Where to get a van wrap printed when you're the installer

You've quoted the job, the customer has said yes, and the van is booked into your bay. If you don't run your own printer — or yours is already full — the next question is simple: who prints it? This guide is for installers who need a reliable trade printer for van wraps, and want to get it right first time.

Print-only or print-and-fit? The first split in the market is between suppliers who only print and suppliers who print and install. Both can produce good work, but they're not the same thing for you. A print-only trade supplier exists to serve installers: their customer is you, not the van owner. A print-and-fit business is, at least some of the time, competing for the same end customers you are.

That matters more than it first appears. When you send a print-and-fit company your artwork, you're also sending them your customer's name, livery and vehicle details. Most are honest, but the conflict of interest is real, and it's worth asking directly whether a supplier installs before you send anything.

What to ask a trade printer. Start with materials. Ask which cast wrap vinyl they print on and which laminate they pair it with — reputable printers will name brands such as Avery, 3M or Arlon without hesitating. Ask whether every wrap is laminated as standard, because unlaminated print on a van won't stand up to washing, weather and daily use.

Next, ask how they panel. A good trade printer will split the design into panels sized for the van, with sensible overlaps and enough bleed for you to trim and tuck. Ask whether panels are labelled, and whether they'll send a panel plan so you know how the job goes together before it arrives.

Ask about proofing. You should see a proof before anything is printed, and the printer should check your file properly — resolution, colour mode, bleed and text too close to edges or door shuts — rather than printing whatever lands in the inbox. A printer who flags issues is saving you a reprint.

Then turnaround and delivery. Ask what their typical lead time is for print-only work, whether they can handle rush jobs, and how they ship. Tracked delivery is the minimum. If you work across the country, check they deliver everywhere you do — Northern Ireland, the Highlands and islands are where some suppliers quietly stop. It also helps if they can ship directly to your workshop, your customer or site.

Finally, ask about confidentiality. Will your files and pricing be kept private? Can they ship in plain, unbranded packaging so the wrap arrives looking like it came from you? A trade printer worth working with will say yes to both without any fuss.

What to send your printer. The smoother your brief, the faster the job. Send print-ready artwork in a common format — PDF, AI, EPS, PSD or flattened TIFF are standard — at 300dpi at full size, ideally in CMYK. RGB files can be printed but colours may shift. Include the van's make, model and year, and the wheelbase and roof height if it's a panel van, because a long-wheelbase high-roof Sprinter is a very different template to a short-wheelbase Transit Custom.

Photos help too. Pictures of each side, the rear doors and any awkward areas — bulkhead windows, roof racks, ladder fittings, existing graphics — let the printer panel around real obstacles rather than a template. If anything is to be left unwrapped, say so up front.

Red flags to watch for. Be wary of a printer who also installs and is vague about how they handle trade customers' end clients. Be cautious with very cheap print that doesn't specify the media; uncalendared, unlaminated or generic vinyl may look fine on the roll and fail on the van. Watch out for suppliers who never send proofs, who can't tell you which laminate they use, or who don't panel the job and leave you to work it out on the day.

A missing or unclear delivery promise is another warning sign. If the van is booked in for Monday and the print turns up on Tuesday, it's your day that's lost — and your relationship with the customer that takes the hit.

How Encirco does it. Encirco is a trade-only print and production partner based in Ossett, West Yorkshire. We don't install, and we never compete with installers for end-customer work. Your files and pricing stay confidential, and white-label, plain packaging is available.

We print customer-supplied artwork on premium cast wrap vinyl from Avery, 3M and Arlon, laminate it, cut it into panels and pack it ready to fit. Every file is checked before it goes to print, and you'll get a proof and panel plan for approval. Print-only jobs typically take 2–3 working days, design and print 3–5 days, and rush work can be done in 24 hours or less when possible.

We send tracked delivery anywhere in the UK, including Northern Ireland, the Highlands and islands, straight to your workshop, your customer or site. Don't have artwork? Our Design Studio can create it. Every job is quoted individually — see our van wrap printing page at encirco.com/van-wrap-printing for the full details.