This covered image shows a girl making DIY for her car with vinyl decal.

Applying Vinyl Decals to Your Car: A Guide for DIY Crafters

Written by Mokua Brian

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Reading time for 10 min

Vinyl decals are among the best ways to personalize your car, laptops or your walls from the comfort of your home. Adding vinyl decals to your cars can be quite challenging especially for beginners. Luckily for you, this guide will show you how to apply vinyl decals to ensure a smooth and professional end result. The secret to longevity of your vinyl decals is in the application process. Read on to learn more.

What is A Vinyl Sticker?

A vinyl sticker is a type of adhesive label that is made of synthetic plastic-like material. Vinyl stickers are durable, flexible and water-resistant making them ideal for indoor and outdoor use. You can print your vinyl stickers in multiple colors depending on your design and cut them into different shapes. Vinyl stickers are commonly applied on car decals, laptops, walls and product labeling among other surfaces.

Advantages of vinyl stickers

Some of the advantages of vinyl stickers include:

Durability.

Adheres well to a variety of surfaces.

They come in various designs.

They’re cost-effective.

The fun of DIY stickers​

DIY stickers are a fun and unique way to express your creativity in style. You can decide to decorate a variety of surfaces such as your car, wall, laptop and windows. The process is often easy to follow and the materials needed can be acquired from the comfort of your home. Follow this guide to start having fun with vinyl stickers on your car.

Preparation

Before you dive into the creative process, it's essential to have the right tools and materials on hand. Let's get started!

Tools and Materials

These are some of the items that you must have for you to properly apply vinyl decals on your car:

Vinyl decals

Application tool (Squeegee or a hard card can work)

Spray bottle with soapy water

Microfiber clean cloth or rag

Cleaning supplies (Rubbing alcohol & lint-free cloth)

Scissors

Measuring tape

Masking tape

Scrapers

Rulers

You need to make sure you have the right stickers because stickers are made of different materials depending on the surfaces you’re working with.

Vehicle Surface

This step involves washing your car’s surface thoroughly with soap and water. Now take a microfiber towel and dab the wet area that you want to apply a decal. Using a cotton ball, clean that area with rubbing alcohol once more to remove any leftover dirt or oil. Let the area dry completely to ensure maximum adhesion. You also need to know your car body temperature before using any vinyl decal because too cold or too hot temperatures will hinder you from perfectly pasting the stickers on the car body.

Steps for Film Application

Applying vinyl decals to your car can be a fun and rewarding way to personalize your vehicle. However, it requires careful planning and execution to achieve a professional and aesthetically pleasing result. This section will walk you through the step-by-step process of applying vinyl decals to your car, including positioning, preparation, and application techniques.

Position Planning

Take your time in this stage because good planning means better results for you. When applying vinyl decals, it is important you accurately position your designs to achieve an aesthetically pleasing outcome. Symmetric and proportional positioning are some of the principles you can consider. For symmetric positioning, ensure you’ve positioned your stickers centrally to maintain balance. You can use a measuring tape to measure the distance from the edges to ensure they are equal on both sides. For proportional positioning, make sure the decal is proportionate to the surface of your car. Using the “rule of thirds”, place your decal at a point where it’s divided into three equal parts. This will ensure your decal is proportionate to the surface of your car.

Use the following steps as guidance:

  1. Hold the decal up and close to your car and visualize the decal on different spots.

  2. Mark the edges using masking tape to help you remember your perfect spot.

  3. Use a measuring tape to measure the size of your decal for accuracy during placement.

  4. Step back and have one more look to make sure you're happy with the placement.

Preparing Your Decal

Before applying your decal, you need to perform some damage checks of the vinyl to find if there are any folds, tears, or pre-existing bubbles. Ensure the transfer tape (where applicable) is intact and smoothly adhered to the vinyl. Test the adhesive by gently peeling a corner of the backing paper to make sure the adhesive has been applied evenly to avoid sticking issues during application. After testing the quality of your decals, now it's time to get your decal ready for placement. Here is how you go about it:

  1. Lay the decal on a flat surface facing up.

  2. Check for any air bubbles trapped in between and smoothen them out with your squeegee.

  3. If needed, trim the decal using sharp scissors for clean edges.

  4. Don't remove the backing yet. We'll do that later.

Detailed Steps for The Soapy Water Method

For large decals, it is recommended you use this method of water-and-soap mixture to help reposition the decal. The first thing to do is to mix a few drops of dish soap with water and pour the mixture in a spray bottle. It is recommended that you have a light soap solution because too much soap can interfere with the adhesive part of your decals.

This is the exciting part, let's put that decal on your car!

  1. Spray the car surface with the light soap solution for easy positioning of the decal.

  2. Peel off a corner of the backing.

  3. Stick that corner to your car and line it up with your marks.

  4. Slowly peel and stick and work your way across the decal.

  5. Using your squeegee, remove air bubbles beginning in the center and moving outwards to prevent any wrinkles. If you see a bubble, lift the decal slightly and smooth it out and re-stick.

This method allows you to achieve a smooth, bubble-free application and is recommended for beginners because of the time it allows you to reposition the decal before it sticks permanently.

Detailed Steps for The Dry Application Method

Using soapy water is not a requirement when placing the decal on your car. Keep in mind that this procedure must only be done on a clean and dry surface.

  1. Use your masking tape, tape the decal onto the surface of your car.

  2. Measure the decal position using a tape measure. Ensure the decal sits well aligned in the position you want it to be.

  3. Peel off a small part of the backing and stick that part onto your car and apply the decal starting from one side.

  4. Work your way across the decal in a zigzag manner doing it carefully to avoid bubbles.

  5. Try to remove the tape from the decal gently, then peel off the top backing.

  6. Using your squeegee, fix the decal to your car. If you notice the presence of a bubble, take up one part of the decal and using your squeegee, expel the air out of it.

