Looking to inject personality and flair into your vehicle? Custom Car Decal Stickers are the perfect way to make a statement, promote your brand, or simply showcase your unique style on the road. Whether you’re aiming for subtle elegance or bold graphics, creating custom decals for your car is easier and more impactful than ever.
This comprehensive guide walks you through every step of designing and ordering your perfect custom car decal stickers. From choosing the right size and materials to understanding artwork specifications and application tips, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and get your creative journey started!
Step-by-Step Guide to Ordering Your Custom Car Decal Stickers
Creating your custom car decals involves a straightforward process designed for ease and flexibility. Here’s a breakdown of each step to help you navigate your order seamlessly:
Step 1 – Choose Size and Quantity
The first step is to determine the dimensions and number of custom car decal stickers you need. Consider where you’ll be placing the decal on your vehicle and how prominent you want it to be.
Not seeing the size or quantity you want? Click here and get a custom quote.
Choosing the right size for your custom car decal is crucial for visibility and aesthetics. Consider the placement area on your vehicle before making your selection.
Step 2 – Choose Add-Ons (Options)
Once you’ve selected your size, it’s time to explore customization options to refine your car decal stickers. These options might include material types, finishes, and special features to enhance durability and appearance.
Selecting the right add-ons like laminate or special materials can enhance the lifespan and visual appeal of your custom car decal stickers.
Step 3 – Choose Your Design Method
Now for the exciting part – bringing your design to life! We offer two primary methods to create your custom car decal stickers:
Design from Scratch
Unleash your creativity with our user-friendly online design tool. This option allows you to build your custom car stickers from the ground up. You can upload your own images, logos, or artwork directly from your computer. Alternatively, tap into our extensive library of clipart, fonts, and shapes to construct a unique design that perfectly reflects your vision.
Designing from scratch gives you complete creative control to build custom car decal stickers that are truly unique.
Upload a File
If you already have a print-ready design, simply upload your file. For optimal quality and sharpness, especially for intricate designs, we recommend submitting your artwork as a vector-based .eps file. Uploading a vector file ensures your custom car stickers are produced with the highest possible resolution and clarity. After uploading, and once you’ve proceeded to checkout and chosen your shipping, a digital proof will be sent to you via email for your approval before production begins.
Uploading your own design file is a quick and efficient way to create custom car decal stickers if you already have print-ready artwork.
Payment Information
To initiate production, full payment is required upfront for all custom car sticker orders. We accept a variety of payment methods for your convenience, including major credit cards such as VISA, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. We also accommodate payments via checks, which must be received and cleared before your car stickers enter the production phase.
Live Order Tracking
Stay informed every step of the way with our Live Order Tracking system. From the moment you place your order to the day it ships, you’ll have real-time visibility into the production and delivery process of your custom car decal stickers.
Live Order Tracking provides peace of mind by allowing you to monitor the progress of your custom car decal sticker order from start to finish.
Upon order confirmation, you will receive a unique Live Order Tracking number via email. Simply click the provided link to access the most current updates and track your car stickers as they move through each stage.
Production Time Tables
We understand that timing is important. Our flexible production schedules are designed to meet your needs, offering turnaround times from one to five business days. You choose the production speed that best suits your project timeline.
1 Business Day Priority:
Need your custom car decal stickers urgently? Our 1 Business Day Priority option is designed for the fastest possible turnaround.
- Orders approved after 5:00 PM CST will begin processing the next business day.
- For urgent, same-day rush requests, please contact our customer service team to check availability.
- Remember that the total time to receive your custom car decal stickers includes both production and shipping time.
- Production turnaround starts from the moment your file upload is complete or artwork approval is given.
2 Business Days Express:
If you have a bit more flexibility but still require a fast turnaround, our 2 Business Days Express option is an excellent choice.
- Orders approved after 5:00 PM CST will begin processing the next business day.
- For urgent, same-day rush requests, please contact our customer service team to check availability.
- Remember that the total time to receive your custom car decal stickers includes both production and shipping time.
- Production turnaround starts from the moment your file upload is complete or artwork approval is given.
3 Business Days Standard:
Our most popular option, the 3 Business Days Standard turnaround, provides a great balance of speed and value for most custom car decal sticker orders.
- Orders approved after 5:00 PM CST will begin processing the next business day.
- For urgent, same-day rush requests, please contact our customer service team to check availability.
- Remember that the total time to receive your custom car decal stickers includes both production and shipping time.
- Production turnaround starts from the moment your file upload is complete or artwork approval is given.
5 Business Days Saver:
For less time-sensitive projects, our 5 Business Days Saver option allows you to save money while still receiving high-quality custom car decal stickers.
- Orders approved after 5:00 PM CST will begin processing the next business day.
- For urgent, same-day rush requests, please contact our customer service team to check availability.
- Remember that the total time to receive your custom car decal stickers includes both production and shipping time.
- Production turnaround starts from the moment your file upload is complete or artwork approval is given.
Die Cut Stickers VS. Kiss Cut Stickers
Understanding the difference between die-cut and kiss-cut stickers is important when choosing the best option for your custom car decal stickers. The primary distinction lies in how the sticker is cut relative to its backing paper.
