Vehicle graphics & wraps
Take your identity on the road with printed vehicle graphics.
Vehicle graphics & wraps
Bus graphics
A bus gives you the largest moving canvas on the road, plus more obstacles than any other vehicle. Bus graphics suit schools, tour firms, community transport groups and advertisers working with an operator, whether the job is a logo on a minibus or a complete livery.
Who has to sign this off?
Start with permissions, not artwork. If you do not own the vehicle, the operator or leasing company will usually need to approve the design, and may have its own specification. Public service vehicles can carry extra requirements around signage, destination displays and emergency exit markings, which must stay visible and unaltered. Rules vary by vehicle type and use, so check with the operator or your transport compliance contact. Find this out now, because a redesign late in the job is far harder than one at the start.
Taking the design across the windows
Printing across side windows needs perforated window film, which shows the image from outside while passengers can still see out. The small holes reduce image detail, so keep text off the glass and let a bold picture cross it instead. Driver sightlines and any windows that must stay clear are a safety matter, so confirm these with the operator before layout. Perforated film can also trap water and dirt, so its working life is usually shorter than the body film.
Rivets, curves and hatches
Older coaches and many buses have riveted panels, deep curves and hinged access flaps for engines and luggage. Film has to be pressed around rivets or cut at each edge, and every hatch needs a clean break so that it still opens. Good reference photos make a big difference: shoot each side square-on, then each hatch open. A scale drawing from the manufacturer helps too. For a group of vehicles, see our print management page, and our vehicle graphics page for materials.
Related topics
Useful to know
Your questions.
Can bus graphics go over the windows?
Some windows can be covered with perforated film, but others may need to stay clear for safety reasons. Check with your operator or compliance contact which windows are allowed, then design the layout around that answer.
How do I get artwork templates for a minibus?
Vehicle templates exist for many common models, but older or converted buses may need measuring. Give us the exact model and photos, and we will advise on how to build an accurate layout.
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Window graphics
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Keep a multi-part print project organised from brief to delivery.