What Should a Newton Abbot Business Know Before Having a Van Signwritten?

Good van signwriting should tell people who you are, what you do and how to contact you without making them work for the answer. The design also needs to fit the actual vehicle, because a layout that looks good on a computer screen does not automatically work across curved panels, mouldings and door seams.

I have been designing and fitting vehicle graphics since 1979. These are the five things I believe a business should consider before deciding what to put on its van.

1. How much does van signwriting cost?

Simple van lettering at Sign Art starts from £100, but the final price depends on the size of the vehicle, the amount of coverage and the type of artwork required.

A basic layout might include the business name, telephone number and a short description of the work. This is often enough for a sole trader or new business that wants the van to look professional without spending heavily.

The price rises when a design includes:

• Larger areas of vinyl
• Several colours
• Printed graphics or photographs
• Detailed logo preparation
• Lettering on the sides, rear and bonnet
• More fitting and preparation time

The useful question is not simply, “How cheaply can my van be signwritten?” It is, “What does the van need to say to bring the right enquiries?”

Spending more on extra graphics does not necessarily produce a more effective vehicle. A clean £100 to £250 lettering job can communicate more clearly than a complicated design containing too much information.

I provide a fixed quotation once I have seen the van, checked the panels and discussed what needs to be included.

2. Why should the signwriter see the actual van?

The design should be checked against the actual van because vehicle templates cannot show every physical detail or difference in condition.

Specialist vehicle templates are useful for preparing an initial layout, but even one established template supplier describes its drawings as accurate to within approximately 6 mm. That is close enough for planning, but it does not replace measuring the vehicle itself.

Different models and versions can have changes in door length, trim, handles, windows and panel construction. The van may also have sensors, previous repairs or existing graphics that do not appear on a standard outline.

Seeing the vehicle makes it possible to check:

• Where the genuinely usable panel space begins and ends
• Whether a body line will pass through the lettering
• Where sliding doors and rear doors divide the design
• Whether handles or mouldings will interrupt important information
• How the layout looks from normal viewing height
• Whether the paintwork is suitable for applying vinyl

This is why I prefer to inspect and measure the van before the artwork is finalised. The template helps with the drawing. The vehicle makes the final decision.

3. What information should go on a signwritten van?

Most vans need less information than their owners initially expect. The business name, main service and clearest contact method should take priority.

A person may only see the van for a few seconds. If the design contains a long service list, several telephone numbers, social media addresses and a complicated background, the important message can disappear.

A practical order is:

1. Business name or logo
2. What the business does
3. Telephone number or website
4. A short service area or useful supporting detail

The exact order can change according to the business. An established company may need its logo to dominate. A new sole trader may benefit more from making the service immediately obvious.

The sides and rear also perform different jobs. Side graphics need to work when the van is moving or parked across the road. Rear lettering may be seen for longer in traffic, so it can sometimes carry a little more detail. That does not mean every empty panel has to be filled.

4. Should you choose vinyl lettering or magnetic signs?

Cut vinyl lettering is normally the better choice for a van that is used permanently for one business. Magnetic signs are useful when the branding needs to be removable.

Permanent cut vinyl generally looks more integrated because the design can use several panels and work around the shape of the van. Magnetic signs are restricted to suitable flat steel areas and need to be correctly fitted, removed and stored.

Magnetic signs may suit:

• A vehicle used for both work and private journeys
• A leased van where permanent graphics are not wanted
• A taxi or private-hire vehicle requiring removable information
• Someone testing a new business before committing to permanent lettering
• A vehicle used by more than one business

Before ordering magnetic signs, the vehicle surface must be checked. Magnets will not attach to aluminium, plastic or composite panels, and not every apparently flat area provides suitable contact.

Vinyl lettering can usually be removed when a van is sold. However, removal may expose a difference between paint that has been covered and paint that has weathered around it. Existing paint repairs and poor lacquer can also affect removal, which is another reason to inspect the vehicle first.

5. Are there any disadvantages to signwriting a van?

A signwritten van publicly connects the vehicle with the business, so its appearance, use and security deserve some thought.

The driver represents the company whenever the van is on the road. Dirty or damaged graphics, poor parking and inconsiderate driving can all reflect on the business whose name is displayed.

Tradespeople should also consider whether the graphics reveal that valuable tools or equipment may be carried. Signwriting does not create the underlying security risk, but prominent trade branding can make the contents of the van easier to guess. Secure storage and sensible overnight parking remain important.

You should also tell your insurer about any permanent graphics or changes to the vehicle. Insurers do not all treat signwriting in exactly the same way, so the safest approach is to ask before fitting rather than assume it makes no difference. The Government’s general guidance also says insurers must be told whether a van is being used socially or for business.

Is using a local van signwriter important?

Location alone does not guarantee better work. The practical advantage comes from being able to bring the van in, discuss the design with the person producing it and have the finished layout checked against the vehicle.

At Sign Art, the design, vinyl cutting and fitting are handled at my workshop in Milber, Newton Abbot. You deal directly with me throughout the job, from the first discussion to the final application.

That allows decisions to be made around your actual vehicle instead of relying entirely on photographs, measurements sent by email or a standard template.

What is the best starting point?

Start with the information a potential customer genuinely needs, then let the design fit that message to the vehicle.

Bring the van to the workshop if possible. I can look at the available panels, discuss your budget and explain whether straightforward lettering, a more detailed graphic layout or removable magnetic signs would be the most sensible option.

To discuss van signwriting in Newton Abbot, call Leigh at Sign Art on 01626 333052.