For a more detailed explanation, visit our blog article: Die-cut vs Kiss-cut: A Simple Guide.
Die-cut stickers are cut precisely to the shape of your design, offering a clean, contour-cut appearance.
Die-Cut Stickers
Die-cut stickers are cut through both the vinyl sticker material and the backing paper. This method results in stickers that are precisely cut to the shape of your design, with no excess background paper. Imagine using a cookie cutter – each sticker is individually shaped and ready to peel off without any surrounding material.
* Please note – Back Slit (Crack and Peel) is only available on our Standard and Permanent material options *
Kiss-cut stickers are cut only through the vinyl layer, leaving a border of backing paper around the sticker for easier peeling and application.
Kiss-Cut Stickers
Kiss-cut stickers are cut only through the top vinyl layer (the sticker material) and not through the paper backing. This leaves a border of backing paper around your sticker design. Kiss-cut stickers are designed for easy peeling, as the extra paper border provides a convenient edge to grip.
Custom Car Sticker Artwork Specification
To ensure your custom car decal stickers are printed with the best possible quality, it’s important to prepare your artwork according to our specifications.
Preferred Files for Printing
The maximum file size we can accept is 100 MB. Our preferred file formats are:
- Adobe Illustrator EPS (Encapsulated Post Script): Ideal for vector graphics, ensuring scalability and sharpness.
- PDF (Adobe PDF): A versatile format that preserves design integrity.
When submitting these file types, please ensure that all fonts are converted to outlines or curves. This step prevents font substitution and ensures your text prints exactly as intended.
Additional Files Accepted
We also accept these file formats for custom car decal stickers:
- JPG (High Resolution JPEG): Suitable for photographic images.
- TIFF (High Resolution TIFF): A lossless format that maintains image quality.
- PNG (High Resolution PNG): Supports transparency and is good for web graphics and logos.
File Tips for Optimal Printing
- Size Proportion: Set up your artwork at the exact size you are ordering, or proportionally.
- Convert Text to Outlines: As mentioned, this is crucial for font consistency.
- Bleed: Only include bleed if it’s necessary for your design.
- Avoid Flattening Layers: Never flatten or merge layers in PSD files if submitting them.
- Cut Line Indication: Clearly indicate the cut line for all decal products, especially for complex shapes.
Understanding Vector and Raster Art
Vector Art: Vector art is composed of mathematically defined lines and curves. This means vector graphics can be scaled infinitely without losing quality or becoming pixelated. Vector formats are ideal for logos, text, and illustrations that require crisp lines and scalability.
Raster Art: Raster images are made up of pixels, or tiny colored squares. Digital photographs are raster images. Unlike vector graphics, raster images are resolution-dependent. Enlarging a raster image beyond its original resolution will result in pixelation and loss of quality.
If submitting raster files, please adhere to these resolution guidelines:
- 100% scale (full size output): 100 dpi
- 50% scale: 200 dpi or higher
- 25% scale: 300 dpi or higher
- 10% scale: 600-1200 dpi recommended
Design Services
If you’re unable to provide print-ready artwork, our skilled design department can assist you. We can recreate your artwork in vector format, ensuring it’s perfect for printing high-quality custom car decal stickers. The cost for this service depends on the complexity of your design. Artwork design service discounts may be available – please contact our customer service team for more information.
Payment for design services is required before we begin printing your order. Once recreated, we will keep your vector artwork on file for easy reorders in the future. You can also purchase the rights to your recreated vector artwork for personal use for an additional fee.
How to Apply Vinyl Decals
Proper application is key to ensuring your custom car decal stickers look fantastic and last long. Whether you’re applying your decal to a car, laptop, or any other surface, follow these six easy steps for a perfect installation:
Watch Die-cut Video Installation Guide
Watch Transfer Decal Video Installation Guide
Shipping Information
We aim to deliver your custom car decal stickers quickly and efficiently. You can typically expect your order to arrive within 2-4 business days after production to most locations within the United States. Unless specified otherwise at the time of order, your car stickers will be shipped via UPS Ground.
For any questions regarding shipping rates or rush production options, please contact our Customer Service Representatives at (320) 391-5250 before placing your order. Once your package ships, you will receive a tracking number for easy monitoring.
For detailed shipping information, please visit our shipping policy page.
Shipping Methods:
- Economy (5-15 Days)
- Standard (3-5 Business Days)
- Three Day (3 Business Days)
- Two Day (2 Business Days)
- Overnight (1 Business Day)
Important Economy Shipping Notes:
- When choosing Economy shipping, please include any additional postal information, such as your P.O. Box number, in the “Address Two” field during checkout to facilitate delivery.
- Please note that Economy shipping can add an additional 5-10 days to the delivery time, depending on the destination.
National and International Shipping Notes:
- We ship custom car decal stickers throughout the United States and internationally.
- For all international shipments, customers must provide shipping labels and customs documentation. We accept international shipping labels from USPS and UPS only.
- For more details on international shipping, please contact our Customer Service Representatives at (320) 391-5250.
