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Is It Worth Wrapping A Tesla? (Pros and Cons)

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Last Updated on May 30, 2023 by Rose Morah

This article will help you decide whether or not wrapping your car is worth it, based on our experience.

By the end of the article, you will have the answer to the following commonly asked questions:

  • Is wrapping a Tesla an affordable alternative?
  • How does wrapping a car hold up over the months/years?
  • What are the common problems of wrapping a car?
  • Does wrapping your Tesla protect or ruin your paint?

Is it worth wrapping your Tesla?

Yes and no. That’s because it depends on each person and many other factors that we will be discussing below.

The decision on whether or not to wrap the car will also depend on how much of a car person you are. 

For instance;

  • If you love your car, I guess you won’t mind spending money on it.
  • If you like expressing yourself through your car, wrapping the car is an opportunity to stand out and be unique because you can custom-design it!
  • If you love to frequently change the color of your car, the wrap can be a better alternative because is it temporary and has a ton of colors to choose from.

See also:

Recommended Tint For Tesla (Read This Before You Tint Your EV).

4 Ways To Reboot Your Tesla To Help Fix Issues (Soft & Hard Reset).

Are Tesla Wheel Locks Worth It?

Pros of wrapping a Tesla

  1. It makes the car look new, especially if it has a ceramic coating. 
  2. It makes it easy to clean the car.
  3. You can avoid the costly labor costs by wrapping the car yourself (DIY).
  4. It is great if you have a temporary business vehicle that you want to be branded for advertisement purposes.
  5. Car wraps can last even up to 5 years with proper care.

How to make your wrap last longer:

1). Avoid parking the car in the direct hot sun or outside in extremely cold temperatures. This will shorten its lifespan.

2). Park the car in the garage or cover it to keep out elements.

3). Always hand wash the car and avoid taking it through an automated car wash.

See also:

Hidden Costs of Owning A Tesla (First-hand Experience).

Best Way To Protect & Clean White, Tesla Seats.

Cons of wrapping a Tesla

  1. Sometimes the wrap might end up ruining the car’s paint

This mostly happens when the wrap is put on thin paint, on already damaged paint, or sometimes on aftermarket paint.

This is because the wrap may end up ruining the paint in the removal process.

  1. Wrapping the car can be expensive

The cost of wrapping your Tesla will vary based on your location, material cost, and labor cost. 

Additionally, there’s also the cost of removing the wrap (but you can do it yourself as long as you know how to, so you don’t end up damaging the paint when removing).

When it comes to the material cost, the price will vary based on the following:

  • The texture.
  • Color flip and pattern.
NOTE: Basic color car wraps normally cost lesser than color flips.

For example; 

Our Model Y cost us a total of $5,280.

The cost when broken down:

  • The material & design cost -$1,500
  • The labor cost – $2,280
  • The nano-ceramic coating cost -$1,500.

If you want more information on ceramic coating, be sure to check our previous article:

Is Tesla Ceramic Coating Worth It? (Read This Before Applying It).

And, as mentioned earlier the costs will vary based on your location and the condition of the car. 

This means that if the car needs extra work because of dents or other paint issues then this will definitely affect the labor cost.

  1. Sometimes the car wrap may end up lasting for only a few months and you will need to rewrap it

From experience, the wrap will last for only a few months if it was poorly installed.

The most common area where the wrap starts to form bubbles is usually at the door jambs mostly because of the complex curve in that area. 

Our recommendations:

  • Pick a good shop. This may involve scrutinizing their work before you hand over your Tesla. 
  • The shop should offer a warranty on their work. This guarantees you that in case of any problem arising (like the bubble) after installation, they will fix it at no cost to you.
  • A well-done car wrap should look like paint.
  1. Car wrap does not guarantee paint protection from rock chips

You may still get damaged paint from big rock chips even after installing a car wrap on your Tesla. 

Therefore, if you think that wrapping your Tesla will offer protection from big rock chips, unfortunately, it won’t.

  1. If you are used to taking your Tesla through an automated car wash, you can’t do that after wrapping it

As I mentioned earlier, doing that may not be a good idea. Instead, it will need to be hand-washed with proper washing products.

Check out The Best Way To Clean A Tesla.

pros and cons of wrapping a tesla

See also: How Much Does A Tesla Maintenance Cost? 

Difference between PPF (Paint Protection Film) and color change wrap

PPF last longer than color change wraps. 

PPF can last up to 10 years while color change wrap lasts about 5 years but typically 3 years.

PPF offers more protection because it is twice as thick as the color change wraps.