Car wrap in 2022 (is it worth it, pros and cons)

Car vinyl: pros and cons

The easiest way to transform a car is to cover it with vinyl film, which will help protect the car and at the same time reflect your personality without painting the car.

With the increase in demand for the service, many options for colors, coating shades and textures have appeared on the market. For example, there are matte, glossy and even chrome.

In this article, we'll cover automotive vinyl wraps and the factors to consider when making your final decision.

Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of car wrapping with vinyl.

Why do you need a film for a car?

Auto films are often used for the following purposes:

• protection of the body from cuts, scratches, dents and other damage;
• transformation of appearance;
• advertising on cars;
• glass painting;
• reducing vehicle heating and protecting the driver’s eyes (athermal films);
• hide numbers from traffic police cameras (nanofilm), etc.

Depending on what goal the car owner is pursuing, he must choose one or another of his material options.

Car wrapping with film: rules and exceptions to them

When covering a car with a film of a different color, a change of documents is definitely necessary if the entire surface is covered. It is a mistaken opinion of some owners that the film is supposedly easy to remove, but the “original” paint underneath remains the same.

The traffic police officer is interested in significant features of the car, which include color. In the regulations on registration work, the word “painted” has long been changed to “applied”. Therefore, covering a car with a film of a different color, from the inspector’s point of view, is completely equivalent to repainting.

Exceptions are possible in the following cases:

• The registered color of a car has a name that includes several shades. So, under the word “blue” in the PTS there can be aquamarine, lagoon, “Baltika” or azure.
• A film with effects or armor is used, which does not change the tone of the main color.
• Not full, but partial coverage was done.

The last option requires decryption.

Partial pasting: 30 or 50%

There are different interpretations of how much of the surface a car can be covered with a film of a different color so that it is not considered repainting. They call the numbers 30 or 50%. In fact, the laws of the Russian Federation today do not contain any strict value - the issue is decided by the subjective opinion of the traffic police inspector.

Partial filming

Links to the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 410 on outdoor advertising on car bodies, where the norm was set at no more than 30 percent, are now not valid. Difficult situations include situations where airbrushing, film or other coating other than the base color of the body is applied to the car. Then it is better to seek individual advice from the traffic police and receive a written explanation. The practice of communicating with inspectors shows that usually there are no complaints if one body part is pasted over or repainted - the roof, hood, front doors.

Mixed auto color

If you do not completely stick a film of a different color onto a car, a problem arises: which color should be considered the main color and included in the documents. The answer is contained in paragraph 32 of the Regulations on Vehicle Passports, approved by order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 2005. There the concept of “combined color” is introduced, which includes camouflage.

It is also allowed to write in the PTS “multi-color body” with a list of several shades. The main thing here is not to make your car look like the color schemes used by special vehicles.

Advantages of protective film for a car against chips

It is recommended to install a protective film on the car immediately after purchase, since a significant number of chips can be obtained after driving up to 500 km.

Timely protection of the car with film will ensure:

1. Preservation of the body from precipitation, tree branches, crushed stone and gravel.
2. Integrity of the bumper, headlights and other elements in minor accidents.
3. Immunity to chemicals and ultraviolet radiation.
4. Uniform burnout. Once the material is removed, you will not see any difference in color.
5. Savings on investments. The value of a sold car with a film will be higher, since the original paint and appearance will be preserved, like a new car.

Polyurethane protective film has the above advantages; other coating options will not be able to provide protection comparable to polyurethane.

Cost of changing documents

Making changes to the documents for a car regarding a change in color implies that an entry will be made in the “Special notes” column in the PTS. The STS (registration certificate) card will be replaced with a new one, with a different color added to it.

The state duty is established for each of these actions separately. Now its size is:

• 500 rubles – issuance of a new vehicle certificate;
• 350 rubles – state duty for changes in a previously issued vehicle passport.

If you apply for this service in 2022, you will have to pay a state fee of 850 rubles.

