Car and Truck Lettering

Vinyl lettering is made up of individual letters, numbers, or graphics that are cut to the exact shape and then pre-spaced and placed onto transfer masking tape. This structure allows for a seamless application onto the desired surface.

No, the letters are individually cut but not printed separately. The application tape layer holds the letters in place upon application.

In most cases, the individual letters contained within your vehicle lettering will be appropriately spaced and placed on a single sheet of transfer tape for quick and simple installation.

However, if your vehicle lettering exceeds 48" (for colors black and white) or 24" (for all other colors) in both width and height, your lettering will be split and placed onto two sheets of transfer tape.

You will also receive your vehicle lettering in multiple sheets if you are using three or more different colors. In this case, each separate color will be grouped together on its own sheet.

Vehicle lettering, car lettering, and truck lettering are all the same products. The exact same material and installation process is used whether you are using the lettering on your car, truck, van, or any other type of vehicle.

Car and truck lettering is cut to shape from a sheet of solid-colored vinyl, which gives the lettering no background. Therefore, there is a limited number of colors to choose from with vinyl lettering.

After cutting out the general shapes of the letters or object, the production team employs manual weeding also known as picking to cut out any internal spaces. This is what allows vehicle lettering to be cut to the exact shape. No printing is used when producing car and truck lettering.

If you are interested in having your graphic printed onto vinyl with unlimited color options or gradients, you can check out our vehicle decals.

Weeding (picking) is the process in which the internal spaces of a letter, shape, or object are cut out. For example, whenever a "D" or a "B" is a part of an order for vinyl lettering, the external shape of the letter is first cut from a sheet of vinyl with the internal spaces still intact. Weeding cuts out the inside part of the "D" or "B” to give the letter’s actual shape.

Because of the intricate detail required with weeding, it is all done by hand and can be a very detail-oriented process for complicated designs. Hence the reason why pricing is based on the complexity of your requested design.

The main difference between our vinyl car and truck lettering and our opaque, clear, and perforated vehicle decals is that the vinyl lettering requires no printing and uses different colors of vinyl material. Our vehicle decals all have the design printed directly onto a standard vinyl material.

Another major difference is in the cutting options. Vinyl lettering is cut to exact shape (including internal spaces), whereas vehicle decals can only be cut to the general outline of the shape, maintaining a solid background.

In the general sense, car decals refer to any type of material with adhesive properties that has the intended purpose of being applied to the exterior of a car. So, in that sense, car lettering is a type of car decal. However, in order to eliminate confusion, we refer to vinyl that is cut from solid colored vinyl as car lettering and vinyl that is printed on as a car decal.

There is no default color for car and truck lettering. Since the lettering is cut directly from a sheet of solid-colored vinyl, the color selected when creating your design is the same color as the vinyl material that is used.

That said, most people choose white for the color of their vehicle lettering. In most cases, a white color provides the most contrast and visibility when placed on the window of a car or truck, especially if the window is tinted.

Our vehicle lettering is made from durable 2 mil (50 micron) vinyl that is designed to last up to 8–10 years (depending on use and climate conditions). The vinyl is self-adhesive and comes in over 35 different colors.

No, the letters are individually cut but not printed separately. The application tape layer holds the letters in place upon application.

The thickness of the vinyl material used is .002" (2-mil or 50 microns; about the thickness of half of a sheet of copy paper). This allows the lettering to not protrude from the surface of the vehicle yet still maintain its quality and durability.

Our vehicle lettering is not visible in the dark. As for premium vinyl, our standard vinyl has exceptional quality and has a durability and lifespan similar to what other providers offer with their "premium" vinyl material. Currently, we do not offer reflective or marine vinyl types. If you are interested in creating lettering out of one of these vinyl types, please contact us to see what options you may have.

Our car and truck lettering are available in a wide range of sizes to fit your needs. To determine what size your lettering should be, start measuring the size of the surface where you would like to apply the lettering. Most users apply lettering to the rear window, back, or sides of their vehicle. Our standard size of 36" x 18" fits most rear windows, but because rear windows are unique in size and shape, we highly recommend measuring for the exact size you need.

