O car wrap has gained increasing prominence as a solution to personalize vehicles or protect them from superficial damage. In addition to offering an alternative to traditional painting, it is widely used by companies to implement brand visual communication in their vehicles in their fleets.
However, the process involves choices techniques that directly influence the final resultsuch as the type of material used, surface preparation and the cost involved.
Another important aspect is traffic legislation: if the vehicle does not comply with the parameters, the owner can be fined and have the car impounded.
Types of wrap
A sticker quality varies by category, from entry-level options to premium materials.
According to Bruno Camargo, director of a car accessories and aesthetics company in Belo Horizonte, the main advantages of the service include paint protection, color change and even recovery of parts with slight defects.
There are also those who choose to remove the chrome parts with stickers.
“Premium adhesives, such as cast vinyl, have superior malleability, allowing you to contour complex surfaces without marking the material. The basic models meet simpler demands, but are less flexible”, he explains.
He adds that high-quality adhesives have solvent-based glue, flexible weaves and offer greater durability, in addition to being suitable for vehicles in different categories, from popular to luxury.
Among the new products, stickers with pearlized, metallic and textured finishes stand out.
In the case of protection, Paint Protection Film (PPF) stands out for its resistance to scratches and light impacts. “PPF is regenerative. Superficial scratches disappear when heated above 60º C”, says Camargo.
Cost and application challenges
The price of the wrap depends on factors such as the size of the vehicle, the type of material chosen and the characteristics of the body.
Vehicles with many curves and irregular surfaces, for example, require greater technical skill in the application.
“For a compact hatchback, the cost can vary from R$3,500 to R$15,000, depending on the material. In the case of PPF stickers, which offer high resistance, the cost can reach R$20,000 to cover the entire vehicle”, comments the businessman.
Camargo also highlights the importance of evaluating the quality of the surface before application.
“Paintings with dents, scratches or damaged varnish can compromise the result. In the case of repainting, it is essential to observe the thickness of the varnish, as this directly impacts the adhesion of the adhesive.”
Legislation and owner obligations
Changing the color of a vehicle requires attention to the rules of the National Traffic Council (Contran).
Color changes, carried out by painting or sticking, are regulated by the agency when they affect more than 50% of the vehicle’s area, excluding glazed surfaces.
According to the Minas Gerais Military Highway Police (PMRv)
If a vehicle is identified with an envelope outside the legal limits, the driver may be fined for driving a vehicle with altered characteristics, according to the Military Highway Police of the state of Minas Gerais. CNN.
The penalty includes retention of the vehicle until the irregularity is corrected. There is also a fine of R$ 195.23 and five points on the .
To avoid this headache, the owner needs to change the vehicle’s CRLV to a “fantasy color”. This requires a request from the transit agency, inspection and issuance of a new document.
Following the guidelines and legislation for wrapping a vehicle is essential to avoid problems in routine approaches.
