Custom Vehicle Lettering and Decals: What You Need to Know

Certified Install Wraps • June 9, 2025

A Simple Guide to Custom Vehicle Lettering and Decals

Custom vehicle lettering and decals are much more than just decoration—they’re moving billboards. Custom lettering and decals refer to vinyl graphics affixed to your vehicle for decoration or to spread brand awareness. They are a wonderful option for all vehicle owners, including individuals, small businesses, fleet managers, and marketing professionals.


Wraps, lettering, and decals offer you the opportunity to turn your vehicle into a mobile ad for your brand or a simple expression of your creativity. In this blog, we want to educate you on custom lettering and decals by highlighting their benefits, uses, and the value of professional installation.


What Are Custom Vehicle Lettering and Decals?


Put briefly, custom lettering is text-based graphics like slogans, mission statements, and business names. Decals are logos, artwork, icons, or any pre-designed vinyl graphics. They differ from full wraps, which cover the entire vehicle, and partial wraps, which cover a portion of the vehicle, like the hood or door. Custom lettering and decals are typically made from high-performance vinyl.


What Are Some Common Uses and Applications of Custom Lettering and Decals?


There are many ways everyday people use custom lettering and decals to get their message out. For one, there’s business branding. You can put your name, logo, phone number, website, and tagline on your vehicle so people parked next to you in traffic have no choice but to notice it.


Regulatory compliance vehicles for the Department of Transportation use custom lettering and decals, as do commercial fleet vehicles that are numbered. People also like to put their name, artwork, or racing stripes on their vehicles. Small and large businesses utilize custom lettering and decals to promote temporary sales events and seasonal ads because they’re easy to remove.


What Should I Consider When Designing?


Most companies that provide custom lettering and decals have designers on hand to help you through every step of the process. They’ll go over your font choices, color swatches, size, placement, and more. If you’re providing artwork, make sure your image is vector data or a high-resolution pixel-based image.


The most important thing, if you’re considering custom lettering and decals to promote your business, is consistency across your fleet. It helps maintain a professional brand image.


Are Custom Vehicle Lettering and Decals Durable?


The average lifespan for custom lettering and decals is typically five to seven years. This, of course, depends on factors like how well it was cared for and the climate. To care for custom lettering and decals, hand-wash your vehicle with a mild cleanser like dish soap and avoid harsh chemicals.


Why Should I Hire a Professional Vehicle Wrap Company?


In today’s world, there’s a DIY solution for everything, but some things should be left to professionals. Custom lettering and decals are one of those situations. While they can be self-adhesive, it takes a steady hand and experience to place them correctly and ensure they don’t fall off after a few months.


Plus, if the adhesive is strong, removing decals without damaging your paint requires skill. When you hire a professional vehicle wrap company to design and install your custom lettering and decals, you get expert design consultation, precision cutting and installation, long-lasting high-quality materials, and a warranty.


There’s also the customer support you’ll receive. When you add it all up, professional installers will save you time and ensure you drive away with a polished, professional finish.


Are You Interested in Custom Vehicle Lettering and Decals in Charlotte or Anywhere in The Carolinas?


If you drive through Charlotte or the Raleigh, NC area and are considering adding custom lettering or decals to your personal or commercial vehicle, contact us at Certified Install Wraps. Our expert designers are ready to help you turn your vision into reality.

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