Types of films

The choice of car films is quite large. In addition to its main protective function, the film can transform your car beyond recognition. And at the moment, car films boast an impressive palette of colors and textures.

Now let's introduce you to different types of films:

• Vinyl (can be colored and transparent, and also has various effects of shine, opacity, or even imitates any material).
• “Chameleon” (one of the unusual types of car film because it changes color depending on the viewing angle).
• Carbon (carbon film is most often used for tuning cars and consists of 3 or more layers).
• Infinity (original vinyl with a metallic layer that creates a mirror effect).
• Polyurethane (a fairly durable film designed exclusively to protect the body and paint).

Each of them is special in some way and performs its own unique function, so you need to clearly define the purpose for which you will cover the car with foil.

Types of materials for car body wraps

Automotive films differ in material, manufacturing method, cost, quality, appearance, and purpose.

Based on material

Films for car body wraps are made from two materials:

• polyurethane;
• vinyl (PVC).

They differ from each other in the level of paint protection, durability and price.

Automotive polyurethane film is used to protect the body from dents, cracks, and scratches. It is also called armor or anti-gravel. Compared to vinyl, polyurethane coating protects your car's paint better from problems on the road. The service life of such material is from 6 to 12 years. The coating thickness is approximately 190 microns. For comparison: the factory paint layer is approximately 115 - 140 microns.

To change the appearance of a car, vinyl or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) film is most often used. Large selection of vinyl siding of various textures (carbon, chrome, matte, glossy, etc.) and shades. This version of the film for cars has less protection from paint, is thinner than polyurethane, but attracts with a lower price and a larger selection of colors and textures.

Criteria for choosing auto film

To choose the best film for your vehicle, you must first decide on the purpose, the desired result, and the final budget. To do this, a number of important factors should be taken into account:

• texture;
• design;
• surface type;
• thickness;
• elasticity;
• strength;
• quality of the adhesive layer;
• dimensions (width) - the number of joints depends on this;
• declared service life;
• price;
• manufacturer.

It is also advisable to clarify what technology was used to produce the vinyl film for cars, read reviews from customers who have already used products of this type and brand. At the same time, it is better to do this not on the websites of online stores and manufacturers, but on third-party resources.

How to choose a film

In order for your car to receive maximum protection, you need to know some criteria for choosing this material.

Criterias of choice

Armor film for a car should be selected based on the following parameters:

• what is the service life of this material during operation;
• what is the tensile strength of the material;
• thickness - must meet the requirements;
• elasticity during application - for ideal adhesion to machine surfaces;
• the material must transmit UV rays so that the fading of car paint occurs evenly with unarmed parts of the car;

Covering the surface of the car with armor films is of great importance; high-quality materials are not exposed to aggressive chemicals, detergents and large temperature changes.

Manufacturers and price

Armored film for cars is produced by several companies, including the most famous brands:

• LLumar is a material from the American manufacturer Eastman Chemical (on the international market since 1977). A high-quality coating protects windows from harmful ultraviolet rays and glare from entering the cabin, from overheating in the cabin and from prying eyes. The durable coating reliably protects against scratches and other harmful influences. LLumar guarantees an invisible high-gloss screen for any automotive paint. The film is 30% thicker than others offered in this market segment, the company guarantee is up to 5 years. Arming your vehicle with LLumar film will help keep your vehicle looking good for years to come. Price from 6000 rub. per sq. m.
• Anti-gravel armor film Newshield - translated means “new armor”. The name speaks for itself. The armor has excellent technical characteristics and provides reliable protection against mechanical damage, weather and chemical influences. Car reservations with Newshield film provide a multi-year guarantee. Prices from 2,500 rub. per sq. m.
• 3M Venture Shield is protection from an American manufacturer, designed primarily for the most vulnerable and harmful areas: fenders, bumpers, sills, handles. Reinforced polyurethane film for cars, transparent, anti-gravel, has a good protective function and, due to its uniqueness, perfectly preserves the graphic curves of the car. Price from 2000 rub. per sq. m.
• Hexis Bodyfence material from French manufacturers has the unique properties of innovative technologies: it has a self-healing effect (resistant to pinpoint impacts) and hydrophobic properties. Universal automotive armor film suitable for glass and body. Long warranty period up to 7 years. Price from 2000 rub. per sq. m.

