A partial wrap covers selected sections of a vehicle and leaves the rest as painted. It works best on vehicles with a clean base colour, most often white, where the paint becomes the background of the livery and the printed areas carry the logo, message and contact panel.
For fleet owners it is often the practical middle ground between decals and a full wrap. It gives the vehicle a designed, consistent look, uses less film and takes less time in the workshop, which means vehicles spend fewer hours off the road.
What we can brand
- Lower bodybrand band or skirt graphic
- Cab doorslogo and company name
- Rear doorscontact panel and message
- Side panelservice list or tagline
- Bonnetlogo on bakkies and vans
Coverage options
Partial coverage is defined by where the design sits. Common layouts include a lower-body band running below the waistline, a cab-door and fender panel on a truck, a printed rear door set on a van, and a roof-to-side sweep on a bakkie. Each leaves part of the original paint exposed, so the vehicle colour and its condition become part of the design.
Because paint is visible, any dents, scratches or mismatched panels remain visible beside the film. We note these on the proof stage so there are no surprises.
- Lower-body band or skirt graphics
- Cab door and sleeper panels
- Rear door and tailgate coverage
- Half wraps on vans, with the upper body left plain
- Side-only coverage for trailers and box bodies
Design process
The design starts with a proportioned template, then we position the printed area so that edges follow existing body lines such as pressed creases, trim strips or window lines, rather than stopping at random points. A clean edge on a body line looks deliberate and holds better than an edge in the middle of a flat panel.
You see a proof of every side before print. Where several vehicles of different sizes share one brand, we adapt the same layout across each model. See fleet branding solutions for how we keep a mixed fleet consistent.
Material choices
Cast vinyl is used where the film must follow curves, such as wheel arches and bumpers. Calendered vinyl is suitable for flat panels and straight-sided bodies. Both are laminated for abrasion and UV protection, in gloss or matte, and the laminate should match across the whole fleet so vehicles do not look different in the sun.
Reflective vinyl can be added to the design for rear and side strips, see reflective vehicle branding.
Preparation and installation
Edges are the weak point of a partial wrap, so surface preparation along the film boundary matters. The area must be clean, free of wax and silicone polish, and the paint sound. Old graphics in the zone must be removed first. The vehicle should arrive washed and dry, following our vehicle preparation guide.
We install at the studio or at your depot through on-site installation, subject to location, project size, site conditions and scheduling.
Care
Treat the film edges gently: avoid pointing a pressure washer straight at them, and do not use harsh solvents near the boundary. Wash the painted and wrapped areas together. See the wrap care guide.
What we need to quote
Send the vehicle make and model, photos of each side, the vehicle colour, your logo and the areas you want covered. If you are unsure where graphics should go, tell us how the vehicle is seen in daily use and we will suggest a layout.
Suitable branding options
At a glance
A partial vehicle wrap covers chosen sections of a vehicle and leaves the rest in its original paint. It works best on a clean base colour, most often white, which becomes the background of the livery while printed panels carry the logo, message and contact details. For fleet owners, partial vehicle wraps are a practical middle ground between simple decals and a full wrap, giving strong visual impact on vans, bakkies, trucks and trailers while using less film.
Typical partial wrap layouts include a printed door and rear section, a lower-body band, a bonnet and side combination or a bold rear-door graphic. Because the paint remains part of the design, the colour match and condition of the vehicle matter, and good artwork is planned around windows, mirrors and panel breaks. Businesses in Gauteng and across South Africa use partial wraps to keep vehicles consistent across mixed fleets, from delivery vans to tow trucks. Request a partial wrap quote and we will recommend which sections give the best visibility for your vehicle and your branding goals. Our team can also match a partial wrap to an existing fleet standard.
Common questions
Is a partial wrap cheaper than a full wrap?
It uses less film and installation time, so it is usually the lower-cost route. The actual figure is confirmed on your quotation.
Does my vehicle need to be white?
No, but a plain, light base colour makes the design simpler. On coloured paint we design the film to work with the existing colour.
What happens if the paint is damaged?
Damaged paint beside the wrap stays visible, and flaking paint under the film can lift it. Tell us about marks and respray areas when you request a quote.
Can a partial wrap be extended later?
Often yes, provided the same material and laminate are used and the original artwork file is kept. Colour match can vary with age.
Can I mix a partial wrap with cut vinyl?
Yes. Printed panels carry the brand while cut vinyl is used for fleet numbers and contact lines that may change.