Billboards that sit atop buildings or on the side of highways can be an effective form of advertising, but only reach a people in a single location. By purchasing an auto wrap for a car, van, or truck, you can expand your visibility to more customers for a fraction of the cost.

An auto wrap is essentially a moving billboard that puts your message directly in front of potential customers. Whether your wrapped vehicle is stuck in traffic or traveling from state to state, your logo and contact information is seen by different audiences every day.

Types of auto wraps
Depending on how much of your vehicle you want to wrap, there are a few different options:

• Complete wrap – Covers the entire surface of the vehicle. Transparent film (or “window perfs”) is used on glass
• Half wrap – Covers half the sides of the vehicle and extends around the back. May also include a hood logo
• Window graphics only – Wraps only the windows using window perfs
• Vinyl lettering only –The most basic and least expensive wrapping option. Typically includes just 1 or 2 colors, a company logo, and a phone number or email address

Depending on the size of the vehicle and complexity of the auto wrap, we can print and install a wrap in 3 to 5 days.

Why auto wraps?

Businesses turn to auto wraps for several reasons. First, they allow you reach a very large audience. Research studies by organizations like the Traffic Audit Bureau show that 96% of people in the U.S. travel in some sort of vehicle every day, increasing the likelihood that more people will see your advertisement. This can potentially mean millions of impressions each year from a single auto wrap.

Second, by displaying your company's information on an auto wrap, you get a campaign that can last for years, far longer than a stationary billboard, classified ad, or radio spot. Depending on whether you want to advertise just company information or specific offers, you can get long-term wraps that last for 5 to 7 years, or a short-term wrap that lasts for 1 year.

Finally, you can also reach potential customers that may not see ads in newspapers, on radio or TV, or through the Internet. While they can turn away those mediums, it's more difficult to ignore ads placed directly in front of them during their daily commute.

Auto wraps pros and cons

It's important to weigh the benefits and disadvantages to auto wraps before making a purchasing decision:

Creating auto wraps

There are four important considerations for creating auto wraps for your business.

1. Designing – You can either provide ready artwork to the dealer, or have the dealer create the artwork for a fee. Regardless of who designs your wrap, make sure to use only high-resolution photographs and graphics.
2. Proofing - Once the design is ready, the dealer will provide a printed proof of what the vehicle wrap will look like. Look the proof over carefully to locate any mistakes and submit any changes before they create the finished wrap. However, the more adjustments you need to make to the proof, the longer it will take to complete job.
3. Production – The artwork is then generated on computer and printed onto cast vinyl sheets using high-resolution technology. It's then laminated for a glossy presentation and protection of the vehicle's finish.
4. Installation – Professional installers carefully affix the wrap to the surface of the vehicle. The wrap conforms to the vehicle's exact shape and gives the vehicle a factory-ready appearance. It's critical to use experienced installers as a poorly installed wrap could reflect negatively on your company. Also, installing a wrap yourself could void the warranty – most dealers provide five-year protection on the auto wrap, but only if they handle the installation.

Want to see how the auto wrapping process works? Watch this video clip to learn more about the benefits of wraps, how they are created, and the application process.