When could work on car wraps and colour change go ahead in Brighton?

Fitting is typically scheduled once three things are in place: you have approved the proof, the materials are made or delivered, and any consent the job needs has been granted. For many jobs that is typically a few weeks from approval; illuminated or larger fabricated signs typically take longer, and consent decisions run to their own timetable.

Why is there a price range for car wraps and colour change rather than one figure?

Because jobs vary. The guide of £1,950 to £3,750 per car + VAT spans small, simple work at one end and larger, more involved work at the other. Size, material, finish, access, design time and any consent drawings push the figure up or down. A survey or artwork check lets us fix the price for your job in Brighton.

Do you have to tell DVLA about a colour-change wrap?

Yes, if the wrap changes the car's main colour. Update the colour on the V5C log book with DVLA, and tell your insurer before you drive the car in its new colour. A part wrap such as a black roof or mirrors doesn't change the main colour, so the V5C stays as it is, though it's still worth mentioning to your insurer.

Do you cover smaller places near Brighton as well?

Yes. Our coverage is not limited to Brighton itself: nearby towns, industrial estates and business parks across East Sussex are included too. The process does not change with the postcode. Send photos and approximate sizes, and we will tell you whether a site visit is needed before we can give you a fixed price.

How long is the car off the road?

A full colour change typically takes 2–4 days of fitting, and longer when door shuts are included or a lot of trim has to come off. Part wraps such as a roof or mirrors typically take a few hours to a day. The car needs to be clean, dry and indoors throughout, so plan for it to be away for the whole job.

Can you wrap a brand-new car straight away?

Usually, yes. Factory paint on a new car is normally the ideal base, because it's fully bonded and free of chips. The car still needs a thorough wash and decontamination before fitting so the film sticks properly. A panel that has been resprayed, even on a nearly new car, usually needs time to cure before it can be wrapped.

Car wraps and colour change in East Sussex

A car wrap is a thin cast vinyl film applied over the factory paint to change the car's colour or finish, either across every panel or on selected parts such as the roof or mirrors.

Why choose car wraps and colour change in East Sussex?

Driving between appointments across East Sussex and into Brighton, a branded car keeps your name in view at junctions, on school runs and in residential streets.
In a Brighton car park full of silver, grey and white cars, a satin or matt colour change is hard to miss when clients arrive.
Valeters, driving instructors and mobile mechanics working in Brighton often use their own car as their shopfront, so its finish says something about the work.

Guide prices in East Sussex

The table shows guide prices for car wraps and colour change, starting from £1,950 and reaching about £3,750 per car. All figures exclude VAT. Your own price is confirmed after we have seen the site or the artwork, so treat these as a starting point.

Car wraps & colour change in East Sussex: guide prices, supplied and fitted
Item	Guide, ex VAT	Inc. VAT (20%)
Full colour change, small or medium car	£1,950 – £2,850	£2,340 – £3,420
Full colour change, large car or SUV	£2,650 – £3,750	£3,180 – £4,500
Roof, mirrors or bonnet only	£195 – £650	£234 – £780

Guide prices for a full colour change run from £1,950 to £2,850 + VAT for a small or medium car, and from £2,650 to £3,750 + VAT for a large car or SUV. Roof, mirrors or bonnet only is typically between £195 and £650 + VAT.

Rules for vehicle graphics in East Sussex

For vehicles, the paperwork is about DVLA and your insurer, not the planning department. Graphics on a van or car that is normally driven around fall outside advertisement control; only a vehicle parked mainly as an advertising hoarding is caught. A change of main colour means updating the colour on your V5C and telling your insurer. We leave the windscreen and front side windows clear, because the Construction and Use Regulations 1986 require at least 75% and 70% light through them, and we check the paint is sound factory finish before wrapping. If the vehicle is leased, confirm the lease permits graphics and how they must come off.

Options worth considering

Satin

A soft sheen that hides fine swirl marks.

Metallic

Flecked film that catches the light like metallic paint.

Matt

Flat and striking; washed clean rather than polished.

Towns in East Sussex

Below: towns across East Sussex where Smart Signs handles car wraps and colour change. The service, the process and the guide prices are the same in each, and places missing from the list are covered as well.

Tell us where you are in East Sussex and what you need. We quote for car wraps and colour change free of charge, and the design proof always comes before any making or fitting.