You know you want your van branded. The question is how. Full wrap, part wrap, or straightforward signwriting?
There's no single right answer. It depends on your budget, your van and what you want it to do for your business. Here's an honest look at each so you can pick the right one.
The quick difference
- Signwriting: cut vinyl letters and logos stuck straight onto your van's paint
- Part wrap: printed vinyl covering some of the van, using the paint colour as part of the design
- Full wrap: printed vinyl covering the whole van, colour and all
Signwriting
The good
- The cheapest permanent option
- Quick to design and fit
- Clean and professional when done well
- Easy to update if your number or services change
The not so good
- Limited to solid colours, no photos or gradients
- Doesn't stand out as much in traffic or on a busy street
- Your van colour has to work with your brand
Best for: new businesses, tighter budgets, and anyone who wants to look professional quickly without a big spend.
Part wrap
The good
- Far more eye-catching than signwriting
- Can use full colour designs, photos and graphics
- Noticeably cheaper than a full wrap
- Good design makes it look like a full job
The not so good
- Still relies on your van's paint colour matching your brand
- Costs more than signwriting
Best for: trades who want real impact without the full wrap price. For a lot of businesses this is the sweet spot.
Full wrap
The good
- Maximum impact, impossible to miss
- Changes the colour of the van completely, so any van can match your brand
- Protects the original paint underneath
- Comes off when you sell or hand back the van
The not so good
- The most expensive option by a distance
- Takes longer to design and fit
- Harder to change if your details change
Best for: established businesses, anyone whose van colour clashes with their brand, and fleets that want every van looking identical.
Questions to help you decide
What's your budget?
If money's tight, signwriting gets you looking professional for a lot less. You can always upgrade later. If you've got more to spend, a part or full wrap gets you noticed far more.
What colour is your van?
White vans work with almost any brand, so signwriting or a part wrap is easy. If your van is a colour that clashes with your logo, a full wrap might be the only option that really works.
Is the van leased?
Check your lease agreement. Some allow wraps and signwriting as long as they're removed properly at the end, some don't. If permanent graphics aren't allowed, magnetic signs are the fallback.
How long are you keeping it?
If you're changing the van in a year or two, a big spend on a full wrap might not make sense. If it's your van for the long haul, a wrap that protects the paint can pay for itself.
Do you have more than one van?
Matching vans make a small company look established. Whatever you choose, pick a design that can be repeated on future vans.
The best option isn't the most expensive one. It's the one that makes people remember your name and ring your number.
Whichever you choose, the design matters most
A brilliant design in simple signwriting will win more work than a cluttered full wrap. Keep it clear: your name, what you do, your number and your website, readable from across the road.
For rough prices on each option, see how much a van wrap costs. Or see what yours could look like with a free van design mockup, no obligation.