Auto rickshaw branding means putting an advertisement on an auto with printed vinyl, usually on the back panel, the sides and the seat-back, with a printed cover over the hood for the biggest canvas. The back panel is read most, because vehicles stuck behind an auto in Pune traffic look straight at it. In Maharashtra the auto’s permit holder needs the Regional Transport Authority’s permission before an advertisement goes on, so settle that before anything is printed.
Trade terms vary. The hood is the cover over the passenger area, and hood advertising is usually a printed cover fitted over it. The back and side panels are firmer surfaces where self-adhesive vinyl is stuck on. This guide is mostly about that second kind, with notes on the hood.
How is an auto rickshaw branded with vinyl?
The panel is measured, the artwork is laid out at that exact size, and the print is laminated and cut to fit. A fitter cleans the surface, positions the vinyl, presses it down with a squeegee and trims the edges. Ribbed or curved panels are fitted with a little heat so the film follows the shape.
Layouts are usually tested on one auto before a batch is printed. Measure real autos, since dimensions differ by make and by how the body has been altered.
Which parts of an auto carry advertising: hood, back or sides?
| Part | Size often quoted | Who sees it | Made from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back panel | About 36 x 18 in (3 x 1.5 ft) | Traffic behind, nearly all the time | Self-adhesive vinyl or a banner |
| Hood (outer cover) | Roughly 8 to 9 sq ft, wrapping the top, back and sides | Following traffic and people at the roadside | Printed rexine or PVC cover fitted over the canopy |
| Side panels | Around 20 x 17 in each | Pedestrians and side traffic | Printed cover or self-adhesive vinyl |
| Seat-back strip | Around 12 x 5 in | Passengers | Self-adhesive vinyl |
What vinyl lasts on an auto in Pune sun and rain?
An auto stands in the open all day, and on many autos the engine sits behind the passenger seat, so the back panel runs warmer and collects more oil mist and soot than a van door. That calls for outdoor-grade vinyl with a laminate over the print, fitted on a clean, dry panel. Ribbed or curved areas suit a softer vehicle-grade film better than flat sign vinyl.
Laminated vinyl on a vertical surface often lasts three to five years, and the vinyl durability guide explains what shortens that. Vendors usually quote campaigns of six to twelve months, well inside the range. April sun usually does more harm than monsoon rain, and a bucket and soft cloth keep an ad brighter than a jet at a roadside wash point.
Do auto rickshaw ads need permission?
In Maharashtra, yes. Rule 134 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 says no advertising device, figure or writing may be shown on a transport vehicle except as the Regional Transport Authority permits. Rule 134A lists autorickshaws among the vehicles for which a fee is charged for that permission.
The permit holder, meaning the auto’s owner, applies in the prescribed form with the fee and the permit, and the permission runs for up to a year or until the permit expires, whichever comes first. We read a published copy of the rules that may not include later amendments, so check the current form, fee and any limit on size or position with the RTO that issued the auto’s permit (Pune or Pimpri-Chinchwad) before printing.
Also ask whether PMC or PCMC has its own rule for vehicle ads, and keep the number plate, lights, reflectors, meter and permit markings uncovered.
How big should the text be on an auto back panel?
Size the letters by who is reading and from how far: about an inch of height for each 10 feet.
| Reader’s distance | Smallest letter height | Typical reader |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | 1 in | A scooter close behind |
| 20 ft | 2 in | A car in slow traffic |
| 30 ft | 3 in | A car held back at a signal |
| 50 ft | 5 in | A driver further back or off to one side |
On a 36 x 18 inch panel, a name at about 6 inches, an offer line at about 4 inches and a contact line at about 4 inches fit with margins. Keep to one message with strong contrast, and stay clear of the panel rim, where bends and trim hide letters.
How are panels fitted and removed?
Fitting is easiest with the auto parked on level ground in shade, the panel cleaned and dried, and no wind to blow grit under the film. The vinyl goes on from the centre outward and the edges are pressed down last. Leave the auto standing for a while before it is washed; the fitter will say how long.
At the end of a campaign the vinyl comes off with gentle heat from a hair dryer or heat gun, peeled slowly at a low angle, and leftover adhesive is wiped away with a suitable cleaner. On sound paint it usually lifts cleanly, but repainted panels can lose paint with the film.
Panels like these are printed by 3 Red Media at Chandni Chowk, Pune. Layouts for several vehicles at once are covered on the vehicle branding page, wraps for private cars on car wraps, and the full material range on vinyl printing. Send the panel measurements and artwork through the quote form to get a proof.
