Can You Rewrap a Vehicle After an Accident or Bodywork?
Yes, a vehicle can be rewrapped after an accident or bodywork, but there are important steps that need to be handled the right way. The first option is to have the damaged area repaired and painted by a professional body shop using professional paint, primer, and clear coat. Since the vehicle was already wrapped, the body shop should know that the repaired panel may need to be wrapped again. This is why it is important to ask about warranty and pulling strength. Vinyl wrap has pulling pressure, and repaired paint needs to be strong enough to handle the install and removal process later. OEM paint is usually stronger than repaired paint, so the paint, primer, and clear coat need to be done properly before any wrap is installed.
The second thing to ask about is curing time. Every body shop uses different materials, so they should tell you how long the paint needs to cure before vinyl can be installed. If the paint needs 45 days to cure, the vehicle should not be wrapped before that time. When vinyl is installed over paint that is still curing, the vinyl can bond too strongly to the clear coat. Later, when the wrap is removed, the paint or clear coat may come off with the film. In many cases, a better option is to have the bodywork done, get credit for the paint, and paint the repaired area after the wrap is removed in the future. This lets the vehicle get wrapped sooner and lowers the risk of paint being pulled when the wrap comes off. The customer just needs to understand that when the wrap is removed later, that repaired area will need to be painted.
Another thing to understand is that vinyl cannot be blended like paint. If a door is damaged, you may need to wrap the door and the panel next to it. If a rear door is damaged, you may need to wrap the rear door and quarter panel. In some cases, the wrap may need to continue from the quarter panel toward the front fender so the side of the vehicle looks correct. Bumpers can usually be wrapped by themselves, and the hood can usually be wrapped by itself, but side panels often need to be handled differently. There is also a chance that the original film may be discontinued. If that happens, the wrap shop is not responsible for the material no longer being available, because the accident was not part of the original wrap job.
This applies to color change vinyl, commercial printed vinyl, and color paint protection film. Some color PPF is transparent, so the material has to be checked first. If the film is see-through, bodywork or uneven panels may show through the material. With clear gloss or matte paint protection film, the damaged area must be painted properly first, and the correct curing time must be followed before the film is installed. We also recommend speaking with your insurance company about adding coverage for your wrap. Some policies may cover a small amount, while others may cover more. A wrap is an investment, and knowing these details ahead of time can help you prepare if an accident ever happens.
