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Car Magnets: Benefits & Common Uses
Article Date: January 3, 2025Car magnets are mobile advertising tools that you can attach to the flat and smooth magnetic surface of a vehicle like a car door or the body of a truck. Although they are thin and bendable, they have an impressive pull force of 90 lbs. per square foot, allowing them to resist high winds and remain in place even in high-speed travel.
Some people confuse car magnets with car decals because they both require being attached to vehicles to work. However, they are made from different materials and offer unique benefits.
Car magnets are made from custom-printed magnetic sheets that are easy to remove and reposition. On the other hand, car decals (also called car stickers) are made from vinyl, a thick and weather-proof plastic that is ideal for long-term applications.
To help you decide if car magnets are the right options for you, we list all their benefits and common uses and applications.
What are the Benefits of Car Magnets?
Car magnets are like mobile mini billboards that can help you reach a broader audience. To help you decide if they are a worthwhile marketing tool for your business, we list down their most notable benefits.Cost-Effective and Versatile Promotional Tools
Unlike many advertising methods and platforms that require ongoing or additional expenses, car magnets are a one-time investment that can deliver high returns for many years to come. You can also reuse them even when you replace your old vehicles, helping you minimize your business expenses.
Aside from being a cost-effective promotional tool, car magnets are also versatile. They can help you create consistent branding across your truck or trailer fleet and boost brand awareness and recognition, among others.
Although magnetic signs are commonly utilized for product and service promotions, you can also use them to announce events, special deals, and discounts.
Constant Brand Exposure
Turn your vehicle into a travelling advertising tool that can reach a broader audience, including people you might not have reached through traditional ads. Magnetic signs can help enhance your brand visibility and generate leads everywhere you drive your vehicle.
Whether you own a small local shop or a well-established international company, you need constant brand exposure to maintain customer trust and recognition. Fortunately, car magnets are an effective tool, especially for businesses that use vehicles frequently for their operations. And if you have a fleet of commercial trucks or trailers, the use of magnetic signs becomes even more beneficial as applying a car magnet for each vehicle will only multiply your brand’s exposure.
Easy to Apply and Remove
Unlike vehicle wraps or car decals that require professional installation, you can apply car magnets all by yourself. You can also remove them if you want to switch signs or use a different vehicle, making them a practical solution for many businesses. We prepared a step-by-step guide on how to install car magnetic signs for when you’re ready to use your own.
Thanks to magnetic signs being movable and repositionable, they are an excellent investment if you frequently offer seasonal promotions or your products and services constantly change. Moreover, they come off easily, leaving no unsightly marks or residue.
By contrast, car decals are meant to be used just once, so they are best suited for long-term applications. Also, removing them from the vehicle’s surface requires more effort and may even leave some residue.
Paint-Safe
With proper use, car magnets should not cause any damage to the vehicle’s surface. In fact, they can even protect the paint beneath them from the UV rays, which cause fading.
However, it is recommended to occasionally remove or reposition the car magnets so the paint beneath them can get some sun exposure, preventing it from looking more vibrant than the surrounding area exposed to the UV rays.
Car magnets don’t actually cause rusting. But if moisture gets trapped between them and the car’s surface, it could potentially lead to rust, particularly if there is existing paint damage.
Another thing to keep in mind: If your vehicle recently underwent a paint or waxing job, it’s critical to wait until the curing period is done before installing the car magnet. On average, the curing time for car paint is 90 days, for clear coat it’s 60 days, and two days for wax.
Durable and Made to Last
Car magnets are weather-proof signs that can last for many years. They’re also printed using UV- and fade-resistant inks, allowing your logo or design to remain visible for a long period of time.
Although magnetic signs are notably durable, it remains important to clean them on a regular basis to keep them in pristine condition for many years. Proper storage is equally important to extend their lifespan. When they are not in use, stack flat magnet on a level surface, with no objects on top that could cause dents and scratches.
Also, ensure that you stack car magnets on top of each other front-to-back. Avoid stacking two magnetic sides facing each other because they could get damaged.
Highly Customizable
With car magnets, you’re not limited to square, rectangle, and other standard shapes. You can customize the shape and size of these magnetic signs to fit your vehicle or the design you have in mind.
