How to install and remove your BuildTags decal

Before you start

• Decide where it goes and check that the spot is allowed and safe (see "Where not to put it" below).
• Read the QR Code Product Disclaimer for what a decal can and cannot promise, including surfaces and removal.
• Check the QR code with your phone camera on the decal while it is still on the backing, so you know it scans.
• Choose a day with moderate temperatures and, if you can, shade. Very hot, very cold, wet or windy conditions make decals harder to apply. If the supplier gave a temperature range with your decal, follow that.
• Use clean hands and a clean, soft cloth. Have a squeegee, a plastic card or a soft cloth ready for pressing the decal down.

Choose and clean the surface

• Pick a clean, flat, smooth spot. Curves, deep texture, seams and edges make decals lift.
• Clean the spot with isopropyl alcohol or glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth. Let it dry fully.
• Remove wax, polish, oil, ceramic or sealant residue from the spot. A decal sticks poorly to a slick, waxed or coated surface.
• Do not touch the cleaned spot or the sticky side of the decal with your fingers.

Apply the decal

1. Hold the decal against the spot without peeling it, and check the position and that it is straight. Mark the corners lightly if it helps.
2. Peel back part of the backing and fold it away. Keep the rest of the backing on to help you place it.
3. Lay the exposed edge down first, then press from the center toward the outside edges with a squeegee or card. Do not stretch the decal.
4. Remove the rest of the backing slowly as you press, working from the center outward.
5. Work bubbles toward the nearest edge with firm, even pressure. Do not pop a bubble with a sharp tool unless the instructions say so.
6. If the decal has a clear top layer, peel it back slowly at a low angle, holding down any corner that tries to lift.
7. Press all edges once more. Scan the decal to check it works.

Wait before washing, pressure washing or rubbing the decal. How long depends on the adhesive: follow the instructions that come with your decal. We have no single waiting time to give you.

Where not to put it

Do not apply a decal where it could:

• block or reduce the driver's view of the road or mirrors;
• cover a license plate, the VIN, or any label or marking the vehicle must show by law;
• cover lights, reflectors, cameras, radar or driver-assistance or parking sensors, or airbags and their markings;
• go on a windshield or window where your local laws do not allow stickers. Rules differ by place, so check yours;
• go on paint or finishes you are not sure about (see the next section).

Take extra care with these surfaces

• Fresh or repainted paint, and aftermarket paint. Paint needs time to harden, and thin or damaged paint can lift when a decal comes off.
• Vinyl wraps, paint protection film (PPF) and ceramic or other coatings. A decal may not stick well, and removing it can mark the finish.
• Tinted windows. Never put a decal on the inside of tint film unless you know it is safe for that film.
• Plastic trim, rough or textured surfaces and rubber.

Try a small, hidden spot first if you can. We cannot promise that a decal will suit every surface or come off without leaving a mark, because that depends on the surface, its age and condition, the weather and how the decal was applied.

Removing a decal

1. Test a hidden spot first.
2. Warm the decal gently with a hair dryer on a low or medium setting, moving it around. Do not overheat paint, plastic or glass.
3. Lift one corner with a fingernail or a plastic tool. Never use a metal blade on paint.
4. Peel slowly at a low angle, close to the surface, re-warming as needed.
5. Residue may stay behind. Use an adhesive remover that is safe for your surface (check its label for paint, plastic and coatings), apply it with a soft cloth, and wash and dry the area afterward.

Residue, a ghost outline or a mark on the finish can happen, especially on older decals and on some paints. We cannot promise damage-free removal.

When to get a professional

Ask a professional installer if the surface is a wrap, PPF, a ceramic coating, tint film, paint of unknown condition, a very expensive finish, or if you are not comfortable doing it yourself.

Not sure? Ask us

Send a photo of the spot and a short question to customersupport@buildtags.app. If something arrived defective or damaged, see the Refund & Replacement Policy.