Keep these safety tips in mind the next time you want to slap a bumper sticker on your car
Bumper stickers are like tiny billboards for your personality. They make people smile, spark conversations at red lights and turn an ordinary car into something that’s uniquely you. Maybe yours proudly declares “Dog Mom,” shows off your favorite national park or flexes your alma mater. But as fun and harmless as they seem, those colorful decals could actually be putting you at risk—and not for the reasons you’d expect. So, what’s the problem with bumperstickers?
Well, according to the experts we talked to, including three current and former law enforcement professionals and a professor of sociology and criminology, your bumper stickers might be revealing more about you than you think. Keep reading to discover why bumper stickers are risky propositions—and to learn tips for keeping you and your family safe.
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What is the problem with bumper stickers?
We get it—you love your life, and you’re proud of your family. Those stick-figure family decals you put on your car are adorable, and you’re super proud that your kids made the honor roll. The problem with bumper stickers, however, is that you might be inadvertently putting yourself and your family in danger by drawing attention to key details about your life.
“These small symbols send silent messages that can open the door to vulnerabilities you may not even realize exist,” says law enforcement instructor and crime prevention specialist Sunnetta “Sunny” Slaughter. “Even well-meaning strangers can cross a line when they think they share a connection based on a sticker.”
Plus, you could be giving up personal information about where you go and what you do with your time: “A criminal doesn’t have to follow you to learn your routine,” Slaughter says. This can make you an easy target for theft, stalking, harassment or worse.
What could bumper stickers reveal?
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From personal details about your family and frequently visited locations to political and religious beliefs, here’s what your bumper stickers may reveal about you.
Where you and your family spend time
Do you take frequent ski trips in the winter, or do you head to the beach in warmer seasons? Either way, letting strangers know that you might be gone for prolonged periods of time is one of the problems with bumper stickers—especially if they note your destination of choice.
“Stickers that show frequent vacation spots could inform burglars that your home is left unattended during vacation seasons,” explains Sergeant Tina McGriff with the Montgomery (Alabama) Police Department, adding that it leaves you open to property damage and loss. In addition, Slaughter says that bumper stickers showcasing your children’s schools or sports teams may “reveal when families are likely away for practice or games—ideal times for break-ins.”
Details about your children
Speaking of your kids, personalized bumper stickers with your children’s names might catch the attention of child predators, since this personal tidbit can help them gain your kids’ trust.
“Any information that could create ‘common ground’ between your child and a stranger creates an opportunity for a criminal act if intent is present,” McGriff says. Knowing your kids’ names can make it easy for predators to approach them at an event and trick them into thinking they know them or you.
“Likewise, family stick-figure decals can disclose how many children you have, their approximate ages and whether an adult male appears to be in the home,” Slaughter warns. “That’s actionable intelligence for someone seeking a target.”
What’s in your car
Another problem with bumper stickers is that they can tell strangers what you might be carrying in your car. Gun owners in particular are at risk if they advertise their affiliation with organizations that are seen as traditionally supportive of gun rights, like military and firefighters, according to a report from Houston Public Media. Likewise, Slaughter says military families that proudly display unit- or squadron-specific decals can “unintentionally invite danger or unwelcome scrutiny.”
McGriff adds that stickers of your college alma mater—even what you majored in—can make it easier for thieves to guess what’s in your car. “If your decal informs me that you attend/attended college to become a pharmacist, boxes in your backseat may lead me to believe that they contain prescription drugs,” she says.
Your political or religious beliefs
“Honk for Jesus” stickers may seem innocent—but that’s not always the case. “Political or controversial decals can trigger aggressive or hostile encounters on the road,” Slaughter says. A bumper sticker that reveals who you voted for, your religious affiliation or other potentially controversial stances can make you a target for road rage or other harassment and should be avoided when possible. “Share such opinions in safer, private spaces instead,” she suggests.
Where you work and live
While you might be proud of helping your company’s softball team take home the gold—or of being Employee of the Year three years running—it’s probably better to save those wins for your desk rather than flaunting them on your car.