The cost of booking a car with film directly depends on the quantity and complexity of the work, as well as on the selected materials. The average price for gluing a crossover is 30,000 rubles, polyurethane protection up to 55,000 rubles. You can significantly reduce costs by selectively applying protection, for example, ordering a car repair shop with film or ordering thresholds and bumpers.

Prices for glass paste:

• windshield gluing from RUB 3,000;
• all windows in the car 6,000 - 8,000 rubles;
• for a projector or threshold for 1500 rubles.

Price for pasting in the service

The cost of services depends on such factors as the quality of the material, the type of vehicle body, the area of ​​the pasting, the complexity of the relief and pattern. For example, let’s compare the average prices for wrapping cars of different classes using film of the same type and manufacturer:

What does protective film provide?

• The paint is protected from minor damage.
• Protect your car's shine while saving on polishing, chip removal and other imperfections.
• Possibility to change the color of the part, apply a drawing or photograph. Reinforced film can be colorless or colored, have different thicknesses and printed images.
• Protecting the machine from corrosion.
• Even exposure to the sun due to the fact that the armored film transmits ultraviolet light.
• Significant vehicle cost savings due to longer paint and headlight life.

How to make changes?

This can be done, as we mentioned above, through State Services, as well as by personal visit to a convenient registration department of the traffic police. But there is an important subtlety - a personal visit can in fact be very difficult due to the established practice of the traffic police - either the coupons for the queue are running out, or you may be outright verbally denied registration.

When submitting an application through State Services, you will still have to come to the office by car later. To sign up, go to the appropriate section on the official website of the State Services, carefully read the instructions and procedure for providing the color replacement service and click on the “Get service” button.

As a result, you will be given a simple form where you need to fill in information about you and the car in order, select the traffic police department that is convenient for you, the date and time of your visit from the list of free ones, and arrive at the chosen time.

Do I need to show the car?

Yes. As regulated by Article 15 of the above-mentioned Federal Law, color change is the basis for inspection when changing the registration data of a vehicle.

What body parts do we cover?

Depending on your needs, we can cover the car with armor film completely or partially. Most often undergo protective treatment:

• Bumper.
• Hood.
• Doors.
• Trunk lid or tailgate.
• Ali.
• Headlights and fog lights.
• Rear view mirrors.
• Pens.
• Windshield struts.
• Thresholds.
• Part of the roof and other elements of the car.

Note that the cost of covering a car with armored film depends on the car model, film consumption and the amount of work. But one of the competitive advantages of the StyleGarage center is its affordable booking price, one of the most favorable on the Moscow market.

By appearance

Covering your car with film can completely change its appearance. An ordinary mid-size car may be an attractive and unusual color or an inconspicuous car that blends into the landscape. The final effect will depend on the choice of film.

Carbon film

Carbon is a very durable material that increases body rigidity and corrosion resistance. However, due to its high cost, carbon is used only on exclusive and expensive models. On the mass car market you can find vinyl and carbon films that only in appearance imitate real carbon fiber, but do not have protective properties.

Carbon-like material is often glued not to the entire car, but to individual parts of the body and interior.

Chameleon

The Chameleon film for the car glows in many shades. Depending on the lighting and viewing angle, a car covered with such a film will always look different. Thanks to a huge range of shades and colors, everyone can choose an option to suit their taste and create a unique image for their car.

Camouflage

Camouflage vinyl will give the car more dynamism, aggression and courage. Vinyl film that imitates camouflage will appeal to lovers of travel, active recreation outside the city, as well as military and government employees.

The market offers a wide range of camouflage colors: digital or artistic, with vegetation and terrain design. And different colors: standard green, brown, grey, yellow, etc..

