Top Ways to Rebrand Larger Fleets: Budgeting for Your Commercial Vehicle Wrap Project

Planning a complete rebrand and either installing new vinyl wraps or replacing old wraps across the entirety of a commercial fleet can feel like a huge undertaking—in terms of time, cost, the number of vehicles involved, and managing the transition from one brand identity or logo to the next.

The trick we’d share as a team of vehicle wrap specialists with years of experience is to approach the project as you would any other. That means having defined timescales, budgets, and professional advice to ensure you make informed decisions throughout.

We might, for instance, speak with a business owner looking for high-impact, full-scale wraps across a whole fleet of HGVs and delivery vans, but for whom wrapping those lorries individually is essential to avoiding lost revenues if the full fleet was off the road even just for one day.

For others, the core focus is on achieving an effective mobile advertising campaign through company vehicles at minimal cost, utilising strategically placed partial wraps, decals and logos that represent a uniform, professional livery but at a cost that is viable for the business.

Setting Out Expectations and Objectives for Company Vehicle Wrapping

As we’ve said, properly project managing your commercial wrapping initiative is essential. This means you’re not making assumptions or guesses, picking wrap materials that aren’t suited to heavy-usage industrial vehicles, or rushing the design process.

WrapUK’s specialists are always on hand to assist, and we suggest beginning with a chat about what you want to achieve and what you would consider a 100% successful wrapping project in terms of timeframes, costs, and the final wrap design.

There are, of course, countless variables that might influence your decisions, but having a clear plan and a list of objectives will help steer you towards the right options. For example:

• Do you need to rebrand your whole fleet, specific vehicles, or all company cars, and if the latter, do you have an order of priority?
• Are there diverse vehicles in your fleet, such as cars, vans, lorries, and trucks? Is there scope to use variable wrapping techniques on each, such as full wraps on the most used vehicles and partial decals on others?
• How long do you need your wraps to last, and is there a legacy brand wrap we need to factor in to remove this first?

Scheduling vehicle wraps in a managed time scale can make a lot of sense. Companies that use vans that deliver nationwide often book these wraps first, since the potential returns on investment are larger and recognised faster—meaning getting these vehicles back on the road in full-colour liveries offers a commercial benefit!

Likewise, it could be more practical to arrange an on-site full fleet wrap exercise over a weekend or several days, especially if you’re managing a brand buy-out or acquisition, which means the transition to new fleet branding is a priority.

Aligning Commercial Vehicle Wrap Projects With Budgets and Branding

Next, let’s talk about cost because it’s often something wrap specialists can help with, from recommending budget-friendly wrap materials suited to time-limited promotions to suggesting reinforced treatments to preserve the appearance of wraps for longer.

We can also advise on how to use partial wraps and signwriting to achieve a big impact at a lower cost than a full wrap. The primary objectives are to ensure that:

• Wraps or decal designs are memorable and eye-catching and represent your brand in the best way. Amazing design can augment brand recognition and familiarity, drive enquiries to your site or customer service team, and ensure your brand is perceived as professional, credible, and trustworthy.
• The position and type of wraps are tactical, communicating your brand messaging and logos with as wide an audience as possible. You want drivers, motorists, and potential consumers to see and notice your wraps on a motorway, parked during deliveries or when travelling around the local area.

That means that, although you could compromise on the number of fleet vehicles you wrap or the coverage of each vinyl wrap, the quality of the design and the visibility of the panels is just as meaningful as the amount of money you invest in the project.

As we’ve noted, it’s also usually more cost-effective to wrap a fleet all at once or in a staggered pattern.

That’s because, in terms of material sourcing, design production , and wrap installation, it makes sense to fit several wraps simultaneously or to complete each stage just once rather than repeating it a few months down the line.

Expert Advice on the Right Way to Manage a Commercial Fleet Wrap Project

We know that, for so many companies, the prospect of having a fleet out of action for an extended period of time is out of the question, which is why our expedited one-day and modular wrapping services are often ideal for busy businesses for whom time really is money.

Our role as your expert commercial wrapping provider is to work through all the parameters before we get started, inject design expertise to ensure your visions and ideas become a reality and manage the installation process efficiently and professionally—with absolute confidence that the end result will exceed your expectations.

There isn’t a universal solution, nor will every company decide to fully wrap every vehicle in their fleets, but by looking at the right ways to coordinate the project to avoid unnecessary downtime, using fast-turnaround modular wraps, or prioritising vehicles that stand to gain the most impressions, you’ll be able to plan a well-managed project from start to finish.

We’ve worked with thousands of brands, some with unique and specific requirements and circumstances, and others for whom the value of independent guidance and help with precision graphic design makes a world of difference.

If you’re considering a commercial vehicle wrap project, have no idea where to start, assume a full fleet rewrap is outside of your budget, or want to find the easiest, simplest ways to launch your new branding across your company vehicles, you’re very welcome to get in touch with us at WrapUk.