How to Remove a Dealership Stencil

Dealership stencils can be an eyesore on new vehicles.

Dealership stencils are an easy way for auto dealers to advertise themselves using your vehicle. To some people, however, these stencils are an eyesore on their new car or truck. Removing these decals can be difficult without the right tools. Using certain tricks and household items, these stencils can be removed in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Hair dryer
• Clothing steamer (optional)
• Plastic putty knife
• Lighter fluid
• Soft cloth
• Soap

Instructions

1. Hold the hairdryer 6 to 10 inches from the dealership stencil for approximately five minutes. For old or extremely adhesive stencils, use a clothing steamer.

2. Using your plastic putty knife, scrape at a corner of the stencil to peel the top layer away. If the stencil is solid enough, it may be possible to pull it with your fingers to remove the entire stencil without extensive scraping

3. Dab lighter fluid onto the soft cloth to remove any adhesive or stencil marking from the paint job. Gently rub over the adhesive and use the plastic putty knife to remove stubborn sections. Immediately rinse the area to remove any leftover adhesive and lighter fluid.

4. Wipe the area down with a clean soft cloth and inspect for remaining stencil adhesive residue. Repeat Step 3 until none is remaining. Clean area with water and soap and pat dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to use a plastic putty knife. Metal knifes are likely to scrape the clear coat or paint, leaving permanent markings

• Rinse the area that was exposed to lighter fluid thoroughly with water. Lighter fluid can damage the paint when exposed for prolonged periods of time

• Lighter fluid is very flammable and dangerous to inhale. Make sure to use it in an open, ventilated area away from open flames or extremely hot surfaces.

References

• Emblem Mart: How to Remove Auto Dealership Decals

Resources

• HowToCleanStuff.net: How to Remove Dealership Decals from a Car