Matte

Matte films about cars have become classics, and people even like them that are far from tuning. Gives the car a luxurious and presentable look, looks expensive and elegant. There is a clear version that makes the original color of the car opaque and tinted.

Mirror

Mirror or chrome finishes create a faux chrome effect at an affordable price. The mirror coating can be of different structures: glossy, matrix, carbon-like, laser, and so on.

For airbrush

Until recently, to obtain a unique design on a car, it was necessary to resort to the help of artists. Now this is easier and cheaper to do, and the design of the car has become livelier, more complex and more detailed. Simply order vinyl with the image you want and stick it on your car.

Stickers with a pattern

They fit into a part of the body, glass or headlights of a car. Can be used for decoration or for any event.

Instructions for armoring and polishing a car body with film

Before starting work, you must prepare the car according to the instructions:

1. A mandatory point is to maintain a constant temperature of up to 22 degrees and a complete absence of drafts.
2. The car must be clean, free of dirt and dust.
3. After gluing the polyurethane film to the armor, it must dry within 12 hours. And only after that you can make changes to small details.
4. The paint must be intact.
5. Use water or, better yet, a soapy solution (any dishwashing detergent) to coat the coating; it prevents the coating from sticking until it is leveled.

You can order a machine with film yourself if you strictly follow the instructions:

1. Degrease all parts of the machine that will be covered with paint, abrasive clay or white alcohol.
2. The surface of the body is wetted with a soap solution, then protection is applied. The cladding elements must be cut in advance to the size of the surface to be glued.
3. The surface is leveled with rubber spatulas, removing water and air from under the film. Residual material is carefully removed.
4. The final stage is processing the edges and heating the material with a hairdryer. After this manipulation, the surface of the car will reliably stick to the protective film.

To the question of whether it is worth booking a car with film, you can safely answer, of course. This innovative technology will help maintain your vehicle's appearance for years to come and, most importantly, protect and extend the life of your vehicle.

How to cover the interior with vinyl with your own hands

The film covering process is universal, that is, the instructions are the same for all Lada models (Vesta, Granta, Kalina, Priora, Largus, Niva 4x4 and XRAY), as well as foreign-made cars. Features will only appear during the dismantling of interior parts.

Features of fitting parts:

• when working with uneven surfaces (curved, crooked), it is necessary to stretch the film by heating it with a hairdryer;
• film with textures (carbon, wood, etc.) cannot be stretched too much, the texture will not be even;
• Try to touch only the edge of the self-adhesive surface with your fingers.

1. Degrease the front and back surfaces (the film will wrap);
2. We apply the film to the part so that it has no tension and is pressed against the surface as much as possible without heating;
3. We heat the film and stretch it in all directions. We try to delay as little as possible;
4. When working with corners, we lay the film on the edge; it will be laid automatically on the adjacent sides;
5. We cut off the excess film around the perimeter. There should be no film on the back of the corners;
6. We fold the film to the back side of the part.

Video guide for wrapping parts with film:

An experienced craftsman is able to cover a part with film without removing it, that is, directly on the panel (dashboard).

How to perform tight fitting

All work is carried out in a clean and specially equipped box. We prepare the countertop: remove dirt, degrease.

Gluing a car requires care and perseverance. The master carefully adjusts the drawing so that the gluing points are completely invisible. All edges must be carefully tucked, primed and heated. This will prevent the film from being ejected and peeling off.

The car is awaiting delivery after being covered with matte film.

Tip: after covering your car with colored film, cover it with ceramic film. This will extend the life of the film, improve its protective properties and add beauty.

To the question: “Is it difficult to cover the car with foil?” we answer: “No, it’s not difficult. If quality and durability are not important." Failure to comply with technological standards will lead to the appearance of wrinkles and bubbles, as well as peeling of the edges after the first wash.

Should I wrap my car with vinyl film?

