There's a myriad of types of vinyl here, and we could go into some deep detail. For the sake of your sanity, however, we'll keep it brief and stick to the main vinyl you'll deal with.
Calendered or Cast Vinyl?
To give you a quick overview, there are two primary types of vinyl: calendered or cast. The key differences stem from how they're made. Calendered vinyl is normally cheaper and is the primary vinyl used by sign makers. It's good for most flat sided applications and has a solid lifespan of between 2 and 5 years. Cast vinyl, on the other hand, is more dimensionally stable and is better suited for more complex contours such as vehicle graphics, as well as having a longer life span. It is more of a premium vinyl, and that's reflected in the cost. Cast vinyl tends to last between 8-10 years.