Vehicle Wraps – Why Blend in if You Could Stand Out?

Traffic today is dominated by a limited palette of vehicle colors. Industry reports and automotive color trend analyses show that most cars on the road are white, gray, black, or silver… far fewer colorful options than in the 2000s, 1990s or indeed any previous decade. This shift has made roadways visually uniform and predictable (and has left graphic designers everywhere feeling sad).

On the upside, this sad trend makes for an excellent opportunity to stand out in traffic with bold colors and designs! By wrapping your work vehicle, you essentially create a moving advertisement that attracts attention and builds brand recognition wherever you go.

Ideal for: Local businesses, frequent drivers, larger vehicles

Professionals who spend extensive time driving, such as tradespeople, delivery drivers, or mobile service providers, benefit the most from vehicle wraps. Larger vehicles also offer a bigger canvas, increasing visibility and advertising impact.

How many of those checkboxes do you check?

A vehicle wrap is a one-time investment that typically lasts 5 to 8 years, depending on material quality and environmental exposure. And unlike ongoing advertising costs (billboards, bus benches, print ads, or digital campaigns), wraps do not incur recurring fees!

The math: Vehicle wraps vs. traditional advertising

Let’s do some quick math.

• Billboards can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per month depending on location and size.
• Bus benches and other transit ads often range from $500 to $2,000 monthly.
• Print advertising requires frequent renewal and design updates.

In contrast, a professional vehicle wrap typically costs between $3,000 and $6,000 upfront. Spread over an estimated 5 years, this equals roughly $500 to $1,000 per year for continuous exposure wherever you drive. Given that a wrapped vehicle is on the road daily, potentially reaching thousands of impressions per week, the cost per impression is significantly lower than most traditional advertising.

We love it when your business assets pull double-duty!

Material and durability

Most wraps use high-quality cast vinyl films, such as 3M or Avery Dennison, known for their durability and color vibrancy. These films resist fading, cracking, and weather damage, and the application is reversible without damaging the vehicle’s original paint. Properly cared-for wraps maintain their appearance for years and can be refreshed or removed when needed.

Design strategy by target audience

Effective vehicle wrap design depends on the target demographic:

• Millennials (currently aged 25-45) love humor, whimsy, and clever design (our specialty at Almostronaut Creative). Clever graphics or playful elements will make sure that they remember and talk about your vehicle.
• Generation X (currently: 45-60) typically appreciate authenticity and straightforward messaging; a clean but striking design that clearly communicates your service works best.
• Baby Boomers (currently: 60-80) tend to respond well to trustworthiness and professionalism, so designs that convey reliability and experience resonate the best.

Show courage – Show color – Create memories

Our approach to marketing is: remove as many obstacles as possible that stand between a product or service and a potential customer. Not getting noticed is an obstacle; not being understood is another. Not being remembered is another big one. A well-designed vehicle wrap addresses all three of these obstacles.

You can also think of it this way: people are not going to memorize the phone number on the side of your van. But if you’ve made them laugh or do a double-take, they will remember that, and the next time they need your services, will be more likely to google your business name.

Want to see how this worked for one of our clients? Check out our YYJ Plumbers Client Spotlight to see a real-life example of how wrapping transformed their visibility and has been bringing them a constant stream of new business – their words, not ours!