The Driving Ambitions of Sign Writing

How many people will walk past a shop front and see the sign? A few hundred perhaps? Maybe even a few thousand. Imagine getting your shop name and brand image seen by over 3,000 potential customers every hour.

Based upon independent research, that is the number of people that vehicle signs are likely to reach when out and about on the road. Your company's car or van can become a mobile advertisement, spreading the familiarity of your name and brand image, along with contact details, across the town or city, at no extra cost day after day -a one off investment that will work for you every day.

Vehicle signs, like many other sign formats, can be customised in many ways, and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The simplest and cheapest of these are either licence plate stickers or window stickers, which take up little room and are cheap to produce, making little impact on the overall appearance of the vehicle itself.

However, to really get the message out, vehicle signs are usually much bolder and larger, covering large areas of panels, or even whole panels themselves.

In some cases, a process called body wrapping is used, where the entire external surfaces of the vehicle are covered, excluding of course the lights, windows and plates. Body wrapping is a highly individualised method of producing vehicle signs, requiring an understanding of the exact measurements and contours of the vehicle, and an understanding of what it is trying to sell, and therefore what style may work.

Example vehicle signs that use this method by include florist company which decorates the van to look like a flowery bush, or a conservatory company which makes the van look like a full size conservatory. These clever techniques are the most successful vehicle signs, guaranteed to get looks from other drivers, passengers and even passers by on the street,whether you're on the move or parked on the street.

In some instances, permanent vehicle signs are not required, as the vehicle is used both for private use and as a company vehicle. In these cases, the best solution is to use magnetic signs. These are constructed using vinyl or PVC on a magnetic backing. The signs can then be attached to the metal surfaces of the vehicle, and removed without damaging the paintwork when not in use. Typical examples include driving school cars.

The most commonly used vehicle signs are vinyl adhesive stickers, which are either fitted professionally or supplied as kits which you can then peel and fit yourself. These usually have a lifetime expectancy of between 5 and 7 years. With vehicle signs being exposed to all weathers, it is important that the products have been sufficiently protected, and UV resistant inks used to help preserve the colour and clarity for as long as possible.

Another format in which vehicle signs can be seen is the car top sign, usually a triangular box fitted using strong, covered magnets to ensure a firm grip without damage to the paintwork. These vehicle signs can even be fitted with internal lighting, with vinyl lettering or graphics added to the outside. Often this method is used by driving schools, and delivery vehicles.