The height is measured from the highest point of the tallest letter to the lowest point of the lowest-hanging letter. For example, if you were ordering vinyl lettering that said "Signs" the height of your lettering would be measured from the top of the capital letter "S" to the bottom of the "g". Likewise, the width of your lettering is measured from the beginning of the left-most letter to the end of the right-most letter. To determine the lettering’s total size, multiply the height by the width of the full design.

The minimum size your lettering must be is 1" x 1". Due to our paneling technique, there is no definite maximum size for your vinyl lettering, allowing you to go as big as you like. This allows you to create some very large graphics for placement on large vehicles, such as buses or semi-trucks.

Note that if both width and height exceed 24", then you will need to have either your width or height comprised of multiple sheets or panels of vinyl, creating a small seam in the design. If you wish to have no seams in your lettering, then you must keep the dimensions below 24" (2’) in one direction (width or height) and 600" (50’) in the other direction.

When ordering large dimensions, we recommend hiring professionals to install the lettering or getting help from several people.

Stroke width refers to the width of any portion of a letter or object. Letters or objects that have extremely narrow stroke widths may not be able to be used for vehicle lettering due to the difficulty in cutting, weeding, and installing them. If you are interested in using a font with narrow letters or a complex design, please contact us before ordering to see if we can produce it.

We currently do not offer vinyl car wraps.

We do not have an official truck stripes or striping product. However, our vinyl lettering can go up to 600" (50’) long, making striping using vinyl lettering a possibility. If you choose to do this and order striping that is over 3' long, we strongly recommend going for professional installation or seeking help from others when installing.

We offer over 70 different fonts on our site, allowing you to create lettering that ranges from fun, professional, to creative. If you have a specific font in mind that you would like to use for your lettering but cannot find it on our site, you can upload a file of your desired font to our online design tool. The uploaded file must be in vector format and the file must be in AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF.

Feel free to contact our free design services if you need help uploading your desired font.

You can choose from 39 different colors for your car and truck lettering, including standard and specialty colors. Generally, we can only produce vinyl lettering from the colors we offer on our site. However, if you have a specific color in mind and would like to place a custom order, feel free to contact us.

Yes, you can order vehicle lettering that incorporates any variety of the colors that we offer on our site. Each individual object that you create in our design tool will each have its own solid color. If you want multiple colors, be sure to create multiple objects on the design tool.

Please note that if your design incorporates three or more separate colors, your lettering will be sent out in separate sheets for each color. When you receive the vinyl lettering, you’ll combine the colors together to install it on the surface.

If you are uploading a file, please note that each file uploaded can only have one color applied. For example, if you are trying to create a business logo out of vinyl lettering that incorporates multiple colors, you will need to break up the logo into multiple files based on the color then upload each file separately into our design tool.

If you have a design that uses many colors or if you are wanting exact colors from your design, then we recommend using one of our vehicle decals. Our vehicle decals are printed instead of cut, allowing you to use an unlimited number of colors and color variations/effects.

You can preview all the colors we have available when using our online design tool. If your screen settings are standard, the color you see on screen should be very close to the color you receive with your vehicle lettering.

Please note, however, that there may be differences in color due to the difference in computer monitors. If you would like, we are also more than happy to provide you with the official names of the colors we use.

As for color matching, this is something that cannot be done with vinyl lettering (unless the color you want is the exact same as one of the colors of vinyl we offer) and is very difficult to achieve even with decals that use printed ink. Even though we do not offer exact color matching, our vehicle decals allow you to use an unlimited number of colors and combinations to help you achieve the look you are wanting.

Whichever color you choose, the cost for your vehicle lettering will be the same. However, the cost is slightly increased by incorporating multiple colors into one lettering order. This is due to the additional technical work required to create such orders.

Yes. Simple graphic or non-letter designs can be created using our cut vinyl. We offer several graphics for you to choose from in our template library. You can also upload a custom image or graphic. Please note that we’ll only be able to create each file you upload in one solid color per file.

