bit longer. One needs only to spray the car with the product and let it work.
Each layer takes about 30 minutes to dry.
If the process is done with Plasti-dip cans, it will be an annoying task.
Using individual cans to coat the whole car several times is not the most practical option.
Luckily, there is the possibility of buying a gallon of Plasti-dip and using a spray gun.
If a small part of the dip is damaged or chipped, you can easily grab a can and recoat the affected section.
This is also one of the advantages of Plasti-dip.
With this tool at hand, the process is way simpler and faster.
Cost
On average, wrapping a car ranges from 2500$ to 6000$ depending on the size of the car, the vinyl used, and the repairs needed before applying the panels.
Those are the aspects that can influence the price.
The cost can also be altered by customization. If there is a majestic design involved, then it will probably cost more money.
Another thing to consider is the possibility to have a partial wrap. A partial wrap would be cheaper than a full wrap.
If you decide to go for the DIY option instead of the professional one, it could also be cheaper.
I wrote this detailed article about the costs of DIY wrapping a car. Don’t miss it!
The cost of Plasti-dip can also be altered by factors such as the material needed, the size of the car, and the professionalism of the application.
The bigger the car, the more Plasti-dip involved. In general, applying Plasti-dip on a car costs around 500$.
As I have previously said, Applying Plasti-dip is a simpler process, but that doesn’t mean anybody can do it to the highest standards.
There are still professionals that charge for a high-quality job.
If you feel like you can take on this task yourself, you can for sure do it.
However, if you are inexperienced, don’t expect the same results as if a professional did the job.
You can check this article from the Plasti-dip website to know more about how to apply the product.
Should You Choose A Vehicle Vinyl Wrap Or Plasti-Dip?
Quick Answer
For car owners looking to have a breathtaking design on their vehicles, car wraps are probably the go-to option. Car wraps offer customization alternatives that Plasti-dip cannot. In contrast, for a quick turnaround and a practical application process, Plasti-dip is the best candidate.
Debating about how one is better than the other is not a conversation I see fit here.
Each alternative has its advantages and downsides.
It is not about the best one but about the one that better suits your needs.
We could even add paint jobs and their benefits to this contrast.
If you want to know how paint jobs would fit in here, you can check my insightful article comparing car wraps and paint jobs!
