When a truck is sold on or a leased van goes back, the branding has to come off. Left in place, it advertises a company that no longer owns the vehicle, and it puts buyers and lessors off. Done badly, removal leaves ghosting, scratches and sticky patches that cost more to fix than the removal.
We handle de-branding as part of the fleet lifecycle, alongside rebranding and fleet changeovers.
How removal works
Vinyl is softened with controlled heat and peeled back at a low angle, so the adhesive and film come away together as far as possible. Cut lettering, reflective strips, fleet numbers and large wrap panels each behave differently, and the method is adjusted for each.
Where adhesive stays behind, it is cleaned with a suitable solvent that is safe for the paint. Our wider graphics removal and replacement page covers the process in more detail.
- Full wraps and partial wraps
- Cut vinyl lettering and logos
- Fleet numbers and depot codes
- Reflective strips and chevrons
- Old decals and adhesive residue left from earlier branding
Paint condition: what to expect
The surface under the vinyl tells the story of how the vehicle was used. Paint that was original and in good condition usually comes up clean. Repainted panels, poor-quality respray, oxidised or chalky paint, and older single-stage paint can lift, mark or show a different colour where sun has not reached.
Vinyl that has been on a vehicle for a long time may also leave a visible outline, because exposed paint fades slightly while the covered paint does not. Polishing may reduce this but cannot always remove it. We point these risks out at survey and cannot guarantee a flawless result on compromised paint.
Cleaning the surface after removal, followed by a light polish where appropriate, helps bring the panel back to an even appearance.
Resale and lease return checklists
For resale, we remove everything that identifies the previous owner and leave panels clean and ready for valuation. For lease returns, we work from your lessor's condition requirements, so the vehicle goes back in the state they expect.
If a panel is damaged, we flag it in the report so you know before the handover inspection, not after.
Doing a whole batch
Disposals rarely happen one vehicle at a time. When a contract ends or a depot closes, a batch of vehicles needs to come clean in a short window. We plan these like any fleet job, using the fleet audit approach to grade each vehicle, then remove graphics at your depot or at our studio by appointment.
Reports are supplied per vehicle with photos before and after, which is helpful when a lessor or buyer queries condition.
Removal then re-wrap
If the vehicle stays in service under a new look, removal and new installation can be combined, which saves downtime. Request a fleet quote and tell us which vehicles are leaving the fleet and which are being rebranded.
At a glance
De-branding removes company graphics from trucks, vans, bakkies and buses that are being sold, traded in or returned to a lessor. Careful vinyl removal prevents the advert from following the vehicle and helps it present well to buyers and lease inspectors. Wraps, cut lettering, fleet numbers and reflective strips are removed with controlled heat, and adhesive residue is cleaned from the paint.
Results depend on what is underneath. Original paint in good condition usually comes up clean, while resprayed, oxidised or damaged paint can mark or lift, and long-fitted graphics can leave a faint outline where the covered paint was protected from the sun. These risks are explained before work starts so nothing is a surprise at handover. Companies in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban often de-brand whole batches at the end of a contract, either at their own depot or at our studio by appointment. If the vehicle stays in the fleet, removal can be combined with new branding as part of a fleet changeover, which keeps downtime short. Send photos of the vehicles and any lessor condition notes, and we will say what can realistically be achieved.
Common questions
Will removal damage the paint?
Careful removal on sound original paint usually does not. Repainted, oxidised or damaged paint carries a higher risk, and we advise on this at survey.
Will there be a visible outline after removal?
Possibly, especially on older graphics, because the covered paint has been protected from sun. Polishing can help but results vary.
Can you remove graphics at our depot?
Yes, subject to location, project size, site conditions and scheduling.
Do you remove other companies' graphics?
Yes, as long as the vehicle is owned or operated by the customer or the owner has authorised the work.
Can you repaint panels?
No. We remove graphics and clean residue. Paintwork should be handled by a panel beater.