Cost to Plasti Dip® a Car
The term “dipping” refers to a process where car owners coat, paint or wrap their vehicles using a popular product known as Plasti Dip®.
Coming in a sprayable multi-purpose, air dry, specialty rubber coat, this coating is sprayed directly onto the car and will act as a second skin for your vehicle.
When applied, it will help protect the original finish, while offering the car owner a way to change and/or enhance the current color. If done properly, it can create a very aesthetically pleasing result for a very low price.
How much does it cost to Plasti Dip® a car?
The costs to Plasti Dip® a car will depend on a few factors. Do you already have the necessary supplies, such as a special paint gun, to perform the job? Are you planning on doing the job on your own? If not, if you’re hiring a professional, who do you plan on hiring and where do you live? Lastly, the size of the car and the colors you choose, regardless of how the job will be done, will be a large factor as well as this will dictate the amount of “dip” needed to complete the job.
At DipYourCar.com, for instance, they include a full kit, along with all of the supplies you will need, for about $300. However, if you already have the paint gun and all of the necessary supplies needed, then you can buy about three gallons, which is enough to perform the job for a medium-sized car, for about $150. For a DIY job, be prepared to spend $150 to $325 for all of the supplies. For a premium color, add about $10 to $15 per gallon to the costs.
As for just the car rims, top selling products on DipYourCar.com and Amazon.com, for example, will retail for about $5 per 11-ounce container.
When hiring a professional, the costs, again, based on the factors mentioned prior, will depend on the geographical location, the vehicle and the professional you hire. From the quotes we researched on the Internet, the average professional job, including the entire car and the rims, would range anywhere from $750 to $1,300.
| The AVERAGE reported professional costs | |
|---|---|
| Compact Car | $499 |
| Average Coupe | $525 |
| Mid-Sized Sedan | $550 |
| Full Sized Sedan | $599 |
| Small SUV | $625 |
| Mid-Sized SUV | $650 |
| Full Sized SUV | $750 |
| + add rims | $250, regardless of size |
| + add emblems/badges | $40-$60 each |
| + add grill | $125 |
| + add stain finish | $150 |
| + add semi-gloss finish | $200 |
| + add glossy finish | $250 |
| + add two tone style | $100 |
| + add micro flake | $150 |
One member on this Reddit.com thread, for instance, claimed he was quoted $1,400 for his Honda Accord at a local shop.
On ABC13.com, in one of its interview with a local shop owner, he claimed the average costs could be about $600, which is much less than the average $3,000 car repaint job. The costs, when compared to a paint job, can be much cheaper due to the lack of the sanding process which must be done before any paint job.
AT Candy Dipped Cars, a professional located in Roanoke, Virigina, listed its official prices on its website, with prices ranging from $600 for a compact car to as much as $750 for a full-sized truck. Adding a satin finish or a semi-gloss finish could increase the costs by another $150 to $225.
What is Plasti Dip®?
Plasti Dip® is an air-dry, specialty rubber coating, referred to as the original peelable, insulating, non-slip, flexible, durable coating, according to the official website. The company provides a range of coating solutions, ranging from home items to an automobile and is removable from almost any surface.
Plasti Dip® is able to protect items from any moisture, abrasion, acids, corrosion and skidding, providing a comfortable, controlled grip.
It’s also known to be extremely flexible and is able to stretch over time, proven in just about any temperature ranging from -30°F to 200°F.
How to Plasti Dip®
The company recommends using a well-ventilated area and mixing well before using. All surfaces, before using the application, must be cleaned of any oils, dirt, wax, loose rust and grease to see the best results. All Plasti Dip® must be applied by using an approved electric turbine style spray system or an HVLP spray gun with a pressure pot system.
Before filling the spray gun, mix the spray thoroughly before each use to ensure the coats are applied evenly.
Spraying 10 to 12 inches from the surface, coats will overlap each other as being sprayed, allowing 10 to 30 minutes between sessions to dry. A minimum of five coats are recommended for the best performance and for easy removal and should allow for at least four hours of cure time. Plasti Dip® states a dry coating thickness of 10 mils, at a minimum, is recommended for optimal results.
The automotive color options
Standard
All colors, including red, black, white, gunmetal grey, flex blue, black/blue, black cherry, blurple, clear and process yellow, come in a one-gallon container, designed especially for automotive purposes.
Additional Automobile Colors
Aside from the standard colors, the company offers orange, pink, hunter green, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent blue, fluorescent orange, fluorescent green, fluorescent purple and fluorescent red.
Camo
A collection of colors designed to match the shades of nature, these colors are often added to outdoor gear. Colors include camo black, camo green, camo brown and camo tan.
Spray 50 Standard Colors
A type of Plasti Dip® designed for consumers who are unable to buy it in their local area. Colors include black, white, gunmetal gray and clear.
Rough guideline to the amount required
Sub-Compact — 2 Gallons
Compact — 2-3 Gallons
Mid-Sized — 3-4 Gallons
Full-Sized — 4 Gallons
SUV/Mini-Van — 5 Gallons
Large SUV — 6 Gallons
Rims – About 3-4 11-ounce cans
Facts to know
If used for personal usage, it cannot be sold or used in the following states: Arizona, California, Rhode Island and Tennesee.
If used for professional usage, it cannot be sold or used in the following states: Arizona, California, Rhode Island, Tennesee, Deleware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois, New Jersey, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas and Utah.
The dip, as long as applied properly, can last about three years. As it is very durable and will not lose its bond, again, if it is applied properly, the longevity, according to garage.eastwood.com, is based on the number of coats and how far the spray was when being applied.
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