Overview
All your trucks and vans are already on the move, every single one of them! The only thing now is how many you want to have working for your brand. The coverage you need will depend on your budget, the paint you are starting with, and what you want people to do when they see your vehicle.
There are two errors that we encounter frequently. One has full coverage on a plain white van, but a smart partial wrap would have had the same look. The other one is on a minimal level, and the pair of door decals blends into the traffic. This guide outlines the costs, coverage, and placement of each tier.
Our custom commercial vehicle wraps deliver edge-wrapped perfection throughout the process, but it is important to understand the other coverage levels so you can maximize your marketing dollars.
Direct Comparison Matrix: Coverage, Cost & Longevity
Let's compare and contrast the three to see where each falls short or succeeds in the areas that are most important to you when you're creating your fleet budget.
Full Wrap | Partial Wrap | Spot Graphics & Lettering | |
|---|---|---|---|
Surface coverage | 100% of the exterior | 25% to 75% | Under 25% |
What it typically covers | Hood, sides, rear doors, bumpers; roof optional | Rear halves, quarter panels, back doors; cab paint stays exposed | Logos, door lettering, contact info, USDOT markings |
Upfront cost | Highest | Mid-range | Lowest |
Best at | Brand presence and total paint protection | Impact per dollar | Low-cost entry and compliance |
Upfront Investment vs. Long-Term Value:
Spot graphics are the easiest to produce and offer a great way for early-stage operations that require a “real” look today. Partial wraps are the best bang-for-the-buck, since they place the artwork in the eye of trailing drivers. Full wraps provide the best representation of the company's size and credibility and offer full coverage of the paint beneath them.
Option 1: Full Vehicle Wraps (Maximum Exposure & Complete Protection)
A full wrap is the most comprehensive coverage option and is often what people picture when they think of a fully branded fleet.
Complete Architectural Transformation:
Regardless of the original colour, the whole car will match your brand exactly. The graphics wrap seamlessly around the panels and pillars, and between stock cargo vans, making it a one-piece billboard.
Complete Paint Armor:
The factory clear coat is covered with vinyl. That's an issue in Utah, where cars accumulate gravel, rock chips, tons of UV from the high altitudes in the winter, and corrosive de-icers. You won't lose the wear to the wrap.
Ideal Use Cases:
Full wraps are especially beneficial for high-dollar field service fleets in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical trades, corporate delivery vehicles, franchise deployments, and long-term vehicles.
Our commercial trailer and van wraps provide impact and seamless coverage of large-format billboards on interstate highways for enterprise utility and heavy hauler applications.
Option 2: Partial Vehicle Wraps (Smart Blending & Budget Optimization)
A correct partial wrap is not a compromise! It seems to be planned, not just a smaller print; it's real design work.
Strategic Color Blending:
The best partial wraps are the ones that adhere to the car's original paintwork. It can fade into graphics or contrast with graphics, or be used for body lines in graphics. It is ideal for neutral black, silver, and white fleet vans, which provide a blank canvas for the factory colors.
The "Rear-Heavy" Visual Strategy:
Most people who see your vehicle are behind you, queued up at a traffic light or waiting in a line of vehicles on the highway. The heaviest graphics on the rear quarter panels, rear doors, and back windows are right at the rear. Perforated window film can be applied to the rear windows, extending the artwork across the window. The rear of the van is where you are going to get your best visual attention, as some estimates indicate that as much as 80% of a vehicle's visual attention is made up of the back.
Cost Efficiency:
Generally, a partial wrap will provide about 70-80% of the look of a full wrap, but for only 40-60% of the production and installation costs.
Ideal Use Cases:
Partial wraps are appropriate for growing service businesses, leased cars that have specific budget limits, or firms that have dozens of standardized white service vans that a single layout can be used for on the entire fleet.
Option 3: Spot Graphics, Decals & Die-Cut Lettering (Targeted Identification)
Spot graphics provide targeted identification without the coverage of a partial or full wrap. Professionally cut vinyl can integrate cleanly with the vehicle while keeping the branding focused.
Focused Typographic and Logo Identity:
People will look at vinyl first in places like the driver and passenger doors, tailgate, and the lines of the hoods and contours on the precision plotter-cut vinyl.
Regulatory Compliance:
Spot graphics display your USDOT number, your contractor information, your unit fleet numbers, and your number or website. Many fleets do this for this reason.
Rapid Turnaround and Fleet Scalability:
Quickly installed and removed, minimal time is spent in the shop. That's important when you have to get a dozen trucks lettered in a couple of days while they're still on the road.
Looking for a solution that minimizes downtime and adheres to regulations for your fleet? Check out our precision commercial vehicle lettering and graphics.
If you have a personal vehicle or a vehicle subcontracted that needs to be temporarily branded during the working day, check out our removable vehicle magnets for business.
Paint Condition, Removal & Resale Value Considerations
When most people think of how a wrap looks, they think about how it looks going on. Fewer consider the appearance of the car when it departs.
The "Ghosting" Phenomenon with Spot Graphics:
When spot graphics are put on for several years under Utah's strong sun, the exposed paint around the graphics will fade somewhat, and the paint underneath will remain closer to factory fresh.
Full Wrap Paint Protection:
The entire panel is enveloped in a full wrap, which means that the paint on the vehicle's underside ages uniformly over all of its surface area. At the end of the truck's life, no mismatch explanation is required.
Safe Removal Standards:
Mass-produced cast vinyl that is removed using the proper heat method will be removed without damaging the OEM clear coat. This safeguards trade-in and wholesale value, a sum that builds up over an entire fleet.
Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Wrap Coverage
Can people tell the difference between a high-end partial wrap and a full wrap?
Often not, provided there is a proper design. Proficient sign artists play with sharp angles, color changes, and brand accents that continue the vehicle's lines. It's purpose-built for a 65 mph driver.
How long do partial wraps and spot graphics last compared to full wraps?
The lifespan of the materials is approximately the same, 5-7 years, as the job is made with top-quality cast vinyl and a cast laminate that has UV protection. Longevity is not based on the size of the graphic, but rather the quality of the materials, sun exposure, and how the graphic is washed.
Can we wrap leased commercial vehicles without voiding lease turn-in terms?
Yes, in most cases. Wraps and decals are generally permitted on commercial leases provided they are professionally removed (no damage to the adhesive) prior to return, and they are not over the sound factory paint.
Can you install graphics over vehicle windows?
Yes, it is possible to do it on the back and side windows. We install 50/50 or 60/40 perforated window film with an optically clear laminate over the window film. Outside, solid color advertising can be seen.
Select the Right Wrap Coverage for Your Fleet
You don't have to guess. When you apply design concepts throughout the full, partial, and spot graphic tiers, you can see the options in comparison and select the most cost-effective level of road impact. We use top-quality 3M and Avery Dennison cast vinyl, and our crew is capable of templating, contour cutting, wide-format printing, and installation in a climate-controlled bay.
How to use it:
- Please submit your vehicle's information. Please provide the car's make, model, year, and factory paint color.
- Review your mockups. Our design staff creates 3D digital mockups of the full layout and partial layouts on your actual vehicle.
- Back on the road. We install quickly and neatly, so your fleet is earning revenue again quickly.
Give us a call at (801) 212-9987.
Request a Fleet Wrap Sizing & Pricing Consultation ↗
We provide custom commercial fleet wraps and graphics around Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Sandy, Draper, Lehi, American Fork, Orem, and Provo.