Manual of Traffic Signs
Where to Obtain Traffic Signs (legally)


First things first: no one involved with the Manual of Traffic Signs actually sells traffic signs. This site is intended to provide information on US road and traffic signs, not to sell any actual tangible product. The owner of this site works with many different sign fabricators and vendors, and tries to be as impartial as practical toward all of them.


New signs:

A simple Web search on the terms "traffic signs" or "traffic signs for sale" should turn up a plethora of vendors offering a variety of signs. When looking at each sign vendor's offerings, there are some criteria you may want to use for selection:


Not-so-new signs:

The online auction business has made it easier for individuals to obtain and collect interesting signs from around the world. An easy and simple way to find old road signs online is to go to Ebay or a similar online auction site and do a search on the following keywords:

In general, signs taken down by public agency forces are still considered public property, and must typically be disposed of through legal means. Policies vary by agency - check with your local public works or transportation agency for details.

In some states, old signs that are taken down by contractors as part of road work become the property of the contractor for their disposal. One could contact these signing contractors directly to see if signs could be purchased from them if state law permits. (Sorry, I don't have any resources or lists on contractors actively involved in sign work at this time - so please don't ask).

Caution! If you do purchase or legally obtain a used sign, enjoy it as a collectible, but please do not use it, place it, or install it as an official sign or traffic control device on or alongside any road or street open to public travel (even if on private property). Without detailed inspection or expensive equipment, there's no way to determine whether the sign meets required retroreflectivity or color standards. This could result in severe liability exposure for the person or organization that posts such a sign should there be a crash or other injury in the area of the sign.

Needless to say, do not steal traffic signs!

Traffic sign theft costs you! Public agencies (and the taxpayers who support these agencies) end up having to pay untold amounts of money every year due to sign theft. These costs result from:

In fact, in a number of documented cases, a single stolen sign has resulted in multiple deaths and the prosecution of the sign thieves on felony charges, including manslaughter.

Don't do it.



Updated 30 October 2019 (updated to new style and revised)
Scripting: Richard C. Moeur

All text and images on this page © Richard C. Moeur. All rights reserved.
Linked sign layout files in PDF format provided courtesy of FHWA's MUTCD website
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