How to Debadge a Car Without Damaging the Paint

Last Updated on 4 weeks by Ollie Barker

Everyone’s familiar with the issue of how to remove a car tag without damaging the paint. Debadging is an ideal way to get rid of the unwanted decal and keep your car looking as good as new. This article provides some tips on how to debadge a car, including techniques used by professionals.

Best Way on How to Debadge a Car

The high-quality paint and clear coat that comes on your car after the car was painted is guaranteed to protect it against scratches and scuffs. However, if you have a decal that you need to remove, here are some things you must remember:

• Remove the decal from the back of the car.
• Be sure that you first remove any loose debris from around the decal to avoid accidentally scratching or marring your paint during removal.
• If you plan to use the decal ripping tool, make sure that the metal blade is not dull or chipped before attempting to remove the decal. Clean and lubricate the blade for better results.

Warnings on How to Debadge a Car

Most car decals are made of thick vinyl, which makes removal difficult. Do not try scrubbing at your decal with a squeegee liner as you may make scratches on your paint or clear coat in this process that cannot be fixed.

Find out: Easy ways to clean your car’s headliners!

Also, do not use ammonia-based cleaners, and do not scratch the area you are trying to remove the decal from. It doesn’t matter if your car is a new model or an extra expensive one with a custom paint job; you should still handle it gently.

Debadging Your Car Step-by-Step

#1 Loosen the Adhesive

Badges are attached to the car by either glue or clips. Lucky us that most of the time, manufacturers use glue, which makes our debadging job easier.

You can loosen the glue by using heat. The adhesive behind the badge will be loosened so that you can get behind it. I always use a heat gun for this task instead of a hairdryer as the heat from the heat gun is stronger and more focused. Therefore, it does the job more effectively.

You need to make sure that all the area under the badge is heated long enough as the glue used is high quality. If you use a hairdryer, you need to spend more time on this task.

If you have a stubborn badge that doesn’t come off with the heat, then apply an adhesive remover to the edge of the logo. I never see this fail.

#2 Removing the Badges

Once the badges have been softened enough, you can remove them using one of these:

• Dental floss
• Fishing wire
• Credit card
• Or, a trim removing tool

I personally prefer using a fishing wire as it is thin, flexible, and strong. Whereas using a credit card or a trim removing tool poses a risk of scratching the paint.

Now, use the fishing wire to get under the badge while the glue is still hot. Use slow movement to take the badge off. You will need to remain the badged area in the heat often while doing this.

#3 Cleaning & Waxing

You have done more than half of the work. The badge has come off. Great. Now you see the adhesive residue that needs to be cleaned. A good cleaning product is not found in the market. Therefore, you need to use rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth. Rubbing alcohol will remove the dirt and glue residue, but it will also remove the paint off your car.

I personally use Windex for this job. It does its job effectively without leaving a mark on the paint and clear coat of my car.

After that, you need to give the area a good rinse before waxing. A wax layer will protect the area from future damage.

Does Debadging a Car Devalue It?

Obviously, the paint will be slightly damaged, but this is not really a big deal because your car is still going to be in a good condition. Some people tend to buy a new car once it has been debadged because they think that it devalues their old car. While this is probably true for some people, I would say that the great condition of the car does not matter as long as you look good in it.

So, if you want a great-looking car, make sure that you debadge it well. Alternatively, if your current car is in perfect condition but you want a new one to look good, do not bother removing the decal and get a new one. It costs much less than getting a new paint job.

Is Debadging a Car Illegal?

Some states require that you have the manufacturer’s name or logo on the exterior of your car. Therefore, you need to debadge as soon as you get a new car. The way of this removal process will not damage the paint and it is perfectly legal.

However, some states do not require this kind of information on your car. Or, they only allow it to be in certain areas like on the rear window. In these places, removing an exterior decal would be illegal as a violation of your state’s laws and regulations.

Why Do Some People Debadge Their Vehicles?

#1 Avoiding Advertising

Another great reason to debadge is to avoid advertising yourself or your company. It’s as simple as that. If you’re in the sales industry, or an industry where you have to attract new customers, you may want your car to remain a mystery until you’ve managed to sell the car.

#2 Blending In When Driving A Sleeper Vehicle

Some people like to keep their vehicle in top shape for use in racing or as a “sleeper”. In other words, to keep the vehicle from looking fast, you need to debadge it.

#3 Being Unique And Customizing The Car To Their Taste

Is this not the main reason why people buy a car? For me, I always try to customize my car if I can. I want it to look different from all the other cars out there. I don’t like the logo of the car manufacturer on my car. I love the factory looks of cars. That is why I remove all the decals from my car and replace them with vinyl stickers and a custom paint job.

Final Words

To conclude, it is your decision whether to remove the decal or not. Understand that some car manufacturers like to include their logos on their vehicles in order to advertise themselves. Removing these decals will not devalue your vehicle. Likewise, just because the manufacturer might require that you have this information on your car, it does not mean that removing them from your vehicle will devalue it.

So, make sure to research the laws in your state regarding exterior decals before attempting the removal of any kinds of stickers and logos from your or another’s car.