When deciding on signage for fleet vehicles, businesses often weigh the benefits of full vehicle wraps against traditional vinyl lettering or decals. Each option offers distinct advantages depending on branding needs, visibility goals, and budget considerations.
What Are Vehicle Wraps?
Vehicle wraps involve covering either a portion or even the entire surface of a vehicle with printed vinyl graphics. This vinyl covers the complex curves of the vehicle using a specifically made conformable vinyl.Â
Benefits of Vehicle Wraps
Maximum Brand Exposure
As vehicle wraps cover a large surface of the van, ute or car, it offers a greater canvas for vibrant graphics and branding elements such as your logo and contact details. This can be seen from greater distance and have maximum impact when on the road.Â
Customisation
As the elements are printed into the vinyl, a design can be highly customised to suit your brand and its message. It can include photo quality images, text and graphics. You can even overlay different textures and vinyl types for a unique look and feel.
Protection
Vehicle Wraps offer great protection of the vehicle’s original paint work from animal droppings, scratches, UV rays, preserving resale value. Did you also know that your vehicle is 20% less likely to get stolen when it is heavily branded? Huzzah!Â
Durability
Printed vehicle wraps come with an additional clear UV coating. They are designed to withstand outdoor elements and maintain their appearance for several years with proper maintenance. Check out our handy maintenance guide for vehicle wraps here.Â
What Is Traditional Vinyl Lettering or Decals?
Vinyl lettering or decals involve applying cut vinyl shapes or letters directly onto the vehicle’s surface to display company logos, contact information, and essential details.
Benefits of Traditional Vinyl Lettering
Cost-Effectiveness
Generally more affordable than printed vehicle wraps, vinyl lettering and decals are suitable for businesses with budget constraints, fleets of large amounts of vehicles or fleets requiring uniform branding across different makes and models.
Simplicity
Vinyl Lettering is a popular choice for a more corporate looking brand as its simple design lends to a more understated brand identity.Â
Ease of Installation
Vinyl lettering or decals are quite simple to install, compared to the complex nature of full vinyl wrapping. Decals can be installed with just a short amount of training and a good eye for detail.
Flexibility
As the elements of the vinyl are separate, this allows for easy updates or replacements of letters and numbers without needing to redo the entire vehicle surface.
Factors to Consider
Budget
It’s important to analyse costs associated with both options. Whilst a $3000 vehicle wrap might be okay if you have only a handful of vehicles on the road, what if you need to get 100 vehicles wrapped?Â
Brand Image
Is there a brand guideline to be followed? Determine whether a more elaborate wrap design or simpler vinyl lettering aligns better with the brand’s look, feel and messaging.
Fleet Requirements
If half of your vehicle fleet is located 300km west of Mt Isa, can you easily get them into a local signwriter for installation? Consider fleet size, usage patterns, and installation logistics when deciding between wraps or vinyl lettering for consistent branding across all of your fleet vehicles.Â
Why Can’t We Have Both?Â
It doesn’t have to be one way or the other. Most signage companies will work with the customer to come up with a solution that is cost effective, impactful and still represents their brand. A hybrid solution of a small wrap, coupled with vinyl decals for details and contact information is a great all-round solution.
Whatever approach your business takes, get in touch with Brand Hero to discuss your options. Our team are vastly skilled in both concept creation, design, print and installation of fleet vehicle signage – all created to ensure your brand looks fantastic out of the road.Â