Can I legally make bumper stickers criticizing car dealerships?

Dealer-added badges can be easily removed in a few minutes without "special tools," although you will need to patch the holes eventually (also a small job anyone can do unless your car is very fancy). Or just put a hello kitty sticker over it. There are numerous online dealer rating services, especially JD Power (and Yelp!). Do your opinion stating there and you have a shot at harming them. This idea makes you look not just disgruntled but crazed with anger. Everyone hates car dealers. I just bought a car from a dealer I considered relatively honest (based in part on JD Power and Yelp reviews I went 30 miles out of my way to avoid my local Mazda dealer, who has terrible ratings). Even so I lost track of how many bullshit half-lies I was told in the process, and how slimy the whole thing is (and I went in having identified the exact vehicle they had that I wanted and having had an offer already accepted by email, and paying cash). Luckily my dealer just puts their logo on plate frames,easily and instantly replaced. Don't get so mad you don't get even. If the car has problems or you feel you were materially harmed complain to the manufacturer and/or your attorney general or consumer affairs department.

"Is this legal?" Probably. No police officer is likely to pull you over to write a ticket for this. "Can they sue me?" Well, sure. "Will they sue me?" Who knows? Do you want to find out how much it will cost you if they do? I bet they have deeper pockets than you do. I, too, like embrangled's idea, if you insist on making a statement.

I doubt you'll make any money selling a sticker like that, but that's not your question. Your sticker makes two statements - "lying salesmen" and "bad ratings online". Neither of these are obviously statements of opinion (per the http://www.rcfp.org/browse-media-law-resources/news-media-law/news-media-and-law-summer-2011/opinion-defense-remains-str) nor obviously statements of fact (since both can be disproved). As a result, it is conceivable these could be considered libel. Oddly, this puts you in the position of being able to sell the stickers legally (since by themselves, they make no statement), but not necessarily being able to put them on your car legally. It is not clear to me that any dealership would care enough to do anything about the stickers, since any action would likely generate negative press.

The thing is, there is nothing *stopping* them from suing you, regardless of the legality. Selling cars is a difficult business, so I wouldn't be surprises if the dealer took the matter somewhat seriously.

I like embrangled's idea. It brings the sticker closer to the dealer's logo, and also avoids making a statement about the dealer. Since your proposed sticker doesn't include any particular dealer's name, then any libel would be committed by the individual who buys your sticker and applies it to their car. So, based on no research and TINLA, it is not apparent that there is anyone who could take any action against you for libel. You didn't ask, but frankly, I don't believe that a viewer is going to visually connect the dealer's logo on the car with the bumper sticker on the bumper and read them together as a sentence. Even somebody who's willing to junk up their car with stickers is going to think twice before adding this additional slogan to their bumper.

Manufacturer's badges may be bolted on; I haven't seen a dealer plate attached with anything other than adhesive in years. Go to a car detailing shop and they can help you remove the thing.

If you have proof of them lying (contradictory e-mails, for example), then you could still be sued, but, in the US, truth is an absolute defense against libel and slander. If you use their visual design to tie the statements together, then you probably aren't violating some law, but I'm not certain you wouldn't be. IANAL

My husband sold cars for two different periods. He does not sell cars for the reason that most if not all car dealerships make it impossible to earn a living without lying. I would not bother with the sticker simply because it's most likely true for just about all the dealerships you are surrounded by. (my advice is to make friends with a former car salesman and take them with you next time you shop. And let them haggle for you.)

If I were driving behind you, I might not understand your intent. I might think someone else had slapped that sticker on your car to say that you were the one being criticized. If you're trying to warn people off the crappy dealership, online reviews are much more helpful.