How long does a colour-change wrap last?

Manufacturers commonly rate quality cast colour-change films at around 5–7 years for vertical surfaces like the doors. The roof, bonnet and boot lid take more sun and weather, so they age faster. The colour and finish play a part too, as do where the car is parked and how it's washed.

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.

Is there a typical lead time for car wraps and colour change in Cardiff?

Yes, though it varies with the job. The lead time typically runs from the day you approve the proof, not from the first enquiry, and is typically a few weeks. Survey visits, artwork changes and any consent application sit before that point, so getting photos, sizes and logo files to us early typically shortens the overall timescale.

Who carries out the work on car wraps and colour change in Cardiff?

The work on site is done by installers working under our contract, and anything that needs making is produced by specialist fabricators. You deal with Smart Signs throughout: we take the enquiry, survey, prepare the design and quote, check consent and coordinate the fitting, so there is one point of contact from first message to handover.

Can a car wrap carry business branding?

Yes. Printed or cut graphics can go on top of a colour change, or straight onto the factory paint as a lighter-touch option, such as a logo on the front doors and a web address on the boot. Graphics on a vehicle normally used as a moving vehicle are outside advertisement control, so branding a car you drive for work isn't usually a council matter.

What makes car wraps and colour change more or less expensive?

Size and quantity come first, then the material or film, any lighting, the height of the work and the equipment needed to reach it, and the state of the surface or old sign being replaced. Against that, the guide for a job in Cardiff is £1,950–£3,750 per car + VAT, confirmed after a survey or artwork check.

Car wraps and colour change in South Glamorgan

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 South Glamorgan?

Company cars parked outside clients' offices in Cardiff can carry a small, tasteful logo on the doors rather than a full van-style livery.
Estate agents, mobile hairdressers and home-visit professionals who drive around Cardiff all day can add neat branding to a car without repainting it.
Leased cars can be run in your brand colours around Cardiff and handed back in factory paint later, as long as the lease allows it.

Guide prices in South Glamorgan

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 South Glamorgan: 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

Price rises with the size of the car, complex bumpers and deep curves, how much trim has to come off, and the film itself, as metallic and colour-shift films cost more than gloss. Door shuts are quoted separately. All prices exclude VAT and are confirmed once we've seen the car or detailed photos.

Rules for vehicle graphics in South Glamorgan

Planning rarely comes into vans and cars in Wales, because advertisements on vehicles normally used for travelling are outside advertisement control; a vehicle parked up as a static billboard is the exception. The checks that matter are practical. Tell DVLA, using the V5C, and your insurer if the main colour changes. Keep the windscreen and front side windows clear so they meet the 75% and 70% light minimums in the Construction and Use Regulations 1986. And make sure the paint is sound factory finish, since resprays, rust or failing lacquer can lift when a wrap is later removed.

Options worth considering

Part wrap

Roof, mirrors, bonnet or a chrome delete on window trim and grille.

Matt

Flat and striking; washed clean rather than polished.

Metallic

Flecked film that catches the light like metallic paint.

Towns in South Glamorgan

Pick your town below to see the page for car wraps and colour change there. The list shows the main towns in South Glamorgan; smaller places around them are covered too.

Get a free price for car wraps and colour change in South Glamorgan. Use the quote form, phone or WhatsApp, include a few pictures and measurements, and we will send a written quote followed by a design for your approval.