If you would like to create your business logo out of our vinyl lettering, please upload a file of your logo into our online design tool. Make sure that the file is in vector format (AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF). If your logo has multiple colors, you will need to upload it in multiple files (according to color). If you need help making your business logo out of vinyl lettering, please take advantage of our free design services.

Once you access our online design tool, you will see an icon on the far-left menu that says "Upload". Click on that icon. Be sure to read the uploading requirements carefully. We require all vinyl lettering uploads to be vector artwork and in the file format of AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF. You will then select the file from your computer or mobile phone and upload into our design tool.

If you have a custom design that you would like to use but it is not vector artwork or the appropriate format, please fill out a request form on our free design services page to have your artwork be converted into an acceptable format. We will be sure to contact you within 24 hours from the time you submit your request.

A vector is a type of graphic that uses mathematical equations to produce an image made from lines and shapes that can be scaled to any size without the loss of quality or fidelity. Vectors are created in illustration software programs, such as Adobe Illustrator. Vector images are the ideal image type for vehicle lettering because they can be made with a transparent background and are able to be scaled to any size without losing quality or becoming "pixelated".

If you are having difficulty uploading your desired file, it is most likely because it is either not vector artwork (not an AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF file), or is over 25 MB in size. If you are having difficulty uploading your file, please contact us or fill out our free design services request form.

Pricing is slightly influenced by the design of your vehicle lettering. The reason for this is because the more complex the design, the more weeding and manual cutting is required.

Not if you don’t want to. Our templates are available to help you easily edit and create the design you are looking for, but using them is not mandatory. If you do not want to use our templates, you can create a brand new design using our online design tool or upload a file you have on hand.

The estimated lifespan for our vehicle lettering is 8-10 years, depending on use and climate conditions. Our vinyl lettering comes UV, weather, and water resistant, helping it withstand the elements of the outdoors. We recommend proper and regular care to ensure a long life for your lettering.

UV protectants within the vinyl material help your lettering maintain its vibrant color for as long as 5-10 years of exposure to the sun. This lettering is also able to withstand a temperature range from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 225 degrees Fahrenheit, helping it maintain its quality during both the summer and winter months.

Our vinyl car and truck lettering are designed to withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Being waterproof, it will also withstand snow, ice, and frost. One common issue that users face with vehicle lettering is damaging the lettering when scraping frost off the window. We recommend carefully scraping around the lettering when doing so and avoid scraping over it.

You can also order your vehicle lettering with front-facing adhesive (this is called "Inside Glass" on our design tool), which allows you to place the lettering inside your vehicle's window. However, we typically do not recommend inside glass installations because the tinting and reflection of your windows can decrease the visibility of your lettering.

No. The material and adhesive used to create our vehicle lettering is free of toxins and is completely safe to use.

Your vehicle lettering will have a moderate gloss finish, allowing it to stand out when placed on the window, back, or side of your vehicle.

No. Due to our vinyl lettering being cut directly from a sheet of durable 2 mil vinyl, a protective laminate is not needed to maintain the lettering’s quality and color. Protective laminates are mainly used on decals that are printed with ink.

Laws pertaining to vinyl lettering, decals, and stickers on vehicles differ from state to state. However, the consensus among states is that decals and stickers used on the windows of a vehicle must not obstruct the driver's view. Please keep this in mind when creating your custom vehicle lettering. Vehicles used for commercial purposes may have additional laws pertaining to identification and use.

USDOT numbers are used to identify and register vehicles that are used for commercial purposes, including transporting passengers or hauling cargo in interstate commerce. USDOT numbers are required in over 30 states and must be applied to a vehicle after the vehicle has gone through the registration process. Our vehicle lettering may be used to create USDOT numbers, if they maintain a height of at least 2".

USDOT numbering must be at least 2" in height, with some local governments requiring 3". The color of the lettering may vary but must contrast the colors of your vehicle, making it clearly visible. Alternative fonts may be used if they are clear and legible.

USDOT numbers must be clearly visible. Common areas of placement include the bottom of the driver's door, the bottom of the passenger's door, and the rear of the vehicle. Some local governments may require specific placement, so please confirm with local authorities or agencies before installing.

