Your door signs do a lot of quiet work. They tell passengers who you are, give them a number to call for the next booking, and make your vehicle look like a proper, professional operation rather than just another car. Whether you drive a hackney carriage, run a private hire firm or look after a whole fleet, getting your taxi door signs right is one of the easiest ways to look the part.
This guide walks through what to put on a door sign, how to choose the right size and backing, and how to order custom signs from MOGO.
What should go on a taxi door sign?
The best door signs are simple and easy to read at a glance, often from across a road or from a moving car. Most drivers and operators include:
- Your business name or trading name, so passengers know who they are booking with.
- A contact number, which is often the whole point of the sign. Make it large enough to read quickly.
- Your logo, if you have one, to build brand recognition across your vehicles.
- A short extra line such as a website address or a service message like “Advanced Bookings Only”, if it is useful to your customers.
Resist the temptation to fit everything on. A sign with too much text becomes hard to read, and the number you most want people to see gets lost. Strong contrast between text and background does more for legibility than any amount of decoration.
Check your council’s requirements first
Before you order, check what your licensing authority expects. Requirements around door signs can differ from one council to the next, including what wording is allowed, whether a sign must be a particular size or position, and whether private hire vehicles have extra rules about what they can display. If you are not sure, your local licensing team is the right place to ask.
If you want to understand why the rules differ between vehicle types, our guide to the difference between Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licensing is a good place to start.
Choosing the right size and shape
The right size depends on the space on your door and how much information you need to show. Our custom door signs come in several shapes, so you can pick the one that suits your vehicle and your branding:
- Rectangle signs in sizes such as 300 x 200mm and a larger 495 x 295mm, which give you room for a logo alongside your name and number.
- Oval signs at 390 x 213mm, a popular choice for a classic taxi look.
Before ordering, hold a tape measure or a piece of card against your door to check the sign will sit flat on a clear section of panel, away from door handles, deep creases and badges. A sign that sits across a sharp curve will not lie as neatly as one on a flat area.
Self-adhesive or magnetic?
Every MOGO custom door sign is available with a choice of backing, and the right one depends on how you use your vehicle.
Self-adhesive vinyl is the permanent option. Once it is fitted it stays put, which suits a vehicle that is dedicated to taxi or private hire work.
Magnetic backing is the flexible option. It is easy to put on and take off, which is handy if you use the same car for private journeys, swap between vehicles, or want to remove your signs when you are not working.
Both options are quick to fit, and our sign fitting guide (PDF) walks you through it step by step.
Built to last
Door signs live a hard life. They are exposed to rain, sun, road spray, and repeated cleaning. MOGO signs are made to order in the UK using high-quality digital vinyl, which is designed to stay clear and readable in all weathers. A sign that fades or peels quickly does not just look tired, it makes the whole vehicle look less professional, so durability is worth paying attention to.
How to order your custom taxi door signs
Ordering is straightforward, and you can design the sign yourself online:
- Choose your template. Pick a door sign design, along with the colour and shape you want.
- Add your text. Use the online customiser to enter your business name, phone number and any other details.
- Upload your logo. Click the image upload area to add your logo so your branding is front and centre.
- Pick your backing and quantity, then add to your basket.
If you have a specific design in mind, or you need something that the templates do not cover, our bespoke design service can help. Get in touch with your requirements and we will talk you through the options.
Signs are sold individually, so you can order one for each door. Take a look at our custom rectangle taxi door sign to see the customiser in action.
Keep your signs looking sharp
A few small habits will help your door signs last longer. Wash them with a soft sponge or microfibre cloth rather than anything abrasive, avoid pointing a pressure washer directly at the edges, and replace a sign as soon as it starts to lift or fade. Our valeting routine for taxi drivers covers easy ways to keep the whole vehicle looking its best between shifts.
Ready to design your signs?
Whether you need a single sign for your own cab or a matching set for a growing fleet, MOGO makes it simple to get professional, UK-made door signs without the hassle. Choose a template, add your details and we will take care of the rest.