There are literally endless possibilities for personalization when you use these mini mobile billboards. You can incorporate your brand colors, include a catchy phrase in the design, display your contact details, and announce special events, among others.
Professional Look
Vehicles with magnetic signs look professional, which is critical for earning people’s trust and gaining new customers. Just make sure to use a design that reflects your visual brand identity and delivers a clear and concise message, with no unnecessary design that may confuse viewers.
Because car magnets can instantly give a vehicle a professional look, they are particularly popular in small and local business advertising.
Tax Benefits
If you use car magnets to advertise your brand, products, or services, you get to enjoy tax benefits. After all, advertising costs related to your business are tax deductibles.
However, it’s important to differentiate between personal and business use and to keep an accurate record if you want the costs of car magnets to be deducted as advertising expenses.
Even if you have a home-based business, the tax deduction benefits still apply when you use car magnets to promote your product or service. Furthermore, these magnetic signs show that you are running a real business, not just working at home occasionally.
What are the Common Uses for Car Magnets?
Thanks to the car magnets’ versatility, they have many applications that are explained below.Business Advertising and Marketing
Many companies use car magnets to display their logo, contact info, bestselling products, etc. Think of them as an effective, eye-catching sign that can help you attract the attention of other drivers and pedestrians.
If you have a fleet of trucks or trailers, car magnets are a worthwhile investment because you can reach more customers without any additional effort.
Although car magnets are applicable to pretty much all types of business, no matter how small or big they are, these are particularly popular in small and local business advertising, real estate, delivery and logistics, and service industry.
The industries mentioned above have specific requirements that car magnets are able to deliver — durability, excellent branding and customization, ease of use, and visibility.
Event Promotion
Many business owners and organizers use car magnets to promote events, such as trade shows, conferences, local festivals, and concerts. These mobile signs are perfect as temporary promotional tools because they don’t quire professional installation and are easy to remove, unlike car decals or stickers that require more effort to remove.
Political and Awareness Campaigns
Candidates and their supporters can use these magnetic signs to spread awareness and boost name recognition without having to spend a lot.
Since car magnets are temporary signs, they are excellent for political campaigns that typically have a short duration. These magnetic signs are also ideal for spreading support and awareness for a cause, which is critical for fundraising efforts.
Personal Expression
You can use car magnets to showcase your interests, hobbies, and affiliations. They are also a great way to add a personal touch to your vehicle and make it stand out.
If you have multiple interests or affiliations, car magnets are excellent because you can easily remove and replace them on a whim.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Magnets
How do I apply a car magnet?Stick your car magnet on a clean, dry, and flat magnetic surface. Make sure there is no dirt or debris that can create an “air gap” that weakens the sign’s magnetic pull.
Are car magnets better than stickers?
It depends. For temporary or short-term use, car magnets are a better option. By contrast, car stickers or decals might be a better choice if you need a more permanent sign.
Are car magnets good for advertising?
Yes, car magnets are great for advertising and even offer unique benefits since you can turn your vehicle into a mobile billboard, allowing you to attract the attention of customers that traditional ads may not even reach.
How to get the car magnet to stick on a car?
Make sure the magnetic backing and the vehicle’s surface are clean and dry before you apply the car magnet. It’s also important that you choose a magnetic surface that is smooth and flat to ensure strong adhesion.
Where is the best place to put a car magnet?
The best places for car magnets include the doors, tailgate, and side panels of a truck or van. Just make sure that the surface is smooth and flat and has no rust, curve, or indentation.
Do car magnets work on every car?
Yes, but only if the car has a steel body that is receptive to magnets. Meanwhile, surfaces that contain carbon fiber, molded plastics, fiberglass, or aluminum alloys won’t work with magnetic signs.
Conclusion
Thanks to the durability, versatility, visibility, and ease of use of car magnets, they are popular across different industries, from small businesses and local contractors to well-known international brands.Now that you know the benefits and common uses of car magnets, check out Signs.com's free templates to help you with the design process. You can also access our user-friendly design tool to create stunning car magnet designs within minutes.
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