Do Bumper Stickers Affect A Car’s Value? (We Checked)

Bumper stickers seem cool on your cars, but it can be hard to take off your vehicles, especially when you want to sell them.

This is why some car owners put these bumper stickers on their windows rather than bumpers. Unfortunately, these stickers leave a residue after being removed from the car bumpers.

This article will discuss how posting bumper stickers can affect your car’s value.

Here’s the Short Answer to Whether Bumper Stickers Affect a Car’s Value:

Bumper stickers affect a car’s perceived value. Potential buyers would prefer a car without a bumper sticker than one filled with them.

If the perceived value goes down, so does the actual resale value. This is why bumper stickers are a bad idea if you plan to resell your vehicle.

How Much Do Bumper Stickers Affect a Car’s Value?

Bumper stickers can harm the resale value of your vehicle.

It is why you hardly see vehicles with bumper stickers in second-hand dealership stores. Bumper stickers leave an impression that the vehicle has been used, and it is advisable to remove them quickly.

Potential buyers will probably be discouraged if your vehicle has many bumper stickers. Most buyers like to pay attention to a vehicle’s exterior and interior parts. 

Some buyers may not have problems with dents and scratches on their vehicles, but bumper stickers can make them rethink the transaction.

For instance, a buyer whose political beliefs align with the Democrat party will not buy a vehicle with bumper stickers that support the ideology of the Republican Party. 

Irrespective of the kind of bumper sticker on your vehicle and how great they look, they will affect the chances of reselling your car.

It is almost impossible to find a potential buyer who shares similar interests when selling your car, and it is better to remove the stickers.

Other factors also affect your car’s resale value, including tech features, maintenance, brand, and the interior and exterior condition of the vehicle.

It is better to make the necessary amendment to improve the performance and appearance of your vehicle.

It will give you more confidence when negotiating the resale value of your vehicle. 

Read also: 100 Funny Political Bumper Sticker Messages (Liberal-Oriented)

Do Bumper Stickers Affect the Trade-in Value?

Bumper stickers can hurt the trade-in value of your vehicle. 

While the presence of a dent or scratch may mean nothing to you, it could make a potential buyer change his mind. 

Appraisers of vehicles for resale are quite picky in their dealings, and appraisers on a four-point scale evaluate most used cars.

Used vehicles are evaluated based on their condition, and these are excellent, good, fair, or poor condition. 

In most instances, used vehicles are placed in the “Fair” category, and a few automobiles make it to the “Excellent” class. 

Dents and scratches could be why your vehicle will not make it to the “Good” category list. 

It is advisable to park the vehicle you are about to sell safely to avoid scratches and other defects that could reduce its resale value. You can also explore some bumper sticker rules you must follow.

Can You Remove Bumper Stickers Completely With No Trace?

This question is tricky, as residue from bumper stickers can be hard to eliminate. Using the following adhesive removal agents, you can remove bumper stickers without a trace. 

With that in mind, there are some great methods for removing bumper stickers. There are also easy ways to remove vinyl bumper stickers.

These are some of the examples of these cleaning agents to eliminate bumper stickers on your car:

WD-40

WD-40 is a multi-purpose lubricant variant that eliminates residue from your automobile. 

This lubricant is a petroleum-based product, and it is better to avoid using WD-40 on painted surfaces. Individuals with decals on their vehicles can wipe them down with WD-40, which will loosen the adhesive.

Once the adhesive is loosened, it will make it easier for the bumper stickers to peel off without much effort. 

Vegetable Oil

Several methods exist to remove bumper stickers and decal residue from your vehicle. One of the most efficient options is using vegetable oil made from plants and sold in most grocery stores. 

Vegetable oil is safe on painted surfaces and will not damage the paint or car finish. It is a better option than the WD-40, a popular lubricant most auto owners use for cleaning bumper stickers. 

Vegetable oil has a strong smell; avoid using this method if you are allergic to vegetable oil. 

Rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is another non-toxic cleaning agent great for eliminating bumper stickers.

Alcohol can help remove sticky residue from the automobile and is friendly to the environment. It is a cheap option that you can find in pharmaceutical stores. 

Rubbing alcohol is excellent for cleaning jewelry and electronics. You can also use alcohol to repair broken eyeglasses. 

Use White Vinegar

White vinegar is another resourceful household miracle solution used in most households.

It is an environment-friendly solution and is considered better than the WD-40 and cheaper than the solution. 

Wet a paper towel with the vinegar thoroughly and rub the towel across the surface of the bumper sticker. 

Ensure you allow the vinegar to penetrate the bumper sticker for a few minutes and use a rubber spatula or a credit card.

You can clean the residue with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. 

Goo-Gone for Automobiles

There are various solvents meant for removing stubborn bumper stickers, and Goo-Gone is one of the best products on the market.

The name is Goo-Gone Automotive Spray Gel, and this no-drip formula is safe for all surfaces and can be used to clean several dents, such as bird droppings, tree sap, gum, and bumper stickers. 

You can spray the Goo-Gone gel all over the bumper sticker, allow it to stay for a few minutes, and scrape it with a credit card or a rubber spatula. 

Read also: 100 Funny Political Bumper Sticker Messages (Conservative-Oriented)

Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise contains some properties that aid the removal of bumper stickers.

If you want to remove bumper stickers on your vehicle, apply mayonnaise on top of the sticker for at least 15-20 minutes before scraping it off with a credit card. 

Most people use mayonnaise to remove label sticker residue from products. 

Should You Remove Bumper Stickers Before Selling a Car?

Yes. It is imperative to remove bumper stickers before selling your vehicle. These bumper stickers can negatively affect the resale value of your vehicle. 

Bumper stickers are a subtle means of expressing your political beliefs, ideologies, and religious stands. Some vehicle owners also use bumper stickers to promote business brands that have delivered incredible service to them.

Bumper stickers are also used to brag about achievements of completing a half-marathon, triathlon, or an entire marathon race. Some vehicle owners use bumper stickers to show their alma mater. 

Moreover, having customized bumper stickers that go against the beliefs of your potential buyers will hurt your chances of selling your vehicle. 

Several factors determine the resale value of your vehicle, including brand, interior and exterior condition, tech features of your vehicle, and maintenance of the car.

Bumper stickers on your vehicle can significantly affect your car’s trade-in and resale value.

Having these bumper stickers thoroughly removed from your vehicle before selling it is better. You should also check out the best places for bumper stickers on cars.

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