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Ginger asked: How do I remove the dealer name from a newly purchased auto? I realized a week after bring the car home, that the dealer’s name was on the back. It not only detracts from the look of the car, but I don’t want to give the dealer free advertising. Thank you.
Nearly all dealerships stick their logo on the back of any vehicle that is purchased from them because they want others to know where the car was purchased from. If you aren’t looking to spread the word, here’s how to remove those stubborn stickers.
You Will Need:
- Goo Gone or other “goo” remover
- Automotive bug and tar remover
- Soft cloths
- Plastic scraper
- Water
- Car soap
- Hair dryer (optional)
Steps to Remove the Dealership Decal:
- Begin by washing the area with soap and water.
- Dry with a soft cloth.
- Spray the decal liberally with bug and tar remover.
- Allow it to set for a few minutes so the spray can soak under the decal. Spray more if needed, but do not allow it to dry.
- Next, use the plastic scraper to carefully scrape the loosened decal from the surface. Start at the corner and apply slow, consistent pressure as you remove the decal using a diagonal motion. If it’s not a flexible decal, dental floss or fishing line can be used – word the line behind the decal. The hair dryer will help with these.
- If it won’t budge, use a hair dryer to heat the sticker and loosen the adhesive.
- Once the decal is removed, you can tackle any remaining residue with Goo Gone.
- Use a soft cloth to apply Goo Gone to the area and remove any sticky residue.
- Once the decal is removed, wash the area again with soap and water to remove any cleaning residue.
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Additional Tips and Advice
- Use gentle pressure with the spatula to prevent any damage to the painted surface.
- When removing decals from glass, razors are recommended. However, they are NOT recommended for painted surfaces. The risk of scratches and damages is too great.
- WD-40 can be used in place of Goo Gone to remove the sticky residue.
- DeSolvIt is another adhesive remover that helps to remove these stubborn stickers.
I wouldn’t suggest using Goo-Gone on a vehicle; it could damage the finish. 3M makes an adhesive remover that is designed for this purpose and is what is used in most detail shops.
The dealer charges you for their “free advertising.” It is hidden in the cost of “dealer prep.” When purchasing vehicles in the past, I have specified in the “contract” that there will be no dealer sticker on the car when I pick it up. One time, there was a dealer sticker, and when I pointed it out to them, they immediately took it into the shop and removed it.