The car magnet client is the easiest sale in vehicle branding because they arrive pre-sold: a contractor who wants their truck to advertise without committing to permanent graphics has already decided magnets are the answer — they just need someone to make good ones. The reseller's job isn't convincing; it's spec-ing correctly (thickness, size, corners), setting care expectations, and being ready when the fleet version of the same order shows up.
The Core Specs
- Stock: 20 mil or 30 mil magnetic sheet — the thickness call is about grip at speed, and it's important enough to have its own guide: 20 mil vs 30 mil Magnetic Signs. The short version: 30 mil for working trucks and highway miles.
- Sizing: 12"x18" and 12"x24" are the door standards; custom sizes run up to 24"x36" for van sides and larger panels
- Corners: rounded, always — sharp corners are where highway wind gets its fingernails under the magnet
- Print: durable UV color, no laminate needed for normal vehicle service
Full magnetic line context: Wholesale Magnetic Sign Printing Guide.
The Two Client Profiles
The contractor pair. Two door magnets for a personal truck doing business duty — the classic order. Design needs: company name, trade, phone number, huge. This client reorders when magnets wear, when the phone number changes, and when their new hire's truck needs a set — and they refer other contractors constantly, because job sites are where contractors compare trucks.
The fleet set. Five, ten, forty vehicles branded identically — property managers, service companies, franchises, delivery operations. Fleet orders bring fleet logic: template artwork once, price per-vehicle-set, and expect additions as the fleet grows. Fleet buyers often arrive from the adjacent dealership world: Car Tags & Dealer Plates.
The Magnets-or-Decals Fork
Some vehicle-branding inquiries belong in decals instead — the sort question is removability: leased vehicles, personal vehicles, and rotating fleets need magnets; permanent dedicated fleet vehicles get better economics from decals. Walking clients through the fork wins the order either way: Magnetic Signs vs. Vehicle Decals.
The Care Card: The Cheapest Insurance in the Category
Magnet complaints are almost never print failures — they're care failures: magnets left in place for months trap moisture (etching paint) or fly off because they were slapped onto a dirty or curved panel. Include a care card with every order:
- Apply only to clean, dry, flat, painted metal — no plastic panels, no body contours
- Remove and clean weekly — both the magnet and the vehicle surface
- Store flat, never folded or creased
- Re-apply smooth from center outward — no air gaps
One printed card prevents the complaint call, protects the client's paint, and reads as professionalism. It's the cheapest account insurance in the product line.
Pricing Magnet Work
Magnets carry the strongest retail anchor in vehicle branding — clients expect a custom pair to cost $60–150+ — against modest wholesale cost, making 100%+ markups routine. The attach opportunities compound it: every yard-sign contractor is a magnet prospect, every magnet client has signage needs, and fleet sets scale the ticket without scaling the work. Framework: How Sign Shops Price Outsourced Work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size are standard car door magnets? 12"x18" and 12"x24" pairs cover most trucks; custom sizes run to 24"x36" for vans and larger panels.
Will magnets stay on at highway speed? Yes — 30 mil stock with rounded corners, applied to a clean flat panel, holds at highway speeds.
Do car magnets damage paint? Not with weekly removal and cleaning — include care instructions with every order to prevent moisture buildup issues.
How fast can a magnet order ship? 94.6% of orders ship next business day with free UPS Ground — a contractor can be branded by next week.
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