How to Design a Vehicle Wrap That Actually Gets Noticed

Your van isn’t just for lugging tools around. It’s a 2-tonne branding machine… if you wrap it right.

At Dweebi, we’ve wrapped everything from construction machinery to delivery trucks. If you’re thinking of slapping your logo on a car and calling it a day, pull over. Here’s how to do vehicle wrap design properly (and why it matters).

Why Wrap Your Vehicle?

Quite simply, because your vehicle’s already out there. Sitting in traffic. Parked at job sites. Zipping down the M4. It’s already working for you – just not hard enough.

A vehicle wrap design is one of the smartest, most cost-effective marketing moves a business can make.

Here’s why:

• Visibility
  A single wrapped vehicle can get between 30,000 and 70,000 impressions per day, depending on location.

• Trust
  People are more likely to call a business with professional branding on their vehicle—it makes you look established.

• One-time investment, long-term payoff
  Unlike ads that charge per click or impression, a wrap works non-stop after one upfront cost.

And if you’re a local business? Even better. Wrapping your vehicle makes you instantly recognisable in your area, which means more leads, more referrals, and more street cred.

A good vehicle wrap design:

• Makes your business look pro (even if you’re still working out of your garage).

• Gets seen by thousands every week, without ongoing ad costs.

• Builds brand recall so people remember you when they need your service.

Basically, it’s like turning your car into a lead magnet on wheels.

What Makes a Good Vehicle Wrap Design?

Not all wraps are created equal. Some make people pull over to take a photo. Others make people squint and go, “What does that even say?”

Here’s what separates the eye-catching from the eye-roll.

1. Legibility comes first

No matter how clever your design is, if people can’t read it in 3 seconds while driving, it’s not working.

Quick tips:

• Keep your main message to 7 words or fewer

• Use large, bold fonts that contrast with the background

• Prioritise key info: Business name, service, contact details

2. Smart use of vehicle space

Designing for a vehicle isn’t like designing a brochure. You’ve got:

• Curves, panels, windows, and handles

• Different viewing angles (front, back, sides)

• Variable space depending on car type (van vs hatchback vs SUV)

We map everything out using accurate vehicle templates to make sure the design works with the shape, not against it.

3. Brand consistency

Your wrap should feel like you. Same vibe, colours and fonts as your business cards and website. Reinforcing your brand recognition and enhancing credibility with brand cohesion.

4. Strategic contrast and colour

Bright colours pop, but contrast is king. Yellow on white? Nope. White on black? Yes please.

And don’t forget visibility in real-world lighting – test your colours in daylight, shade, and wet conditions.

Common Vehicle Wrap Mistakes to Avoid

Let’s keep your wrap out of the design crime files. Avoid these rookie errors.

• Too much text
  Your vehicle isn’t a flyer. Stick to one main message and a call to action.
• Low-contrast colours
  Fancy doesn’t always mean functional. Go for legibility over trendiness.
• Poor layout for the vehicle shape
  Designs that get cut off by doors or windows = lost opportunity.
• Tiny contact details
  If it can’t be read at 40km/h, it’s too small.
• Stock images or clipart
  Your business is better than that. Use custom graphics or bold typography.

Real Wraps. Real Results. 

Vehicle Wrap Design Examples

One of our tradie clients went from zero calls to fully booked in three weeks—just from wrapping his ute. No SEO. No Google Ads. Just one big, eye-catching logo and a phone number people could actually read.

The Wrap Design Process 

1. Discovery Chat

We get to know your business, brand, goals and vehicle type. Are you going for loud and bold, or sleek and understated? We ask questions, throw around ideas, and define the look you want.

2. Vehicle Template Mapping

We grab a scale-accurate template of your exact vehicle make and model so we can design precisely for:

• Panel breaks

• Curves

• Handles and mirrors

• Windows (perforated vinyl, if needed)

3. Design Concepts

You get to see visual mockups of your vehicle with the wrap in place (side, front, back) so you know exactly what to expect.

4. Review & Revisions

We’ll tweak things until you’re 100% happy. Want the phone number bigger? We got you.

5. Final Artwork Delivery

We prep your wrap files in a print-ready format, colour-calibrated for vinyl. If you’ve got an installer, great. If not, we can link you up with someone solid.

Thinking About a Wrap?

At Dweebi, we’re obsessed with smart design. Vehicle wraps are one of our specialties—and we don’t just make them look good, we make them work.

Whether you’ve got a fleet of workhorses or one lonely Corolla, we’ll design a vehicle wrap that gets you noticed, and gets you business.