Truck and Van Sign Writing vs a Partial Wrap: Picking Cost-Efficient Displays That Maximise Brand Visibility

Budgets are always a consideration when you’re picking the right way to customise your business van, work truck, or fleet. There are multiple options that are affordable and cost-effective if you don’t have the resources for a full-scale vinyl wrap across your whole vehicle or need to upgrade a larger fleet.

Two of the most in-demand services include sign writing and partial wraps. With a partial wrap, we use the same quality materials, standout graphics, and professional expertise as with a full wrap, but pick select aspects of your vehicle where your branding, logo, or messaging will stand out.

Let’s run through how each of these options works, why they’re beneficial, and share some tips on picking your preferred application method based on your budget, time constraints and business.

Van and Truck Sign Writing: Bespoke Vehicle Customisation  

Professional sign writing can be massively impactful, and although it has less coverage than a wrap because the signage comprises the exact lettering or imagery you want to be displayed, the trick is to optimise the effect by using colours, fonts and shapes that stand out and capture attention.

Sign writing may be the perfect option for you if you:

• Want to emblazon your company name or brand in larger letters across the side or reverse of a van or want text-only customisation or one large logo rather than a wrap that covers a larger proportion of the bodywork.
• Have limitations in terms of the types of customisation you’re able to add to your vehicle or fleet and prefer sign writing we can remove at any point in the future without damaging the paintwork underneath.
• Are looking to rebrand and need a fast and straightforward solution. We can offer super-quick turnaround times on most types of van customisation. Still, sign writing can be ideal if the timing is key, or you’ve got a larger number of vehicles to customise as soon as possible.

While precision application is essential for any project, sign writing should always be completed by a skilled professional. The finish and clarity of the lettering, logos, and graphics must be pin-sharp to ensure they are readable from a distance.

Using Partial Van Wraps to Ensure Your Vehicle Stands Out 

Our next option is a partial wrap, which differs from a full wrap solely in terms of the amount of bodywork that is covered. This type of customisation is popular with clients with commercial fleets who recognise the power of vehicle advertising but aren’t as interested in the visual aesthetics of a full wrap or for whom this wouldn’t make sense with their branding profile.

Partial wraps make the best use of the space available and are designed to enhance impressions, with most clients positioning their decals in prominent places such as:

• Along the side doors for vans that travel throughout the day and that are most often viewed when stationary, around residential areas or parked during deliveries.
• On the rear panels, if the truck spends more time in traffic or navigating motorways. This wrap is easiest for motorists to see. Rear van wraps can be either standalone or accompanied by other partial wraps.

The great aspect of personalised van decals, wraps, and sign writing is that you can use as much or as little as you want. That means this isn’t an either-or decision, and your signage can be as bold, contemporary, subtle, or bright as you wish, with options to use several sign writing or partial wrap placements in strategic positions without needing to wrap the entirety of the vehicle.

If you’re new to wrapping and unsure of the contrasts between full and partial wraps, we’d recommend our earlier guide to Full Vinyl Van Wraps vs. Partial Wraps so you can get a better idea of how these look.

Pricing Comparisons Between Full Wraps, Partial Wraps and Sign Writing

It’s always impossible to give accurate pricing indications because so many variables go into each van or truck customisation project, from the type, finish and texture of the wrap material to the size of the decals, the amount of prep work required, and the complexity of the application.

However, purely from a cost perspective, van sign writing is the most cost-efficient option if your priority is to customise your work fleet on a budget. The design options are slightly more limited, but you can display your logo, brand colours, name and contact information anywhere on your vehicle you’d like.

Partial wraps are a compromise between the two and give more flexibility in terms of flair, colours, finishes and designs, with partial wraps that can wind around the lower proportion of the van, cover a specific panel, or be used to create a 50/50 effect. 

The total cost is fairly comparable to the proportion of the van covered – so a half wrap might cost half that of a full wrap, and so on. Full wraps are the most expensive option, but the return is in visibility. High-profile vans and trucks can effectively expand brand awareness, creating an unmistakable livery.

Criteria to Consider When Deciding on the Right Van Customisation Options

There are no right or wrong answers, but based on our experience, most businesses and tradespeople think about the following questions if they aren’t sure what type of customisation to go with:

• What is your budget, and would you feel happier having a more subtle or modest graphic if that means spending less?
• What impacts do you need your van customisation to have? Is your brand working on extending its reach into new areas, or do you want a sleek, professional appearance when visiting existing clients?
• What type and style of van graphics will most likely appeal to your customer demographic? Are you thinking about loud, high-energy decals or something more refined?

The WrapUK team is, of course, on hand if you need more tailored advice or the chance to compare quotations. We can discuss the options with you once we’ve got a better idea of your budget, the type of business you want to promote, and whether you’re wrapping one or two vans or a bigger fleet. Get in touch now.