Overview: Car Wraps
A wrap is vinyl film laid over the paint: a full colour change, a company livery, or graphics on part of the car. Good film on sound paint protects the factory finish and peels off cleanly when you sell. A poor install lifts at the edges, and a Canadian winter finds every edge that lifted.
Cold is the installer's problem before it's yours. Vinyl needs a warm, dry bay to stretch and stick, and the car has to come in clean and warmed through, so winter jobs take longer to book and to finish. Salt and slush then work at any edge that wasn't wrapped around a panel and tucked away.
Rules change at the provincial line. Quebec wants French on company lettering, British Columbia doesn't allow added film on the front side windows, and Ontario wants a colour change recorded on the vehicle permit. Ask the shop which of these it handles and which are yours.
Our listings show what each wrap shop states on its own website about films, warranties and past work. Browse the province and city lists below to find installers in your area.
Frequently asked questions
Does fleet lettering in Quebec have to be in French?
Largely, yes. Quebec's Charter of the French language covers commercial signs and advertising, and that includes vehicles. On a van, a trademark doesn't need French to dominate. The Office québécois de la langue française says a business name in another language must come with a French generic term. Slogans and service lists need French too, with any English kept secondary. Settle the wording before the design goes to print.
How long does a wrap last?
Good cast vinyl on well-prepared paint usually lasts several years, and a Canadian car earns every one of them. Summer sun fades the roof and hood first. Winter adds salt, sand, and the ice scraper you run along the glass. Ask which film and laminate the shop uses, and whether the warranty covers lifting, cracking and fading, since each one has its own cause.
Does a wrap need a registration change?
In Ontario, a change of colour has to go on your vehicle permit within six days. You do it in person at ServiceOntario with ID and your original permit, and there's no charge. The rules don't mention wraps, so ask them whether your full colour change counts. Lettering and partial graphics leave the colour alone. Other provinces run their own registries, so check yours.
Can a wrap cover my car's windows?
Only some of them, and your province decides which. British Columbia bans added film on the front side windows and allows only a strip along the top of the windshield. Quebec requires front side windows to let most light through, and allows only a top band on the windshield. Perforated film on rear windows is common on vans. Check your province's rules before the shop quotes for glass.
How do I wash a wrapped car?
By hand when you can, with a soft mitt and mild soap. In winter that's hard, so a touchless wash is the fallback, as long as you keep the wand well back from edges and seams. Rinse salt off rather than letting it dry on the film, and skip brush washes, which catch every edge. Ask your installer which cleaners and ice scrapers the warranty allows.