Choose and use vinyl when you need it:

• Improve car designs, apply advertising graphics or fashion graphics.
• It is necessary to protect the original paint from damage: insects, scratches from stones bouncing off the road.
• Resell the car and improve the appearance for this.
• Quickly improve your coloring style and imperfections.
• Change the body structure frequently without complex paint jobs.
• Increases the service life of the vehicle. This is true for vehicles operated in regions with frequent rain and low air temperatures, where the coating wears out quickly.

The general rule of thumb is that if the car's paint is in good condition, vinyl is suitable for protective and decorative makeup. If the original trim is badly damaged, vinyl on the car won't help - just paint is needed.

Tools and materials for car wrapping

The main tools for covering a car with vinyl film can be considered a plastic or silicone spatula and, of course, a sharp knife, a scalpel, since it is necessary to level the material and cut off excess. It’s worth planning everything in advance, down to the details of where and how the film will be applied. Everything should be as sterile as possible, without the slightest hint of dust. As for the tool in the arsenal, the minimum should be:

• vinyl film;
• technical or regular hair dryer;
• plastic or silicone spatula (squeegee);
• felt spatula;
• stationery knife or sharp scalpel;
• sharp scissors;
• sprayer;
• detergent (average calculation: 1 liter of detergent per 10 liters of water);
• scotch;
• lint-free wipes;
• solvent or alcohol.

This is the minimum list of tools you will need to wrap your car with vinyl. If you look at the process on a professional level, you will need a lot of tools. In particular, remove door handles, rubber bands and individual decorative elements. All this is done so that the vinyl film is placed on the parts as realistically as possible and the scalpel cuts are almost or completely invisible.

How much film do you need to wrap a car?

The question of the amount of material is not always the last, but also not the simplest. In one case, they try to make films with a reserve, in others they prefer to calculate and shoot 1 in 1, thereby saving money. Be that as it may, many recommend buying vinyl film for cars with a reserve, since the most unpredictable situations may arise.

There are many calculators on the Internet that can automatically calculate the amount of vinyl for a given car model. On the other hand, no one is immune from incorrect cuts or additional glued elements. It is believed that for an average sedan, 17 to 19 linear meters of film will be required with a roll width of 152 cm and 137 cm for small cars.

A linear meter is a measure for measuring objects, usually soft goods or materials. One linear meter is equal to 100 cm or one meter. Most often, it is customary to measure material in a roll in linear meters, where, regardless of the width of the roll, the price is indicated per 100 centimeters of length (1 linear meter). For example, glossy and matte vinyl film costs $10 per meter, while one roll can be 92 cm wide and another 152 cm wide.

A small crossover or station wagon will require from 18 to 23 linear meters of material, and an SUV will require from 23 to 30 linear meters of film. It should be understood that with different thickness or quality of film you will have to add or subtract square meters. When purchasing vinyl, it would be a good idea to ask the seller for advice, or even better, to help calculate the number of meters using special programs from material manufacturers.

When calculating the amount of film, it is worth taking into account the type of material (matte, glossy, etc.), the type of body and, of course, the professionalism of those who will work with this film. After all, an inexperienced master will ruin a couple of tens of centimeters in any case, but an experienced master will try to save as much as possible the amount of foil and stick it the first time. For example, for Oka or Daewoo Matiz, about 10-12 meters of material will be required, with a roll width of 137 cm.

As a rule, many calculations are approximate. The manufacturer always recommends taking material with a margin of 10% of the calculated quantity. When making calculations, it is worth considering where the material will be used and how complex the areas are. The greater the number of bends and irregularities, the greater the likelihood of increased film consumption. For smooth surfaces, vinyl consumption will be lower.

Pros and cons of car vinyl

Vinyl film for cars “camouflage” or wood effect is becoming increasingly popular, especially among the military, hunters, fishermen, tourists, and eco-style lovers.

