Vehicle wrapper
Requested
Car wrapping (advanced)Wrap film (basic)Van lettering
Vehicle wrapper: the trade, the rate and where to find one
A vehicle wrapper covers vehicles in vinyl: full wraps, partial wraps, van lettering and fleet lettering. A self-employed vehicle wrapper usually charges €45 to €65 per hour. On Signborn, self-employed vehicle wrappers work region by region, with experience in 3M and Avery vinyl.
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No subscription. You can start with your own sign installers today, in any region.
I'm a vehicle wrapperWhere wrap projects get stuck
- Five vans to wrap this week and your own wrapper only has two days.
- You only find out on the day whether someone can really work with cast vinyl.
- Edges that lift after three weeks, and nobody who's liable.
- No handover photos when the leasing company starts asking questions.
Vehicle wrapper through Signborn
- Skills by levelWrappers state their level per skill, from basic wrap vinyl to advanced full wraps. You filter on what the job needs.
- Material experience visible3M, Avery, Oracal: wrappers name the brands they work with in their profile. Make it a required skill on your job.
- Own liability insuranceEvery wrapper has their own public liability insurance with care, custody and control cover. Signborn checks the policy before the wrapper can respond to jobs.
- Photo proof per vehicleHandover with photos, time and signature. Useful for the leasing company and the end client.
Types of work
- Car wrapping (advanced)
- Wrap film (basic)
- Van lettering
- Truck and trailer wrapping
- Apply full colour prints
- Apply clearview / one-way vision
- Surface preparation (cleaning/degreasing)
Outsourcing a vehicle wrap: what you need to know
What a vehicle wrapper does
A vehicle wrapper covers vehicles in vinyl: a full wrap in a different colour or with a full-colour print, a partial wrap, lettering on vans and lorries, or a whole fleet in the same house style. Removing old vinyl and preparing the paintwork are part of the trade too.
Vinyl: cast, calendered and brands
For wraps over curves and deep recesses you use cast wrap vinyl. It stretches with the surface and holds its shape. Calendered vinyl is stiffer and suits flat panels and lettering. Printed wraps get a laminate against scratches and UV. Brands such as 3M, Avery Dennison and Oracal each have their own application guidelines. Some wrappers are certified by a manufacturer.
Ask in your job for the experience the work needs. On Signborn, wrappers state their level per skill and name the brands they work with.
Preparation and conditions
A wrap is only as good as its preparation. The paint must be clean, grease-free and in good condition. Loose paint or rust comes away with the vinyl when it's removed later. A freshly sprayed vehicle has to outgas first. The vinyl supplier gives a waiting time for this. Wrapping is done indoors, dust-free, at a temperature that suits the vinyl's technical data sheet. After application, edges and recesses are post-heated so the vinyl doesn't pull back.
Lead time and planning
Lettering a van is often done within half a day. A full wrap of a van usually takes several days, including preparation and post-heating. For a fleet you plan in rounds, so the client isn't without all their vehicles at once. Agree beforehand where the work happens: in your workshop, at the wrapper's or at the client's.
A good wrap brief
- Make, model and year of the vehicle, and the condition of the paint.
- Full or partial wrap, or lettering only.
- Who supplies and prints the vinyl, and which brand and type.
- Where the work happens, and whether there's a heated, dust-free space.
- Whether old vinyl needs removing first.
- The preferred handover date and how the vehicle will be delivered.
How does Signborn work?
From job to invoice, in five steps.
Post your job
Address, date, sizes and what needs doing. You choose who sees it: everyone who fits, or only your own network.
New jobExample Window lettering
- Prinsestraat 41, The Hague
- Thu 15 Oct · 07:30
- 1200 × 300 mm · cut vinyl
Who sees this job?
Installers respond
Installers who fit by trade, certificates, region and calendar see your job and say yes or no. Saying no has no consequences.
You choose
Compare the responses, with your own network at the top, and choose one or more installers. Then the chat opens. With more than one installer, it's a single group chat.
Do the work and hand over
GPS check-in on site, handover with photos and location. You approve within 48 hours, or raise an objection.
HandoverExample Job sheet: 3 of 3 done
All done as briefed
Before During Done - On site07:24–11:38
- Signed off by your client11:41
Approve within 48 hoursBy Sat 17 Oct at 11:42- Job sheet for your own client: no amounts, in your own branding.
Invoice
The installer invoices you directly, pre-filled from the job, and you pay within 14 or 30 days. Signborn sends a separate fee invoice. No money runs through Signborn.
The five best-matching installers get a notification, ranked on seven factors with fixed weights. Matching with new installers opens region by region. Until then, your job reaches your own network and approved installers nearby.
Window lettering
- Prinsestraat 41, The Hague
- Thu 15 Oct · 07:30
- 1200 × 300 mm · cut vinyl
Who sees this job?
Job sheet: 3 of 3 done
All done as briefed
- On site07:24–11:38
- Signed off by your client11:41
Approve within 48 hoursBy Sat 17 Oct at 11:42
- Job sheet for your own client: no amounts, in your own branding.
Frequently asked questions about vehicle wrappers
What does a vehicle wrapper cost per hour?
Self-employed vehicle wrappers usually charge €45 to €65 per hour excl. VAT. A full wrap of a van easily takes two days of work. The vinyl is charged separately. See the rates page for guide prices.
What's the difference between wrapping and lettering?
Lettering means applying individual letters and logos. Wrapping means covering the whole surface, or large parts of it, in vinyl. Wrapping takes more experience with stretching, heat and deep recesses.
Does the wrapper supply the vinyl?
Usually the agency supplies the printed vinyl and the wrapper brings the craftsmanship. Agree this in the job. You order material from your own supplier.
Can I find jobs as a vehicle wrapper?
Yes. Create a profile with your wrap skills, material experience and portfolio. Once you're approved, you'll see wrap jobs in your region.
Do the wrappers work with 3M or Avery?
It depends on the wrapper. Wrappers say in their profile which brands they have experience with, and whether they hold a brand certification. Ask for it as a skill or certificate on your job. Then only wrappers who work with it will respond.
Is the vehicle wrapper insured?
Yes. Every self-employed professional on Signborn has their own public liability insurance with care, custody and control cover. Without a valid, checked policy, nobody can respond to jobs. Signborn itself doesn't insure anything.
How quickly can I get a vehicle wrapper?
With your own wrappers you do the planning yourself, in any region. Is matching open in your region? Then suitable wrappers get a notification as soon as you post the job. How quickly someone responds depends on who's available and the date.
Choose a specialism
Need a vehicle wrapper, or are you one?
Agencies post a job for free. Wrappers create a profile for free.