“Workplace bumper stickers could help criminals craft realistic phishing messages or scam calls,” Slaughter says. If a bumper sticker hints at your department or team, a scammer could reference a recent project or system, making the message feel legitimate and increasing the chance you’ll click a link or share sensitive information.
And while not quite the same as bumper stickers, parking decals can pose similar risks. “[They] reveal where you work, where your teenage driver goes to high school and possibly where you both will park upon arrival,” McGriff says. If you have the option, consider detaching your pass when it’s not being used. Displaying it when it’s not necessary makes it easier for stalkers and thieves to figure out personal information.
“In stalking and domestic violence cases I’ve encountered, abusers have tracked victims by recognizing identical decals and locating their vehicles,” Slaughter says.
How big of a problem is this?
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Studies have shown that most stalking victims are preyed upon by individuals they know personally, says Kent Bausman, a sociology professor at Maryville University. “The stereotype of the ‘stranger’ stalker lurking in the shadows [and] looking for visual cues of vulnerability is more of an urban legend.”
However—citing a 2024 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that indicated more than 850,000 vehicles were stolen across the United States—Slaughter says that “vehicle burglaries are increasingly linked to visible decals that hint at valuables inside,” even if these incidents aren’t “officially categorized as ‘sticker-related crimes.'”
She admits that while the true scope of crimes linked to bumper stickers is “hard to measure,” law enforcement and safety experts “continue to see patterns suggesting that even small identifiers can provide useful information to those with ill intent.”
Either way, you should take all the safety precautions you can to stay out of harm’s way. “Safety is not about being paranoid—it is about being smart and being aware of what information we are sharing with the world,” says Ashley Glinka, a former federal law enforcement agent. “Criminals are opportunists; they prey on easy targets.”
If you have your heart set on a bumper sticker, what’s a better option?
The safest alternative to adhering bumper stickers to your car is to put them on the fridge instead. However, if you really want to put a bumper sticker on your car, it’s a good idea to keep it as generic as possible.
“Choose stickers that express pride or humor without personal details,” Slaughter says. “’Proud Parent’ works better than naming your child’s school, [and] ‘Outdoor Lover’ is safer than listing your sports club.”
In addition to avoiding revealing stickers, she suggests using removable or temporary stickers that “allow flexibility and reduce the creation of predictable patterns,” or opting for interior window displays “so only passengers—not passersby—can see them.”
Do bumper stickers also damage your car?
Believe it or not, bumper stickers can leave a bigger mark than you’d think—literally. Over time, the adhesive can leave behind sticky residue or even peel paint when you try to remove it, especially if it’s been baking in the sun or stuck to older paint.
That “Proud Dog Mom” sticker? It will undoubtedly leave a ghost impression after a few years on your fender—and that could hurt resale value if you ever sell the car. Turns out, something so small can have surprisingly lasting consequences.
About the experts
Sunnetta “Sunny” Slaughter, DHL, is a law enforcement instructor, litigation consultant and legal analyst frequently seen on Court TV, Law & Crime Network, CNN and Scripps News. She is the founder of Sunny Slaughter Consulting, specializing in law enforcement training, violence prevention and crisis communications.
Kent Bausman, PhD, is a sociology professor at Maryville University. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Bausman has been an educator for more than 25 years and is an expert in social inequity, criminology, generational diversity, gang violence and more. He has been featured in Forbes, Vox, Newsweek, the Washington Post and many other outlets.
Ashley Glinka is a former federal air marshal. She has a bachelor of science in criminal justice from the University of Toledo and a law degree from Purdue Global Law School, and she is an expert in criminal investigation, research and analysis and behavior recognition. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, she is currently a TEDxCharleston speaker and co-CEO of Critical Threat, a risk management consulting company.
Tina McGriff is a sergeant in the Montgomery (Alabama) Police Department. In her nearly 10 years of service, she has served in the patrol division, traffic division, public information office and the dignitary protection unit.
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Sources:
Sunnetta “Sunny” Slaughter, DHL, law enforcement instructor and crime prevention specialist; interviewed, October 2025
Kent Bausman, PhD, sociology professor at Maryville University; interviewed, October 2025
Ashley Glinka, former federal law enforcement agent and founder of Critical Threat; interviewed, October 2025
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