In addition to the aesthetic effect, this method of treating the surface of the machine has not only a number of advantages, but also some disadvantages:

Methods of wrapping a car with vinyl film

Depending on the type of vinyl, experts distinguish between different types of installation. But most often there are two main methods - wet and dry. Each method is good in its own way and has its pros and cons. The wet method of applying vinyl to car bodies is considered simpler and is most often recommended for beginners in this field. The dry method of applying the material is more suitable for experienced craftsmen and requires caution and is not forgiving even for mistakes.

Preparing the car for vinyl coating

An important stage in wrapping a car with vinyl film is the initial preparation. The better the surface preparation, the less time it will take to adapt the material and joints during the gluing process. Just like the choice of tool for the job (mentioned above in the article), body preparation will depend on the desired result.

If you glue individual parts or elements, it will take less time. If vinyl needs to be glued under rubber bands, door handles and other car decorative elements, you should be prepared for the fact that the preparation process may take several days. Do not forget that the surface must be clean, which means that in addition to disassembling individual elements, it will be necessary to carry out preparatory work to clean the case and eliminate defects.

It is best to begin the vinyl car wrap process during warm and dry weather. During the journey from the car wash to the gluing site, the car body may again become covered with dust or dirt.

The main stages of preparing the body before covering it with vinyl film:

1. Wash the car body thoroughly in a pressure car wash using shampoo. Do not skimp on water, as the result should not contain the slightest grain of sand. During the washing process, it would be a good idea to inspect the body parts for the presence of chips, bitumen deposits, and bent (damaged) parts of the body.
2. If there are bitumen particles or stains (usually front doors, sills, rear or wheel arches), they must be cleaned with solvent or a special cleaner. In addition, there should be no traces of insects or grains of sand on the surface of the body.
3. If there are nicks, damage to the body or rust, all this must be removed, leaving the surface of the body perfectly smooth. You can use spot retouching or straightening damaged areas. Important! At least 30 days must pass from repairing or priming the damaged areas to gluing the vinyl.
4. The last stage of preparation before gluing the vinyl is marking the material. Most often, vinyl is applied to body parts by measuring dimensions and outlining cut lines. Then, using a utility knife or scissors, the required piece of material is cut.
5. Don't forget to prepare a soap solution at the rate of 1 liter of detergent per 10 liters of water. Try to choose a cleaner that is not too aggressive, so as not to damage the adhesive layer of the material in the future.

Attention! The cut line should be with a small margin, thereby protecting you from an unpredictable situation (your hand slipped, the cut was uneven, or the cut was not straight, but curly).

It would be a good idea to polish after washing the car, but without using aggressive chemicals. Otherwise, due to the chemistry of the vinyl, it may lag behind the body.

Step-by-step instructions for wrapping a car with wet film

As already mentioned, the wet method of covering a body with vinyl film is one of the simplest and very difficult to make a mistake. We take into account that the car has already been prepared according to a previously compiled list (see above in the article).

1. First you need to place a piece of material prepared for the body part on a flat surface and remove the protective part from the adhesive side. It is very important that the adhesive surface does not come into contact with other parts and also leaves fingerprints to a minimum. Perfect! Before touching the sticky side of the film with your fingers, wet your fingers with soapy water. In this case, there will be a soapy surface between your fingers and the film and there will be no greasy fingerprints on the film.
2. The previously diluted cleaning solution is sprayed onto the part of the body that will be glued to the material. Do not apply the liquid to the entire car at once. Make sure that the surface does not dry out, otherwise the film will adhere unevenly and early. As a result, it will be almost impossible to level it, and repeated removal and application to the surface will only spoil the sticky layer.
3. The next step is to apply the vinyl to the wet surface of the piece and straighten it so that there are no folds or bends. If it doesn’t work the first time, you can lift part of the material, straighten it and reapply.
4. Now smooth the film evenly with a plastic or silicone spatula, thus drawing moisture out from under the vinyl. Sanding is done from the center of the part to the sides. Thus, the material fits perfectly on the surface, the pattern or structure will retain its shape, and the excess film around the edges will be easy to cut.