It is important to note that this method is more suitable for experienced users because it can be a bit challenging. Some of the pros and cons of applying vinyl decals using dry install method include:

Pros

  1. The process is quick because the vinyl decal adheres instantly.

  2. Has a stronger initial adhesion.

  3. Best for small decals.

  4. Leaves no residues

Cons

  1. Little room for correcting mistakes.

  2. Challenging when dealing with large decals.

  3. Difficult when dealing with irregular or curved surfaces.

Removing Bubbles & Excess Film

Even pros sometimes have trouble when dealing with vinyl decals. If you realize that there is a problem when placing the decals, do not stress as there is always a way around a problem.

  • Bubbles after drying: Poke a tiny hole with a pin to smooth out the air.

  • Edges lifting: Clean under the edge and apply a tiny bit of vinyl adhesive.

  • Excess film: Use a sharp razor to carefully cut the excess film.

Finishing Touches

After installing the decal, you have to maintain it well to improve its lifespan. These final steps ensure your decal looks great and lasts longer.

  1. Let the decal dry for some hours. Overnight dry provides even better results because the adhesive fully attaches to the surface.

  2. Gently remove the transfer tape peeling it off at a 45-degree angle.

  3. If any edges lift, press them down using your squeegee or fingers.

  4. Wipe the area with a clean, dry cloth to remove any leftover water.

Note that, when dealing with excess stickers, you can peel them off gently if you used the soapy water method. For the dry install method, you can head the stickers before peeling them off or you can use a sharp razor to lift one side of the edges before peeling. For trapped air bubbles, use squeegee or Credit Card to smooth the stickers, you can also poke a hole or gently heat the sticker.

Caring for Your Vinyl Decal

Now that your new decal looks great, here's how to take care of it:

  • Refrain from washing your car for a week to give the adhesives time to set.

  • Avoid pressure washers near the decal because high pressure can lift the edges.

  • Hand wash around the decal using a soft cloth or sponge.

  • Don't wax over the decal because you risk dulling the colors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can heat transfer vinyl work on a car?

No, you cannot use HTV on a car surface. You can use adhesive vinyl decals instead.

2. How long do vinyl decals last on a car?

Permanent decals can last up to 5 years if applied well.

3. Can I use vinyl decals on fabric?

Yes, you can use vinyl decals on clothing too. However, they won't last long and will eventually fall off. You can use heat transfer vinyl for a more permanent look.

4. What to do if bubbles are encountered during film application?

You can use a squeegee or Credit Card to smooth the stickers, or poke a hole or gently heat the sticker to remove the air bubbles.

5. What to do if the edge of the film is lifted?

Clean under the edge and apply a tiny bit of vinyl adhesive and reattach it.

6. How to remove the old film?

Start from one corner of the film and peel it away gently from the surface. For stubborn old film you can use a sharp razor or scraper to gently lift it.

Precautions and Tips

Here are some of the precautions tips you should take when applying vinyl decals to your car.

Characteristics of films made of different materials

Cast vinyls : These are best for long-term and outdoor use. However, they can be very expensive.

Calendered vinyls: These are very affordable but lack flexibility and durability. They are good for short-term to medium-term application.

Reflective vinyls: These are perfect for safety and visibility applications. However, they can be expensive and they are also limited in terms of design flexibility.

Printable vinyls: These are great for highly customized designs. However, when not properly applied, they can have durability issues.

Handling special situations (such as curved surfaces, uneven surfaces)

There are some situations which can be tricky especially when dealing with curved or uneven surfaces. Lucky for you, here are some tips on how to deal with such instances:

  1. You can gently head the vinyl to make it stretch evenly on the curved surface. Be careful not to overheat your stickers thereby making them overstretch or warp.

  2. For highly curved surfaces, cut small relief slits on your vinyl so that you can lay it flat on the surface. Ensure your cuts are small and strategic to avoid visible seams after applying the decal is applied.

  3. Work methodologically when dealing with uneven surfaces. Start your application from the middle and work outwards. This will ensure that you eliminate any air bubbles that might be trapped in the uneven surface.

Safety precautions

You must pay attention to safety during operation to avoid scratching your car body or getting injured. Make sure you handle your sharp objects such as razors and scissors carefully. Work on a calm day because the wind can make applications tricky. Temperature matters so avoid direct sunlight since the heat can make the vinyl stretch. Aim for a moderate temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees fahrenheit. Take your time especially during placement. Rushing can lead to mistakes. If you make a mistake, slowly peel off the decal and start over with a clean surface. For large decals, ask a friend to help. Extra hands make the job easier.

DIY vs. Professional Construction

Let’s see how a professional in vinyl decal application will compare to you or any other reader. Each option has its advantages and advantages as shown below:

DIY Application

Pros

  1. Cost-effective in terms of labor costs.

  2. You can apply the decal at your own convenience.

  3. Good for increasing your learning experience.

  4. Personal satisfaction after accomplishment.

Cons

  1. High risk for errors leading to wastages.

  2. Requires investment in tools making the initial costs a bit high

  3. His limited warranty in case anything goes wrong

Professional Construction

Pros

  1. Professional expertise and tools at your disposal.

  2. High quality and durability.

  3. Access to custom designs.

  4. Has a warranty.

Cons

  1. Very high costs.

  2. Risk of miscommunication on design.

  3. Depends on your location.

Wrapping Up

If you like adding a touch of creativity to your rides, then you will find vinyl decals very useful. There’s so much you can do with vinyl decals on the car. You can create unique patterns to simple personal texts and designs. Either way, we have provided the steps you’ll need to follow to achieve that fresh new look you’ve always wanted on your car.