A very simple graphic is appropriate if you just need to badge your vehicles for safety and security reasons, but these sorts of designs will not market a business to potential customers.

If you want a livery for marketing purposes, DO spend a minimum of about £250 for a car or small van or £350 for a Transit-style vehicle. This will get you some eyeballs. A £100 graphic is almost always an expensive way of making it easier to find your vehicle in a supermarket car park. It is not a marketing investment.

Think hard about graphic design. Above all, DON’T think that design is a waste of money. It has a cost but a good design is worth the investment many times over.

DO ensure that you give your supplier your logo in the correct vector format. If you don’t have it, chasing it up from your graphic designer is a pain in the neck, but if you want a good job, it is essential. When you get hold of the right file, save it to your desktop and back it up to both the cloud and a memory stick which you store in a safe place
Vehicle Branding Advice

DO listen to what the designer says – particularly about clutter. You don’t need addresses, fax numbers or email accounts on your design. Mobile phone numbers will make you look small. A landline number is much better. If you are very confident about your brand, like Apple, Nike or The Last Hurdle, reduce it – the brand any nothing else. This isn’t appropriate for every business, but it is worth thinking about.

However, DO remember that you are the customer. You (and your colleagues and family) will have to look at the van every day for years to come. If you don’t like the design, it is no good.