Cost of Car Wrapping in the UK — Fleet & Commercial Vehicle Guide

Vehicle wrapping costs in the UK vary significantly depending on vehicle size, wrap coverage, material grade, and the masking complexity required for a professional finish. For fleet managers assessing livery costs, and for vehicle body builders and detailing operations pricing wrap jobs, understanding the full cost structure — including the precision masking tape that separates a professional installation from a failed one — is essential to accurate specification and procurement.

Austen Direct supplies precision masking tape for professional vehicle wrapping and detailing operations — tesa fineline tape, foam edge masking, and the broader tesa masking range used by UK body shops and vehicle body builders to achieve clean panel edges, protected paintwork, and residue-free removal. As a tesa Platinum Partner with 60+ years in industrial bonding, we supply masking materials to professional vehicle wrapping operations through the Austen Approach: technical specification, volume supply, and application guidance matched to your production process.

This guide covers commercial vehicle wrapping costs, the factors that drive them, and the masking tape specification that determines finish quality in professional wrapping operations.

Vehicle wrap costs in the UK — 2025 reference prices

The table below reflects current market pricing for professional vehicle wrapping in the UK. Fleet managers use these figures for livery budget planning; body shops and wrapping operations use them as a reference for client quotations. Prices vary by region, with installations in London typically running 20–40% higher than equivalent work in the north of England.

Vehicle type	Half wrap	Full wrap	Full wrap + door shuts
Small/medium car	From £895	From £1,495	From £2,095
Large car / SUV	From £1,295	From £1,895	From £2,495
Transit-size van	From £1,500	From £2,200	From £2,800
Large van / LWB	From £1,800	From £2,800	From £3,400
HGV cab	On application	From £3,500	On application

For fleet operations, per-unit costs typically reduce with volume — wrapping ten identical vehicles on a single booking carries different economics to a one-off executive car wrap. Material purchasing and masking tape volumes are a negotiated element in any fleet livery contract.

What drives the cost of a professional vehicle wrap

Vehicle size and surface complexity. The primary cost driver is the square metreage of vinyl required and the time needed to apply it cleanly. Vehicles with complex curves, body lines, crevices, and panel breaks require more material (for trimming, repositioning, and overhang) and more skilled application time. A flat-sided LWB panel van is faster and cheaper to wrap per square metre than an equivalent curved-panel passenger car.

Wrap coverage. Full wraps covering all exterior panels — including door shuts, door jambs, mirror housings, and door handles — require significantly more material and time than partial or half wraps. For fleet livery, the decision about door shut coverage typically comes down to the level of finish expected when doors are open and the proximity of the client’s customers to the vehicle.

Material grade. Premium cast vinyl performs differently to calendered vinyl in longevity, conformability to complex curves, and resistance to lifting at panel edges. Cast vinyl — the professional installation grade — typically adds 15–25% to material cost versus entry-level calendered film. For fleet vehicles expected to run 5–7 years on the road, the material specification decision is a total cost of ownership calculation, not a purchase price comparison.

Masking tape quality. Professional vehicle wrapping requires precision masking tape for clean panel edges, protected adjacent paintwork, and overspray control. Masking tape is a materials cost in every wrap job — and the quality of the masking tape directly affects the quality of the finish. Sub-specification masking tape lifts at edges during application, leaves adhesive residue on clearcoat surfaces, and fails to hold clean lines on compound curves. This is where professional body shops and detailing operations source specification-grade tesa masking tape rather than general-purpose trade tape.

Design complexity. Custom graphics, multi-colour designs, cut-line branding, and complex livery requiring colour matching to pantone or RAL specifications add both material and skilled labour cost. Fleet livery programmes with standardised templates across multiple vehicles reduce the design cost on a per-unit basis.

Precision masking tape in professional vehicle wrapping

The masking tape used in professional vehicle wrapping and detailing is a specification decision that affects the quality of the finished job. Three masking applications are standard in professional wrapping installations.

Fineline masking tape. Used to create the precise panel edge line at wrap termination points — door jambs, bumper edges, trim lines, and any point where the wrap film terminates on a visible surface. The tape must conform to compound curves without lifting, hold the edge line under the tension of the applied vinyl, and remove cleanly from clearcoat without adhesive transfer.

Foam edge masking. Soft foam masking tape applied along panel edges and shut lines protects adjacent paintwork from abrasion during vinyl application and prevents adhesive contamination of surfaces that will remain uncoated. The foam profile seats against complex shut line geometries that hard-backed tape cannot conform to.

Protection masking. Broader masking tape or masking film applied over adjacent panels, glass, and trim during cutting and heat application. Protects clearcoat from squeegee abrasion and knife cuts during vinyl trimming.

Sub-specification masking tape — whether general acrylic, polypropylene, or low-grade crepe — fails at each of these requirements under the heat and tension of professional vinyl application. tesa’s vehicle masking range is specified by professional wrapping and detailing operations precisely because the adhesive system is engineered for automotive clearcoat compatibility, the backing conforms to automotive geometry, and the removal is clean without residue or surface marking.

tesa masking solutions for vehicle body shops and wrapping operations

tesa produces a dedicated masking tape range for automotive body and wrap applications — fineline tapes, foam masking tapes, and soft edge foam in grades matched to different application requirements. The tesa Masking Solutions guide below covers the range in detail, including grade selection for different masking applications in professional body shop and wrapping environments.

