Magnetic Van Signs

Magnetic signs let you brand a vehicle without committing to permanent vinyl. Stick them on when you need them, peel them off when you don't. No residue, no damage to paintwork, no drama.

They're printed on vehicle-grade magnetic material (thicker and stronger than the stuff used for fridge magnets) with laminated, fade-resistant inks. We round the corners as standard, which stops wind catching an edge and lifting the sign off at speed.

Check your vehicle first

Magnetic signs only work on steel panels. If your vehicle has plastic or aluminium bodywork, they won't stick - and this is more common on newer cars and vans than you'd think.

There's no halfway point here. Either the magnet grips or it doesn't.

If you're local, drop into us and we'll test it with a sample. If you're not nearby, grab a fridge magnet and stick it on the panel where you want the sign to go. If it holds, you're good. If it slides off, magnetic signs aren't going to work for you.

Who uses these

Tradespeople with leased vans. You can't wrap a van you don't own, and even if the leasing company allows vinyl, you'll pay to have it removed at the end. Magnetic business signs solve that problem - full branding on the car doors without the commitment.

Festival and event security. We've done vehicle sets for security teams working music festivals - hired vans that need to be clearly marked for a few days, then returned unmarked. Same deal for event production crews and catering suppliers bringing goods on site.

Dual-use vehicles. The pizza delivery van that's someone's personal car during the week. The taxi that doesn't want permanent signage on a private vehicle. The plumber's van that doubles as the family car at weekends.

Trailers and towed units. Magnetic signs work on any steel surface, so they're good for box trailers, catering units, and mobile equipment where you want branding you can swap out.

One-off branding jobs. We once branded a pink limo for Bingo Loco for a weekend. Magnetic signs went on Friday, came off Sunday, job done. We can personalise each sign individually too - useful if you need car numbers or driver names for identification.

We use them ourselves - our delivery driver sticks a set on his van when he's doing drops at festivals. It's a good way to show off what we can do.

How wind affects magnetic signs (and how to avoid problems)

Wind is the enemy. If air gets underneath a magnetic sign at speed, it will lift off and you'll lose it.

This happens for a few reasons:

The surface wasn't clean. Grit or dirt between the sign and the paintwork creates tiny air gaps. Always wipe the surface down before applying.

The sign is bridging a curve. Magnetic signs need flat surfaces. If your van has a contour, crease, or ridge where you want to put the sign, part of it won't sit flush. That gap is where wind gets in.

Sharp corners catch air. We round all corners as standard for exactly this reason - it removes the grab point where wind starts to peel.

We only use vehicle-grade magnetic material. There's regular magnetic sheeting (fine for indoor use) and there's the thicker, stronger stuff rated for vehicles. We use the vehicle-grade material because it holds better and lasts longer.

Sizes

We offer a range of standard sizes:

• 60" x 24" (1524mm x 610mm)
• 48" x 24" (1219mm x 610mm)
• 36" x 24" (914mm x 610mm)
• 36" x 36" (914mm x 914mm)
• 24" x 24" (610mm x 610mm)
• 12" x 24" (305mm x 610mm)
• A1 (594mm x 841mm)
• A2 (420mm x 594mm)
• A3 (297mm x 420mm)

Custom sizes are available - just ask. We can also die-cut custom magnetic signs to shape if you need something other than a rectangle (logos, speech bubbles, shaped panels) but odd shapes and signs with a low surface area might be be best used for a stationery vehicle.

Finish options

Gloss lamination is what we recommend for vehicles. Rain beads off it, road grime wipes clean easily, and it holds up well to daily use.

Matt lamination looks better in most people's opinion (ours included), but the slight texture can hold onto dirt. It's still cleanable, just not as quick to wipe down. If the sign is going on a vehicle that gets washed regularly, matt works fine. If it's going to spend weeks getting splashed by trucks on the M50, go gloss.

Looking after them

Store flat when not in use. Rolling them or folding them can crease the magnetic material and weaken the grip.

Keep them clean. Wipe down the back as well as the front - any grit on the magnetic side can scratch your paintwork when you apply them.

Don't leave them on permanently. If a magnetic sign stays in the same spot for months, it can leave a slight outline where the paint underneath hasn't faded at the same rate as the rest of the vehicle. This isn't damage, it's just uneven sun exposure - but it's worth knowing. The manuafactuer recommends not leaving on in temperatures over 35 degrees, or under -15 degree but we dont need to worry about that in Ireland at the moment.

Some people store them stuck to the inside of the van when not in use. Keeps them flat and out of the way.

Turnaround

2-3 working days for most orders. If there's a large amount, or you need faster give us a call

Artwork

Supply print-ready PDF or high-resolution image files (300dpi at final size). If you're not sure whether your file is suitable, send it over and we'll check it for you.

If you need the sign die-cut to a specific shape, include a cut path on a separate layer but remember, sharp corners and odd shapes wont give the best finish to combat the wind while vechile is in motion.