Vinyl overlays were first introduced as way to protect vehicles from rock chips and other road debris. But with the age of consumerism and our growing need to personalize our possessions, custom vehicle designs have been in vogue for centuries. From the first horse and buggy dairymen, custom vehicle graphics have only grown in popularity.

Yet a vinyl wrap isn’t a 100% guarantee against damage. Whether you accidentally ran your vehicle through a high powered car wash, got in an accident, were chewed up by a runaway shopping cart or just encountered an especially bothersome piece of road debris, you’ll want to restore your wrap to its former glory.

Complete Other Repairs First

Before your can replace your graphics, any underlying damage to your vehicle—dents, scratches, chips, etc.—will need to be repaired first. A wrap won’t cover damage and may even highlight it. If you’ve had to repaint or touch up certain areas, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying time before bringing it in for a rewrap.

Partial Replacements Are Possible…

If the damage to the wrap is extensive, or on all different parts of the body, you’ll need to replace the entire thing. But if the damage is confined to one smaller area, it may be possible to do a partial replacement because vehicle wraps are generally installed in panels rather than as one large sheet.

If you’ve had the wrap for more than 2 or 3 years, however, the colors may have faded a bit, which can make finding an exact match more difficult. If it’s not done well, the replacement will be obvious and your vehicle will look patchy.

…But They’re Also Tricky & Won’t Always Work

It’s almost impossible to do a partial replacement unless you go back to the original installer. The company that designed, printed and installed the graphics would be in the best position to try because they would likely have the original artwork and formatting to refer to. And since color calibration can vary from printer to printer, they’ll likely still have the printer used during your first job.

If you’ve moved or this is impossible for any reason, your best bet would be to speak to a professional and ask what he or she would recommend for your particular case. If there is bubbling or peeling on the non-damaged parts of your wrap, you’re likely better off replacing the entire thing anyway.

Get an Honest Opinion

If you can’t make it back to your original installer for whatever reason, we’d be happy to take a look at the damage and see what we can do to help you fix it. We can recommend a partial or complete replacement and give you a quote. Either way, we’ll be able to remove the damaged vinyl without damaging your vehicle and do the new install for you.

If you have questions about your situation, give us a call at (702) 566-8326 and speak with one of our experts today. Or, if you’d prefer, stop by our Henderson shop off the 215 Freeway and let us give you an in-person assessment.