Vehicle decals vs magnetic signs

Worth saying up front: we print decals and we do not currently make magnetic signs. So take the comparison below knowing where it comes from — the aim here is to help you not waste money, including on us.

Where magnetic signs win

• 01The vehicle is also a personal or family car
• 02The vehicle is leased and the terms restrict permanent modification
• 03You subcontract under different names, or the branding may change soon
• 04You want to be unmarked when parked at home

Where decals win

• 01Appearance — a decal is flush to the panel with no edge and no shadow line, so it reads as part of the vehicle
• 02Highway speed — magnets do come off, and it usually happens at the worst moment
• 03Curved and ribbed panels where a magnet cannot sit flat
• 04Aluminium, fibreglass and plastic panels, where a magnet does not stick at all
• 05Longevity — a laminated decal outlasts a magnetic sign comfortably

The failure mode nobody mentions

Magnetic signs trap moisture and grit against the paint. Left permanently in place, they mark the panel — a visible outline where the paint underneath has aged differently, and in the worst case corrosion. If you use magnets, they need to come off and the panel needs to be cleaned regularly, which in practice almost nobody does.

Decals have the milder version of the same issue: a long-exposed decal can leave an outline when removed, because the surrounding paint has faded and the covered paint has not.

The practical answer

If the vehicle is a work vehicle and will stay one, use decals. If it is genuinely dual-purpose, use magnets and accept the compromise on appearance. If you are unsure, order the minimum quantity of decals for the toolbox and trailer — neither of which you will ever want unbranded — and decide about the vehicle later.