1. During the process of smoothing the film, it is worth warming up the treated areas with a technical hair dryer, thereby drying the vinyl film. Very important! It is necessary to monitor the surface temperature and not overheat the film. Otherwise, you can shade the film. The ideal temperature for drying vinyl is between 50 and 70 degrees Celsius.
2. As a rule, after gluing the film using the wet method, air bubbles form underneath it. For this we need a felt squeegee (trowel). Helps push out bubbles from under the film. Some experts advise piercing large air bubbles, but it is better not to do this, as they will damage the film. It is better to heat the film with a hairdryer and slowly push the air out from under the material. Very small blisters, measuring 1 to 3 millimeters, may disappear on their own in 1 to 2 weeks.
3. The last step is to trim off the excess vinyl after sanding. For best contact, clean the area where the vinyl was cut with a lint-free cloth. It is better to cut the material using a previously prepared silicone spatula and generously moistened with detergent. We measure the cutting line and place a spatula under the material. Therefore, cutting with a sharp scalpel or knife will not damage the body, and the film will not stick to the cut.

It is strongly recommended that you do not wash your car for a week after wet vinyl wrapping. It is also best not to drive at high speeds or in rural areas. Otherwise, the vinyl may peel off and fly away from the glued elements.

Dry film wrapping technology

The dry method of wrapping a car with vinyl film is considered much more complex, but also of higher quality. It should be understood that this method requires skillful hands in terms of gluing the film and will never forgive the slightest mistake. Where does dry film application begin?

1. As is already clear, you should not apply any liquid solution before gluing the film. To do this, the surface is degreased with alcohol, degreaser or other similar means. Then the surface of the part is wiped several times with lint-free wipes. It is advisable to use non-aggressive degreasers, otherwise the original surface of the part (painted plastic, chrome-plated plastic parts, etc.) may be damaged.
2. When using the dry method, there are two ways to prepare your vinyl. The first is similar to the wet method, on a flat surface we completely remove the protective layer and glue the film to the surface. The second method is to remove the protective layer in only one corner of the film, then place the film diagonally on the part and only then remove the entire protective layer. Experienced craftsmen try to remove the protective layer in the center of a piece of foil, thereby gluing the car part flawlessly the first time.

1. After applying the vinyl film to a part of the body, it is worth smoothing it evenly. For this, the same silicone spatula is used as for the wet method. It is useful to sand from the center and to the sides using smooth movements. Don't press too hard, or you may create a crease or crease that will immediately ruin the entire piece of film. If air bubbles or wrinkles appear, the film is slowly removed and reapplied to the surface, smoothing out the area of ​​unevenness.
2. A distinctive feature of the dry and wet methods of wrapping a car with vinyl film is the finishing work. After cutting off the excess film, dry joints are treated with a special automotive vinyl primer. This improves the adhesion of the paint to the film.

How to care for vinyl film

It’s one thing to buy a vinyl film and stick it on the body of a car, but then what about how to properly care for such a car. Compared to regular paint, a car covered in vinyl requires a little more maintenance and needs to be known. Otherwise, you will simply ruin the film or lose its attractive appearance.

• For the first hours or days after wrapping your car with vinyl film, do not exceed a speed of 60 km/h. Especially if you used a wet film. This is due to the fact that the process of film gluing in an environment isolated from oxygen does not occur so quickly. By ignoring this advice and breaking the speed limit, the film may simply fly off the glued part.
• How to wash a car covered in vinyl? This is one of the most frequently asked questions by owners of such cars. Regardless of how much time has passed since the film was applied, it is worth rinsing with water whose temperature does not exceed 35 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it is worth warning the car wash about this in advance. Ideal for washing your car yourself.
• Also, do not abuse high water pressure in a car wash; if scratches appear on the film, water under pressure will tear the damaged areas. Most often this happens six months to a year after gluing the material. The thinner the film, the greater the likelihood of damage due to high water pressure.
• It is worth washing your car without brushes and abrasives. Otherwise, small scratches and cuts may appear on the film.
• The most important element will be ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, you should not leave your car in the sun, especially in summer, for a long time. Even the most expensive vinyl tends to fade. Over time, the car will lose its attractiveness, and the film will fade and fade. In the worst case, the film will begin to slow down at the cut points. It is possible that if you want to remove the film after such an “ultraviolet bath”, it will fall off into pieces, tear, or even come off the paint.

