Bus Wraps
Bus and Van Wraps
Your Local Bus Wraps Manufacturers and Installers
Buses are often used as an advertising tool. They offer a considerable amount of unused space, and with a custom bus wrap, both private companies and local municipalities have an opportunity to create or sell space by covering them in custom vinyl. These vinyl wraps look like paint, and can be printed with almost any design or graphic to transform the look of the bus. With over 30 years of experience in the signage industry,
Blue Dot Signs can fabricate and install 3M vinyl wraps on every model of bus. We have options for both temporary and more permanent commercial bus wraps, printed with unique graphics. Learn how we can transform your company’s vehicles by contacting us today via our online form.
Vinyl Bus Wraps Available at Blue Dot Signs
If your company uses a bus to shuttle passengers, a custom wrap can let customers know where the bus is going. Yet branding also serves as advertising to bystanders and other motorists, the combination of which can provide several thousand impressions each day the bus is in service. By customizing the design and the wrap, you can create advertising that fits your business. Some of our bus wraps:
Options for Custom Bus Wraps
With the right vinyl films, an entire bus can be wrapped with printed graphics, including the windows. The 3M vehicle and window vinyl product lines offer various films for different applications. The ones most commonly used on trailer wraps and bus wraps are:
- Vehicle Vinyl - This lightweight, 2mil opaque vinyl is used on most surfaces of the vehicle. It has a pressure-activated adhesive backing that sticks to most bus substrates, including aluminum, paint, and ABS resins.
- Transparent Vinyl - So that windows can still be safely seen through, designs can be printed onto a transparent vinyl. This design is visible to both those inside and outside the vehicle, making it useful on buses where passengers could see it.
- Window Mesh - Another window option that offers one-way visibility, perforated vinyl mesh is filled with small holes. From the outside, the viewer will see the printed design. Inside, passengers will be able to see out.
These films are made of cast vinyl, giving it the ability to be melded around curves, compound curves, corrugated surfaces, and flat surfaces with rivets. They are cut from the manufacturer’s sheets to the sizes required for each panel where they will be installed. In addition the right vinyl for vehicle applications, there are also options to customize other features of the wrap including:
- A full or partial bus wrap
- Printed graphics through direct digital printing
- Black and white or full color with CMYK printing process
- Color matching with the Pantone system
- Matte, glossy, or satin finish
- With or without lamination for texturing and protection
Installation of the Custom Vinyl Graphics
In addition to full and partial wraps, it is also possible to create decals and lettering, such as DOT signs, from vinyl film. These can be used for either advertising purposes or to meet regulations put forth by the Department of Transportation. When the vinyl vehicle film has been printed and cut to size for your vehicle model, it can be applied. Bus wraps are self-adhering due to the adhesive backing on the film that requires only pressure to activate it. The wrap is applied by positioning it, starting with an edge or corner, and working slowly across the vehicle.
A small squeegee is used to force out any air bubbles throughout the process which escapes through built in air release channels. The vinyl is positioned and given time to dry, at which point the adhesive seals it to the glass. Both methods can require a few days of installation time, especially for larger buses.
However, once installed, graphics can last for up to 5 years and are resistant to typical weather conditions, as well as the alkalis and acids present in pollution. It is also possible to create shorter term use temporary bus wraps that will be installed for only a few weeks or months. These can be easily removed when no longer needed.
Why Companies Use Bus Wraps
Whether for branding or advertising, vinyl bus wraps offer a convenient and cost effective way to customize a vehicle with advantages such as:
- Advertising - Buses are often one of the largest vehicles on the road. When their large scale and mobility are coupled with full color designs, they provide easily noticed advertising that can generate revenue.
- Brand Recognition for Passengers - A bus with your company’s name, colors, and logo on it makes it easy for customers to identify. This can make it reassuring and professional for passengers.
- Replaceable - Instead of permanent paint, vinyl wraps can be removed and replaced when needed. This makes it possible to update vehicles as needed.
- Protects Bus - A vinyl wrap can extend the lifespan of the bus by protecting the paint from sun, rain, rust, scratches, and other sources of discoloration and damage.
Where Bus Wraps Are Installed
Any bus or other vehicle can be wrapped in a custom printed vinyl film. Businesses that often use promotional vinyl graphics on their buses include:
- Charter Schools and Daycares
- Casinos
- Hotels
- Rental Car Companies
- Municipalities
Common design elements for bus wraps used in these industries include the company logo, photography, address and phone number, and coloring to match the business aesthetic.
Let Blue Dot Signs Print and Install Your Bus Wrap
As a full service sign company, Blue Dot Signs can design, manufacture, and install a commercial bus wrap for your vehicle. We have an in-house process designed for efficiency so that we can install graphics and have your bus back in service as soon as possible. We also offer low cost maintenance and removal services so that we can assist you throughout the life of your wrap. When you’re ready to get the process started, order your custom bus wrap by sending us an email at info@bluedotsigns.com or calling us at 908-486-7000.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are your installation services licensed?
Yes, our services are licensed and insured. We are also 3M certified installers and apply vinyl wraps according to the recommended manufacturer’s guidelines.
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How are the measurements for the design determined?
Whenever possible, the blueprints for the make and model of the bus should be used to provide the measurements. When that is not possible, exact measurements of the bus can also be used.
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Can I install my vinyl bus wrap myself?
It is not recommended unless you have experience with vinyl wraps. Vinyl has to be applied slowly and precisely for a professional finish. The air bubbles need to be pushed out and the vinyl stretched so it goes on smoothly over curves. Once the vinyl film is positioned, it cannot be removed and repositioned.
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If I don’t know how to design a bus wrap, can you help me?
Yes. Many of our clients come to us with an idea or a 2D design, but aren’t able to translate that into a 3D bus wrap design themselves. That’s why we have a team of graphic designers on staff to help prepare designs for printing no matter what stage they’re at.
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How do I wash the bus while the wrap is installed?
In order to protect the wrap, handwashing is the safest. Touchless car washes and pressure washing under 2000 psi can also be used.
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What is the removal process?
When the wrap is ready to be removed, it is heated. This loosens the wrap and allows it to be peeled off. A 3M cleaner can be used to remove any lingering adhesive. Professional assistance with this process is also best, especially for vinyl wraps that have been in place longer, to prevent any damage to the bus’s paint.
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Are there any discounts to cover a fleet of buses?
For all pricing information, please call us. We can sometimes offer discounts if you are wrapping your entire fleet, and we are always happy to offer you a quote.
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Will a wrap shrink in the sunlight?
No, 3M wraps are shrink-proof. When installed properly, they will not warp or shrink while on the bus.
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What happens if a vinyl wrap is not removed after five years?
The longer a wrap is in place, the more it adheres to the pain it has been applied to. For the first five years, this does not pose a problem. After that, the film can begin to over adhere. This will make it more complicated to remove and can risk damaging the paint.
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How long is the turnaround time?
Although it depends on the size of the bus and whether a full or partial wrap is used, it generally takes one to two weeks to install a bus wrap. This provides enough time to print and apply the wrap, and then allow it to set.