A wrap changes your car's color without touching the paint underneath. Take it off in a few years and the factory finish is still sitting there, untouched. That is why wraps make sense on a lease, on a car you expect to sell, and on anything you might want to change your mind about.
It is also the fastest way to make a car look like nothing else on the road. Colors and finishes exist in vinyl that no manufacturer offers and no paint shop can mix.
Finishes we install
Gloss reads closest to paint. From a few feet away most people cannot tell the difference, and that is the point for a lot of our color change customers.
Satin sits between gloss and matte. It has depth without the mirror reflection and it photographs beautifully, which is why it has been the most requested finish in our shop for a while now.
Matte is flat, aggressive, and unmistakable. It shows fingerprints and needs a bit more care, and the people who want it already know that.
Chrome and mirror finishes are the hardest films to install well. They are unforgiving of any mistake and they need an installer who has done it before. We are happy to talk you through what is realistic on your specific body panels.
Textured films cover brushed metal, carbon fiber weave, and forged patterns. These are popular for roofs, hoods, mirrors, and interior trim rather than whole cars.
Custom printed vinyl is for anything that does not come off a roll. Livery, graphics, artwork, a specific brand color. We handle print and install.
Chrome delete and partial wraps
You do not have to wrap the whole car. A chrome delete blacks out the window trim, the grille surround, badges, and mirror caps, and it changes the character of a car more than the price suggests. On some models it is the single best cosmetic dollar you can spend.
Roof wraps in gloss black give you the floating roof look. Hood and mirror accents break up a large body. Racing stripes, wing accents, and pillar wraps are all straightforward. Tell us what you are after and we will tell you honestly whether it will look good on your car.
Wrap or repaint?
Wrapping is reversible and painting is not. That is the whole comparison in one sentence, but a few details matter.
A wrap also protects the paint under it from light abrasion and UV for as long as it is on. A respray protects nothing, it just becomes the new surface. If your paint is straight and you want a different color for a few years, wrap it. If your paint is failing and you want a permanent fix, paint it.
Wraps also let you go back. Return a leased car to stock in an afternoon. Sell a car in the color the market wants. Change your mind entirely next summer. A respray closes all of those doors.
What the process looks like
We start by inspecting the paint. Vinyl needs a sound surface to bond to. Peeling clear coat, rust, or previous bodywork that was not finished properly will cause the film to lift, and we would rather tell you that on day one than after the install. Chips and small scratches are usually fine.
The car gets a deep clean and decontamination, then we disassemble what needs to come off. Badges, handles, lights, trim, and sometimes bumpers, depending on how clean you want the result. Wrapping around parts instead of removing them is faster and it always shows.
The film goes on panel by panel, gets tucked into the edges, and gets post heated so it stays where we put it. Then everything goes back together and we inspect it under proper lighting before you see it.
Turnaround depends on the vehicle, the finish, and how much disassembly is involved. We will give you a real timeline when we quote the job.
Taking care of a wrap
Hand wash with a pH neutral soap. No automatic brushes, no pressure washer held close to an edge, no abrasive polish. Dry with a soft towel.
Park in shade or a garage when you can. Sun is what ages vinyl, and Valley summers are hard on everything.
Get bird droppings and fuel spills off quickly. They will stain matte and satin finishes if they sit.
A ceramic coating over a wrap makes all of this easier, and it helps matte and satin films especially, since those are otherwise awkward to clean without leaving shiny patches.
Wrapping cars across Los Angeles
We are based in Chatsworth and we wrap vehicles from all over the Los Angeles area. Canoga Park, Winnetka, Reseda, Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Burbank, and Glendale are regular stops on our schedule, and we see plenty of cars from deeper into the city and out past the county line.
A wrap is worth traveling for. How it looks in two years comes down almost entirely to who installed it, and the difference is visible from across a parking lot. If you are coming from a distance, call ahead and we will schedule the car so you are not waiting around.
Common questions
How long does a wrap last?+
It depends on the film, the finish, and whether the car lives outside. A garage kept car in gloss will outlast a daily driver in matte parked on the street. We will tell you what to expect from the specific film we recommend.
Will it damage my paint?+
Not if the paint was healthy when we wrapped it and the film is removed properly. Factory paint in good condition comes out fine. Panels that have been resprayed poorly are the risk, and we flag those before we start.
Can you wrap a leased car?+
Yes, and it is one of the most common reasons people wrap. We remove it before you turn the car in and it goes back to stock.
What does a wrap cost?+
It comes down to the vehicle, the film, and how much disassembly the job needs. Call or bring the car by for a quote at no charge.
Do I need to tell my insurance?+
A color change should be reported to the DMV, and letting your insurer know is a good idea. Rules change, so confirm current requirements rather than taking our word for it.
See samples in person. Color looks different on a screen than it does on a fender. Come by the Chatsworth shop and hold the swatches against your car, or call (747) 220-0200 and we will talk through options.