Car and truck lettering is intended for one-time use only. We recommend planning the desired location of the lettering prior to application because removing or repositioning is virtually impossible. You can also check out our car and truck magnets.

This lettering should not ruin or damage the paint on your vehicle where applied. The adhesive used is designed to be applied and removed easily and does not contain any harmful toxins. However, we recommend that you exercise caution if you are using a sharp object (such as a razor blade) when removing applied car and truck lettering.

We also recommend avoiding the use of strong cleaners or chemicals when removing any adhesive residue that may be left after removing the lettering from your vehicle.

Our vehicle lettering is generally safe to use on your vehicle's paint if it is installed and removed properly. However, do not apply lettering on wet or uncured paint, as it may damage the paint or affect the adhesive properties of the lettering. Materials that may not be suitable for lettering application include ones that are flexible, scratch-resistant, or anti-reflective.

This lettering works great on tinted windows. Be sure to choose a color that contrasts with the window’s tint. For example, if your window or windshield has a dark tint, choose a light color vinyl (such as white) for your lettering. This allows for maximum visibility of your car and truck lettering. We also recommend placing the lettering on the outside of the window and not inside as people won’t see the vehicle lettering if it’s applied inside a tinted window.

Yes. Select the option in the online design tool that cuts the vehicle lettering for the adhesive to be at the design’s front. This lets you apply the lettering from the inside of a window and still be visible from outside. Placing your lettering on the inside of your window will help protect it from harsh elements, allowing it to last longer. It is also a great option if you regularly scrape frost, snow, or ice from your windows.

However, we do not recommend this option on tinted or reflective windows. Doing so will make your lettering very difficult to see.

Yes. Our car and truck lettering works on about every type of vehicle, including vehicles used for off-road purposes. It is also suitable for use on boats, wave runners, jet skis, and yachts.

Our vinyl car and truck lettering are made from the same material as our standard vinyl lettering, so it can be used on a wide variety of smooth, non-porous surfaces. This includes walls, metal, painted drywall, plastic, glass, windows, and acrylic.

Avoid using vinyl lettering on areas that are rough or porous such as stucco, cinder blocks, brick, unpainted or unfinished wood, concrete, etc.

Our custom vehicle lettering is opaque, meaning that it is not transparent and cannot be seen through. However, a small amount of light may pass through when installed on windows. Generally speaking, the darker the color your lettering is the more opaque your lettering will be.

Our car and truck lettering is designed for outdoor use and can last up to eight years with no fading or cracking. This is due to the durable vinyl material used that is both UV resistant and waterproof.

It is also designed to withstand any temperature between -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 225 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the perfect option for displaying your message or information outside of your vehicle.

Our vinyl car and truck lettering can withstand humid locations and climates. Its lifespan may be slightly affected in these conditions, but the lettering will still last several years with proper installation and care. When installing vehicle lettering in a humid environment, make sure the surface where the lettering will be applied on is completely dry. Installing car and truck lettering on a wet surface may cause the lettering to not adhere to the surface properly.

Yes, the vinyl material is meant to last outdoors and can withstand wind, rain, and sun.

Before application you may store your lettering for a short period of time. This should be no longer than 1-2 months. If you wait too long the lettering may begin to lose its adhesive properties and will not be installed properly. We recommend installing your vinyl lettering as soon as possible once you receive it. Once you have applied your vehicle lettering it is not intended to be removed and stored for future use. Attempting to do this would render the lettering unusable.

Follow the steps below to install your vinyl lettering:

1. Clean and dry the surface area where you’ll be applying the lettering.
2. Place a horizontal strip of masking tape at the top of the transfer tape on your lettering with half of the strip hanging off.
3. Tape your vehicle lettering in place with the hanging portion of the masking tape on the desired location of your vehicle (creating a hinge). Make sure the lettering is not crooked.
4. From there, start peeling away the backing from your vehicle lettering. Start from one of the bottom corners and work towards the top, holding the bottom edge of the lettering away from the surface and then peel the backing away.
5. Use a squeegee and press down on the transfer tape from top to bottom.