Austen Direct supplies tesa automotive masking tape grades to UK body shops, vehicle wrapping operations, and commercial vehicle body builders. Most customers contact us for specification guidance and volume pricing rather than purchasing fixed-width standard rolls — the tesa masking range includes grades matched to different automotive applications, and specifying the wrong grade for a clearcoat-sensitive application is the most common source of masking failures in professional wrapping environments.

Fleet livery — procurement considerations

For fleet managers procuring vehicle livery across multiple units, the total cost of ownership calculation differs substantially from a one-off consumer wrap. Key considerations for fleet procurement:

Material standardisation. Fleet livery programmes with a consistent vinyl specification across all vehicles reduce per-unit material cost through volume purchasing and eliminate colour-matching variation across different production batches.

Installation scheduling. Wrapping multiple vehicles in a planned batch reduces mobilisation cost per unit and allows body shops to manage their installation workflow efficiently. Ad-hoc single-vehicle additions to a fleet livery programme carry a higher effective cost per unit than a planned batch.

Wrap lifespan and replacement cycle. Cast vinyl in a professional installation typically achieves 5–7 years of service life in UK outdoor conditions. Fleet livery programmes should align the wrap replacement cycle with the vehicle replacement cycle — wrapping a vehicle with 18 months left on its fleet lease to a 7-year material specification is a procurement mismatch.

Masking material supply. Body shops and wrapping operations carrying out fleet livery programmes at volume need reliable supply of precision masking tape in consistent specification. Austen Direct supplies tesa automotive masking grades to body shops and wrapping operations under B2B volume agreements — contact us for pricing and supply terms.

Why vehicle body shops and wrapping operations work with Austen Direct

Austen Direct, the trading name of Austen Instant Tapes Ltd, is a tesa Platinum Partner with 60+ years in industrial bonding and masking solutions. We supply tesa automotive masking tape grades and the broader tesa vehicle masking range to UK body shops, vehicle wrapping operations, commercial vehicle body builders, and fleet livery operations.

We don’t sell off-the-shelf for industrial volumes. Most customers contact us for technical specification and pricing — the Austen Approach is a consultative partnership that starts with understanding your application, your substrates, and your production process. To discuss your masking tape requirements for vehicle wrapping or detailing, request a sample or specification consultation, or speak to an Austen specifier directly on 01892 832141.

Frequently asked questions about vehicle wrap costs

How much does car wrapping cost in the UK?

Professional vehicle wrapping in the UK typically costs between £895 and £3,500+ depending on vehicle size, wrap coverage, and material grade. A full wrap on a small to medium car starts from approximately £1,495; a full wrap on a large van starts from around £2,800. Door shut coverage adds £600–£1,500 depending on the vehicle. Prices in London typically run 20–40% higher than equivalent work elsewhere in the UK. For fleet programmes, per-unit pricing reduces with volume.

How long does a vehicle wrap last in the UK?

A professionally installed wrap using cast vinyl typically achieves 5–7 years of service life in UK outdoor conditions. Longevity depends on the material grade (cast vinyl outperforms calendered vinyl significantly), installation quality, and maintenance. Fleet vehicles in regular outdoor use in the UK should be specified with cast vinyl and a professional installation to achieve maximum service life within the replacement cycle.

What masking tape do professional vehicle wrappers use?

Professional vehicle wrapping operations use tesa automotive masking tape grades — including fineline tape for panel edge lines, foam edge masking for shut lines and protected surfaces, and broader protection masking for adjacent panels. tesa masking tape is specified for automotive applications because the adhesive system is engineered for clearcoat compatibility — clean removal without residue or surface marking. Austen Direct supplies tesa automotive masking tape to UK body shops and wrapping operations; contact us for specification and volume pricing.

Is it cheaper to wrap or paint a commercial vehicle?

For fleet livery applications, wrapping is generally more cost-effective than respraying because: wrap can be removed without affecting the underlying paint (preserving residual vehicle value), livery graphics are reproduced precisely and consistently across multiple units, and the installation timeline is shorter than a full respray programme. Full vehicle respray on a commercial van typically costs £2,500–£5,000+; a full wrap covering the same area costs £2,200–£3,400 with 5–7 year service life on cast vinyl. For fleet managers, the wrap-to-lease-cycle alignment and removal cost at end-of-life are the additional procurement variables.

Where can I buy tesa masking tape for vehicle wrapping in the UK?

Austen Direct is a tesa Platinum Partner supplying tesa automotive masking tape grades — including fineline, foam edge, and protection masking — to UK body shops and vehicle wrapping operations. Most customers contact us for technical specification, volume pricing, and custom slit widths rather than purchasing fixed-width rolls. Request a specification consultation from our Worthing-based team or call 01892 832141.