Vehicle wrapping: film, legal points and one wrap installer in Ireland

A full wrap covers every painted panel and changes the colour or finish of the whole vehicle: gloss, satin, matt, metallic or colour-shift films. A partial wrap covers selected areas such as the roof, bonnet or mirrors. Vehicle graphics are cut or printed lettering and logos applied to a van or car for advertising, often combined with a coloured base wrap on fleet vehicles.

Paint protection film is a clear, thicker film applied over paint to protect it from stone chips and light scratches. It is usually fitted to the front end of new or high-value cars and is chosen for durability rather than looks. Window tint is a separate product with its own legal limits, covered below.

The size and shape of the vehicle matter first: deep recesses, complex bumpers and sharp curves take much longer than flat van sides. The type of film matters next. Cast films conform to curves better and generally last longer than cheaper calendered films, which suit flat surfaces and short-term graphics. Printed designs add design and print time, and a fleet of identical vans is priced very differently from a one-off car.

Preparation is where cheaper jobs cut corners. The paint has to be decontaminated and clean, and a good installer removes items such as door handles, badges, lights and trims where needed so the film can be tucked round edges rather than cut on the panel. Film applied over damaged paint, rust or poor resprays will show every flaw and can lift the paint when it is later removed.

Ask to see finished work on similar vehicles, including close-ups of door edges, handles and bumper corners. That tells you more than any brochure.

• the exact film brand and product, and whether it is cast or calendered
• which areas are covered, including door shuts, sills and inside the fuel flap
• which parts are removed and refitted during the work
• design, proofs and print for graphics, and who owns the artwork files
• the manufacturer's film warranty and the installer's own workmanship warranty
• aftercare instructions, especially about pressure washing and car washes
• the cost and conditions of removing the wrap later

For a business, the van is advertising that is parked outside every job. Think about what can actually be read at a distance: company name, trade, phone number and web address. A clear design usually works better than a crowded one. Ask whether the installer can match colours to your brand guidelines, and whether it keeps the print files so that a replacement panel after a knock matches the rest.

With a fleet, consistency and scheduling matter. Agree how many vehicles can be done at once, whether the work happens at your depot or the installer's unit, and how removal and re-application are handled when vans are replaced at the end of a lease.

The GDPR applies to selling your vehicle; in Ireland the Data Protection Commission is the supervisory authority. If a supplier processes personal data on your behalf, you need a data processing agreement.

Irish companies are registered with the Companies Registration Office. Ask for the company number and VAT number, and check whether prices are quoted with or without VAT.

Source: dataprotection.ie · eur-lex.europa.eu · revenue.ie

You confirm your mobile number with a text code and your email address with a link. We then show the request to businesses in your area, without your name or contact details. Only one business can take it on; it pays Offrano for the request, and it costs you nothing.

Before that business sees your details, we email you its name, address and phone number. We check only that it is a registered business, for example through its Companies Registration Office entry or VAT number, not the quality of its work. We cannot promise that a business will respond; if nobody takes the request within 21 days, we withdraw it. Offrano is not a party to any contract for the work.