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.

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.

Is Northampton inside your coverage area for car wraps and colour change?

It is. We work throughout the UK rather than in a single region, so Northampton and every part of Northamptonshire are included. Where a survey is needed we arrange a visit; for graphics jobs we can often quote from photos and measurements. Either way, you get a proof and a written price first.

Can you wrap a leased or financed car?

Usually, but read the agreement first. Agreements normally set out whether cosmetic changes are allowed and what condition the car must be in when it goes back. A colour change will have to come off before return, and the paint underneath needs to be sound for that to go smoothly, so mention the lease when you ask for a price.

What is the price of car wraps and colour change for a business in Northampton?

Guide pricing runs from £1,950 to £3,750 per car, plus VAT. The main things that move it are dimensions, the material and finish, illumination where relevant, how high the work is and whether a scaffold or platform is needed. Your written quote, issued after a survey or a check of your artwork, replaces the guide figure.

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

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.

Car wraps and colour change in Northamptonshire

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 Northamptonshire?

Estate agents, mobile hairdressers and home-visit professionals who drive around Northampton all day can add neat branding to a car without repainting it.
Valeters, driving instructors and mobile mechanics working in Northampton often use their own car as their shopfront, so its finish says something about the work.
In a Northampton car park full of silver, grey and white cars, a satin or matt colour change is hard to miss when clients arrive.

Guide prices in Northamptonshire

Use these figures to budget: £1,950 to £3,750 per car is the guide range, with VAT added on top. Each line in the table is indicative only, and your exact price is confirmed after a survey or once we have looked over the artwork.

Car wraps & colour change in Northamptonshire: 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 Northamptonshire

Advertisement consent does not usually come into vehicle graphics. Advertisements on a vehicle normally used as a moving vehicle are outside advertisement control in England, although a vehicle parked up mainly to act as a billboard is treated differently. The rules that matter are road and registration ones. If a wrap changes the main colour, update the V5C log book with DVLA and tell your insurer. The windscreen must let through at least 75% of light and the front side windows at least 70% under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, so we keep graphics off them. Leased vehicles: check the lease allows graphics.

Options worth considering

Matt

Flat and striking; washed clean rather than polished.

Colour-shift

Changes colour with the viewing angle; needs the most care.

Metallic

Flecked film that catches the light like metallic paint.

Towns in Northamptonshire

Below: towns across Northamptonshire 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.

Anywhere in Northamptonshire, the first step is the same: send photos and rough sizes for a free quote on car wraps and colour change. You approve a proof to scale before anything is made.