Updated September 2026 with this year’s finishes and jobs.
Picking a colour is the fun part of a wrap. Picking a finish decides how the car looks, how much washing it needs and how long it lasts. Here’s every finish we fit at Auto Wrap Manchester, with real cars from this year.
Car wrap colours: how the finish changes the colour
The same green looks deep and wet in gloss, soft in satin, and flat and stealthy in matte. So decide on the finish first, then narrow down the shade.
Gloss
Gloss looks like fresh paint, which is why it’s the safe choice for a colour change that needs to pass as factory. It’s the easiest finish to wash and polish. Our BMW iX in Racing Green and the Lamborghini Urus in green both show how much depth a good gloss vinyl has.
Satin
Satin sits between gloss and matte, with a soft sheen like a ribbon and no mirror reflection. It looks expensive without shouting, and it cleans with a normal wash as long as you skip the polish. This year’s Porsche 911 in satin grey and Range Rover Sport in satin black are the finish at its best.
Matte
Matte is completely flat, with no shine at all, and it turns heads on dark colours. It wears well but shows fingerprints and grease more than satin, and you can’t polish out a mark, so keep to pH-neutral shampoo and a matte-safe detailer.
Metallic
Metallic vinyl has fine metal flake in the colour layer, so it sparkles in sunlight and reads as a solid colour in shade. It behaves like gloss for cleaning and lifespan.
Pearl and colour-shift
Pearl finishes carry a soft second tone as the car turns, and colour-shift (or flip) films move between two or three colours depending on the angle. They clean like gloss, but the film costs more than a standard colour and is hard to match if a panel ever needs replacing.
Chrome
Chrome is a mirror finish and the most demanding film we fit. It shows every flaw underneath, needs gentle hand washing only, and lasts 2 to 3 years rather than the 5 to 7+ you’d get from gloss, satin or matte. Our Hyundai i30N in satin chrome pink is the softer version of this look, with the mirror knocked back to a sheen.
Carbon and textured
Carbon-fibre effect and textured films (brushed metal, leather grain) have a physical texture pressed into the vinyl. They’re mostly used on roofs, bonnets, mirrors and trim, and the texture can trap dirt, so wash with a soft brush. Lifespan is similar to gloss and matte.
Printed
Printed wraps are designed in-house, printed on white vinyl and laminated in gloss or matte. That’s how we do liveries, fleet graphics and any colour or pattern no manufacturer makes, and the laminate decides how it cleans and lasts.
Finish, care and lifespan at a glance
| Finish | Look | Care | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloss | Paint-like shine | Wash and polish as normal | 5 to 7+ years |
| Satin | Soft sheen | Wash, no polish | 5 to 7+ years |
| Matte | Flat, no shine | Matte-safe products, no polish | 5 to 7+ years |
| Metallic | Flake sparkle | As gloss | 5 to 7+ years |
| Pearl / colour-shift | Two-tone shimmer | As gloss, hand wash preferred | 5 to 7+ years |
| Chrome | Mirror | Hand wash only | 2 to 3 years |
| Carbon / textured | Raised pattern | Soft brush, no jet wash close up | 5 to 7+ years |
| Printed | Any design | Depends on laminate | 5 to 7+ years |
Lifespans assume quality vinyl and proper care. Every full wrap comes with a 12-month workmanship warranty, extendable up to 3 years through our Bronze, Silver and Gold packages.
Real wraps from 2026
- BMW iX, full colour change in Racing Green
- Porsche 911 in satin grey
- Range Rover Sport, full wrap in satin black
- Ineos Grenadier in Basalt Grey
- Lamborghini Urus in green
- Audi RSQ8 in gold
- BMW X5 in Tiffany blue
- Mercedes C63S in tan
- Audi A1 two-tone
- Mercedes GLB350 in green colour PPF
The gold RSQ8, Tiffany blue X5 and tan C63S are worth a look if you fancy a bold colour.
How colour and finish affect the price
Standard colours cost the same in gloss, satin or matte. The price moves with the film type, the size of the car and how far the wrap goes.
| Job | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Full wrap, standard colour and finish | £1,800 to £5,000 (typically around £3,500) |
| Full wrap, chrome or brushed-metal effect | £4,000 to £9,000 |
| Door shuts and backs of doors | £600 to £1,500 extra |
Your current paint colour matters too. If the car is white, yellow or red and you’re wrapping it dark, the original colour shows in the door shuts every time a door opens. Wrapping the shuts fixes that, which is the £600 to £1,500 line above. For a full breakdown see how much a car wrap costs.
Colour PPF: change the colour and protect the paint
If you want a new colour and stone-chip protection in one film, look at colour PPF. It’s a thicker, self-healing polyurethane film in a solid colour, so light scratches disappear with heat and the paint is protected from chips in a way vinyl can’t match.
The Mercedes GLB350 we finished in green colour PPF this year is a good example. It costs more than vinyl and the colour range is smaller, but at the time of writing full PPF jobs include a complimentary Halo ceramic coat.
How to choose your wrap colour
A colour on a phone screen is not a colour on a car. Come and see the samples in the unit and look at them in shade and in direct sun. We keep sample books from 3M, KPMF, Avery Dennison and Hexis.
Think about light versus dark too. Dark satin and matte look sleek but show dust. Light colours stay cleaner-looking and run cooler in summer.
Finally, a wrap is reversible. If resale is on your mind, a colour change wrap protects the factory paint underneath and comes off when you sell, which a respray can’t offer. We’ve compared the two in car wrap vs respray.
Wrap colour and finish FAQs
What is the most popular car wrap colour?
Satin black and satin grey are the ones we fit most, with deep greens close behind this year. Gloss black remains the go-to for a factory look.
Which wrap finish lasts longest?
Gloss, satin and matte all last 5 to 7+ years with proper care. Chrome is the exception at 2 to 3 years.
Does the finish change the price of a wrap?
Not between gloss, satin and matte. Chrome, colour-shift and some textured films cost more, and a chrome full wrap runs £4,000 to £9,000 against £1,800 to £5,000 for a standard finish.
Is matte harder to look after than gloss?
A little. Matte shows grease and fingerprints more, can’t be polished, and needs matte-safe products. Satin is the easier middle ground if you like the flat look.
Can I see a colour before I commit?
Yes. Come to the unit in Trafford Park and we’ll show you samples in daylight. It’s the only reliable way to judge a colour.
Ready to pick your colour?
We’ve been designing, printing and fitting wraps in Trafford Park since 2014, with 0% finance over 3, 6 or 12 months. See our full vehicle wraps, get a free quote or call us on 0161 672 7376.