As you can see, caring for vinyl film requires special skill compared to regular painting. The slightest chip or defect can further damage the film. It is also worth understanding that you will need to avoid or minimize visits to automated car washes and pay close attention to manual car washes.

At the same time, choose a mild car shampoo that does not leave white spots on the surface. Imagine matte black vinyl with white stains of cheap shampoo or water. The view will not be the most attractive, and removing them will not be so easy.

How to remove vinyl film from a car with your own hands

After considering all stages of vinyl's life, from application to use and care of the material, it's time to look at the process of removing vinyl from a surface. As mentioned above, in case of gluing to a poorly painted surface, it is possible to remove the film along with the paint or putty.

According to manufacturers, the average lifespan of vinyl is 5 years. But in fact, given weather conditions and modern automotive chemistry, the shelf life of vinyl is much shorter. Now let's look at how to remove vinyl from car body or other surfaces.

1. It is better to remove the film in the warm season or in a well-heated room so that the temperature is not lower than +20 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the metal will heat up after heating the film with a technical hair dryer.
2. Using an industrial hair dryer, we heat the surface of the film to an average of 70-80 degrees Celsius, but no more, since the paint on the car body can be damaged. After heating, the films should be immediately removed at an acute angle. It is best to shoot from the edge where the film was cut and diagonally towards the center of the element.
3. When removing vinyl from a plastic surface, the material must be heated very carefully. Many experts recommend lowering your temperature. The process will be slower, but less likely to damage the surface of the plastic and will not melt small plastic.
4. Practice shows that after removing the vinyl, regardless of the previously chosen application method (dry or wet), small spots of glue remain on the surface of the body. To remove them, you can use alcohol or a mild solvent.

In conclusion, there is nothing scary or particularly difficult about covering the body or individual parts with vinyl film. Just be diligent, precise, have a little patience and imagination. If you don’t have experience, it’s better to take your time and glue one part at a time. You should start with cheaper vinyl, and only then move on to high-quality and expensive materials.

Available ways to replace documents

To register a change in the color of a car in the PTS, you need to contact the relevant department - the registration department of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. This can be done in two ways: in person or online through the government services website.

Through the traffic police department

The originals of the following documents must be submitted to the traffic police department at the place of registration:

• a completed application form - with o in the required field of the form;
• PTS and STS for a car;
• OSAGO policy;
• personal passport of the applicant citizen, if the owner of the car is applying;
• documents confirming authority if the car is not registered in the name of the applicant or belongs to a legal entity.

Wrapping a car in color film

All papers are handed in at the window. After checks on official databases, the documents will be returned along with a receipt for the state duty and an application for inspection. You must pay for the receipt and go for an inspection, where the inspector will check that the new color matches that specified in the application and make a note. Returning back to the registration window, you need to submit a complete set of documents and wait. Within about half an hour, documents with the necessary changes are issued.

Through the State Services portal

On the State Services portal it is possible to submit an application online and register for an appointment at the traffic police department. It will not be possible to carry out the procedure completely remotely, but there are benefits. When paying through the website, you will be able to get a 30% discount on the state fee if you submit an electronic application with non-cash payment. You can pay from a card or mobile phone balance.

A new vehicle registration certificate at a discount will cost 350 rubles instead of 500. Changes to the PTS will cost 245 rubles instead of 350. That is, in total you will need to pay 595 rubles.

Another advantage of applying online is that you don’t have to stand in a general queue.

When filling out the form online, you will need to enter the data of the same documents as when applying in person in the registration window. You must have these papers with you when you come to the inspection office by registering through the website. Further actions do not differ from the algorithm when applying for a service in person.