Vinyl is glue and film. It only bonds properly to a surface that is clean, dry, at the right temperature and free of contaminants. Skip the prep and the wrap will lift at the edges, fail early or trap dirt under the film. This guide is the short version of what we want a vehicle to look like when it arrives at our workshop, and what you can do before install day to help.
Two weeks before installation
- Do not wax or polish. Silicone-based waxes stop vinyl bonding. If the vehicle was recently waxed, we will need to strip it back — better to skip it for now.
- Fix paint damage. Deep scratches, chips through to primer and dents should be repaired first. Vinyl highlights imperfections, it does not hide them.
- Handle rust. Rusted panels must be treated — rust continues under vinyl and will lift the wrap within months.
The week of installation
- Deep wash. A proper hand wash with pH-neutral shampoo, wheels included. Avoid drive-through washes that leave silicone residue.
- Remove old decals. If your vehicle carries old branding, tell us. Removal is a separate step and needs its own time window.
- Empty the exterior. Roof racks, ladder mounts, magnetic signs, aftermarket antennas — anything you can remove, remove. Anything you can't, tell us so we can plan around it.
The day of installation
- Bring the vehicle clean. A final wipe-down at our workshop is standard, but starting from a clean vehicle saves hours.
- Empty fuel tanks are not required. The vehicle stays with us for the install window — leave enough fuel to drop off and pick up.
- Bring documents. Mulkiya, trade licence copy and any approval reference numbers.
- Allow the vehicle to acclimatise. A vehicle driven straight from a 45 °C car park needs time inside the workshop for panel temperatures to normalise before vinyl goes on.
Panels that need extra attention
- Door handles, mirror caps and their surroundings.
- Bumpers, especially textured plastic areas.
- Wheel arches and the panel edges around them.
- Boot lip and fuel-cap surround — common failure points if not cleaned.
After installation
- Do not wash the vehicle for at least 48 hours.
- Avoid parking in direct sun for the first day when possible.
- Read the aftercare sheet we hand over — how to wash, dry and inspect edges.
Want to make the wrap last? Combine the prep above with the aftercare rules in how long a vehicle wrap lasts in Dubai. When you are ready, request a free concept or a quotation.