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Magnetic Truck Signs.

When Magnets Beat Vinyl

Not every truck is a dedicated work truck. Many contractors, real estate agents, and service providers use their personal vehicle for both work and personal driving. Permanent vinyl lettering commits the vehicle to looking like a work truck 24/7. Magnetic signs give you the flexibility to present a professional image during business hours and drive a clean personal truck on weekends.

Magnetic signs are also the right choice when you use a leased vehicle, a company fleet vehicle that rotates between drivers, or when you want to test new branding before committing to permanent lettering. They snap on in seconds, hold at highway speeds, and peel off without leaving any mark or residue on the paint.

We print custom magnetic signs in our Port Colborne shop. Full-colour printing on a flexible magnetic substrate, UV-coated for fade resistance, with rounded corners to prevent peeling at speed. Most customers order a pair — one for each side of the vehicle.

Who Uses Magnetic Signs

Magnetic signs are especially popular with:

• Contractors & Tradespeople — Plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, and handymen who use their personal truck for work and want to look professional on the job site without permanent lettering. Snap the signs on when you pull up to a client’s house, peel them off when you are done for the day.
• Real Estate Agents — Agents who want their name, brokerage, and phone number visible when showing homes or driving around neighbourhoods. Magnetic signs are standard in Canadian real estate because agents frequently change brokerages — and nobody wants to re-letter their car every time.
• Delivery Drivers — Food delivery, courier services, and local logistics operators who need branded signage during delivery hours but drive personally after hours.
• Seasonal Businesses — Snow removal, landscaping, holiday lighting — businesses that operate part of the year and want signage only during their active season.
• New Businesses — Startups testing their branding before investing in permanent vehicle graphics. Start with magnets, upgrade to permanent door lettering once the brand is locked in.
• Leased Vehicles — Any vehicle under a lease agreement where modifications are restricted. Magnetic signs add zero permanent alteration.

Material Specs

Our magnetic signs are printed on a professional-grade magnetic substrate designed for vehicle use. Here is what that means in practical terms:

• Thickness: 30 mil (0.76 mm) flexible magnetic material. This is the industry standard for vehicle magnets — thick enough to hold at 120+ km/h on the highway, thin enough to flex around mild body panel curves.
• Print: Full-colour digital print with UV-resistant lamination. Your design will not fade in direct sunlight over the rated life of the product.
• Corners: Rounded to prevent peeling and lifting at speed. Square corners catch wind and peel back — rounded corners stay flat.
• Weather Rating: Our magnetic signs handle Canadian winters without issue. They do not delaminate in rain, snow, or salt spray. Store them flat when not in use — do not fold or roll tightly, as this can weaken the magnetic strength.
• Surface: Works on any flat, ferrous (steel) body panel. Does not work on aluminium body panels (Ford F-150 2015+, Honda Ridgeline, Tesla Cybertruck). Check by holding a fridge magnet to the door — if it sticks, the sign will too.

Important: Aluminium Body Panels

Magnetic signs do not work on aluminium. The Ford F-150 (2015 and newer) has an aluminium body, which means magnetic signs will not hold on the doors or bed panels. The tailgate and cab structure on some models are steel, but the doors are not. If you drive an aluminium-body truck, permanent vinyl door lettering is the better option.

Other common vehicles with aluminium panels: Honda Ridgeline, Rivian R1T, Tesla Cybertruck, Audi A8, Jaguar XE. If you are unsure, test with a fridge magnet before ordering.

Sizes & Pricing

We offer four standard sizes for magnetic vehicle signs. All prices are for a pair (driver + passenger side):

All sizes include full-colour printing, UV lamination, and rounded corners. Custom sizes are available — contact us with your exact dimensions. Free shipping on orders over $75.

Magnetic Signs vs. Permanent Vinyl

Bottom line: If your truck is your dedicated work truck and it has steel body panels, go with permanent vinyl door lettering — it lasts longer, looks cleaner up close, and cannot be stolen. If you need flexibility, use a leased vehicle, or have an aluminium-body truck where only certain panels are magnetic, go with magnetic signs.

Design Tips for Magnetic Signs

Because magnetic signs are printed (not cut vinyl), you have more design flexibility. Here is what works best:

• High contrast background. A white or bright-coloured background with dark text is the most readable at distance. Avoid dark backgrounds with dark text — it disappears on a dark truck.
• Large text. Your business name should be readable from 15+ metres. Use at least 3-inch-tall text for the company name, 2-inch for the phone number.
• Include a logo if you have one. Magnetic signs support full-colour printing, so logos, photos, and gradients all work. Vinyl lettering cannot do this.
• Keep it simple. Name, what you do, phone number. Maybe a logo. Do not try to fit your entire service list on a 12x18-inch sign.
• White border. Leave at least half an inch of white space around the edge. It frames the design and prevents the text from looking like it bleeds off the sign.

Care & Maintenance

Magnetic signs are low maintenance, but a few simple habits will extend their life significantly:

1. Remove weekly. Take the signs off at least once a week and wipe the back of the magnet and the vehicle surface. Moisture and road grime trapped between the magnet and the paint can cause staining over time.
2. Store flat. When not in use, store the signs flat — on a shelf, in a drawer, or between sheets of cardboard. Never roll or fold them. Rolling weakens the magnetic strength, and folding creates a permanent crease.
3. Clean the vehicle surface. Before reapplying, make sure the door panel is clean and dry. Dirt particles between the magnet and paint act like sandpaper at highway speeds.
4. Avoid car washes with magnets on. The high-pressure jets and brushes can lift the edges. Remove before going through an automatic car wash.
5. Do not use on fresh paint. Wait at least 90 days after a paint job before applying magnetic signs. Fresh paint needs time to fully cure.

Service Area & Shipping

We ship magnetic signs across Canada via Canada Post. Free shipping on orders over $75. Most orders ship within 2–3 business days and arrive within 2–5 days depending on location. Local pickup is available in Port Colborne, Ontario by appointment.

Related Services

• Door Lettering — Permanent vinyl door lettering for dedicated work trucks.
• Fleet Graphics — Volume pricing for fleet magnetic signs and vinyl lettering.
• Windshield Banners — Custom windshield text for personal and show trucks.
• Custom Decals — One-off vinyl graphics and logo cuts.
• CVOR & DOT Compliance — If your commercial vehicle requires regulation-compliant magnetic or vinyl identification.