Changing the color of your car: Should you paint it or use decals?
Changing a car's color is one of the popular ways to customize a vehicle; however, many people wonder whether they should choose painting or applying decals.
Painting and applying decals are two popular methods used to change a car's paint color. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Applying decals is a way to refresh a car by using decal stickers with various designs to suit the user's preferences. With just a few steps like peeling and sticking, the car becomes completely new.
Meanwhile, car painting involves applying various colored inorganic or organic substances to the surface of a car.
Comparison between repainting and applying decals to a car.
Car painting and decal application both have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Regarding color
Car decals offer a wide variety of colors and patterns. In contrast, car paint is limited in color options. Typically, users can only choose from a few popular colors like white, black, red, and silver. If you want to decorate your car with custom designs, the cost will be very high.
Durability
If you're painting your car, its durability depends on the quality of the paint. If the paint is of poor quality, the color will degrade after a few years. Conversely, high-quality paint can last a lifetime if properly maintained. Meanwhile, decals can last up to 10 years.
Regarding price
The cost of applying decals to the entire car is lower than painting. This difference mainly stems from the fact that repainting makes the car's color look more natural and takes longer to complete compared to applying decals.
Maintenance
If you repaint your car, you'll spend a lot of time on maintenance after the repaint, such as polishing, cleaning, and preserving the paint. Conversely, with decals, you'll spend less time on maintenance. The original paint layer remains underneath, so the owner only needs to clean the decal periodically.
Flexibility
Compared to painting, car decal application offers more flexibility. When owners get tired of the old "coat of paint," they simply remove the decal layer, and the original paint color is still protected.
Completion time
Repainting a car typically involves many steps, takes a lot of time, and requires modern equipment. In contrast, applying decals takes less time.
Should you choose paint or decals if you want to change your car's color?
Repainting or applying decals each has its own advantages. Users can choose one of the two methods depending on their needs, budget, and the actual condition of the vehicle.
For severely damaged vehicles with scratched surfaces, applying decals won't improve the aesthetics. Instead, repainting is a much better option for a significant upgrade.
For new cars, users should choose decals to select from a wider variety of colors and patterns without damaging the car's paint. Furthermore, changing the car's color is quick and cost-effective.
