How to Make Your Own Car Decals

Car decals are a fun way to make your ride stand out, promote your business, or add something cool.

Among all the ways to make decals, UV printing is the best for bumper stickers and window graphics because it can handle anything. Sun, rain, heat, or cold.

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to make car decals from design to sticking it on your car.

What Are Car Decals?

Car decals, or car stickers, are vinyl designs that stick to a vehicle’s surface for decoration or branding.

They have an adhesive backing that makes them easy to apply and usually easy to remove without harming the car.

You can find different kinds, like clear, solid color, reflective, and perforated. People use them for ads, racing stripes, or to show their style.

Before we deep-dive into the printing process, let's try to understand how it varies from the other vehicle-raised sticker types.

Difference Between Car Decals and Stickers

You might hear people say “stickers” and “decals” like they mean the same thing. But they’re slightly different.

Decals are usually more durable, designed to resist sun exposure, scratches, and weather conditions. Hence, their long-term outdoor use application on cars.

Stickers, on the contrary, are mostly less hardy and intended for indoor or temporary use instead. 

Find out more about Car Decals vs. Stickers.

How to Print Car Decals with a UV Printer

Now, let’s go step by step through the process. Once you’ve done it once, it’s surprisingly easy.

Materials Needed to Make Car Decals

To make your own car decals, you'll need a few key materials and tools. This includes:

• A UV printer that supports vinyl roll attachments
• Printable vinyl film
• Flexible white UV ink
• Scissors or a vinyl cutter
• Cleaning supplies for decal application

Having the right materials at hand ensures a smooth workflow and a high-quality final product.

{{ component: "product", handle: "eufymake-e1", sku: "BUNDLE-V8260J40-1-V7240010-1"}}

Step1: Preparing Your Design

Once your materials are ready, the next crucial step is to prepare your artwork. This phase is essential for achieving crisp, accurate, and vibrant prints.

To get the best print results:

• Use images at 300 DPI or higher for sharp, detailed prints.
• Use vector formats like AI, EPS, or PDF that scale infinitely without any loss in quality.
• Set your design to CMYK color mode to match the color setting of a UV printer.
• Save the file as TIFF, PNG, or PDF to maintain good quality. Never save it as JPEG because of the huge possibility of compression artifacting!

Where to Get Designs:

You can design your own in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, or browse editable templates on the Make It Real platform. Either way, customize it to fit your car’s look.

Step 2: Set Up the Printer

With your design ready, move to the printer. Turn on your UV printer, check that the ink cartridges are filled (especially flexible white ink), and run a quick nozzle check to ensure all colors print cleanly.

If any incompatible ink is detected, the printer will issue a prompt to change it. This safeguard helps maintain print quality and material compatibility.

Step 3: Load the Vinyl Film

Attach your vinyl roll to the printer’s roll feeder. Align it evenly and adjust the tension so it feeds smoothly. Misalignment can cause skewed prints.

Step 4: Align and Preview

Next, use the Snapshot feature on your printer to take a preview of the print bed.

This helps you visually position your artwork and adjust the size to fit within the printable area. Ensuring your image is centered and proportioned will prevent misprints.

Step 5: Print Your Car Decal

Now it’s time to print. UV ink cures instantly under UV light, so there’s no waiting for drying. This fast curing not only saves time but also keeps prints sharp and smudge-free.

The eufyMake printer can handle larger designs easily, so you can print big decals in one go without losing quality.

Step 6: Cut Out the Decal

After printing, cut out your decal. Since most UV printers don’t contour-cut automatically, use scissors for simple shapes or a vinyl cutter for precise trimming around the edges.

Step 7: Apply the Decal to Your Car

With your decal printed and cut, the final step is to apply it properly to your vehicle surface.

To put a decal on a car, you’ll need to:

• Clean the surface with an alcohol-based cleaner to remove dust or oil.
• Peel the decal from the backing carefully.
• Position it on your chosen spot, starting from one edge or the center.
• Smooth it out with your hand or a squeegee to remove air bubbles.
• For large decals, move slowly and work in sections

Common Placement Options

Car decals can be applied in various areas. Some of the most common placements include:

• Rear windows
• Side windows
• Bumpers
• Car doors or hoods for larger graphics

Pick a location that suits your design and visibility needs.

Pro Tips for Better Car Decals

To take your car decals from good to great, consider these expert tips that improve durability, appearance, and overall quality.

Enhancing Durability & Appearance

To protect your decal from the elements and enhance its look:

• Add a gloss varnish for shine and UV protection.
• Try textured printing up to 1mm for extra visual interest

These enhancements can make your decals stand out while extending their lifespan.

Large Decal Printing

When creating oversized decals, your design may exceed your printer’s width limitations. In this case, split the design into segments and print them separately. You can then collage them together during the application. Align the edges carefully and overlap slightly for a seamless finish.

Final Thoughts

Making car decals with a UV printer is one of the easiest ways to customize your vehicle or grow your brand. You get pro-quality results at home — no outsourcing, no long waits.

With the right materials, a clear design, and good surface prep, your decal will look professional and last for years.

So grab your design idea, load up your printer, and let’s make your car stand out.

FAQs

How to remove a car decal?

Removing a car decal would really be simple. Heat it gently with a hair dryer or heat gun to loosen the adhesive, then peel it off from one edge.

If any glue remains, wipe it away with adhesive remover or alcohol for a clean surface.

How long do UV-printed car decals last?

UV-printed car decals typically last 3–7 years, depending on conditions and maintenance.

Should car decals go on the inside or outside?

Car decals are usually placed outside the car, especially for bumpers, hoods, and body designs. The only exception is window decals. You can stick them inside if you want to protect them from weather or car washes, but make sure they’re printed in reverse so they look correct from the outside.