It’s a common question how long will reflective tape last? The short answer is close to 10 years if installed properly, and if high quality tape is bought. All quality DOT reflective tape SHOULD have a manufacturer warranty. It’s amazing how many people don’t ask their vendor. Good quality reflective tape should have a 5 year warranty. There is 3 year tape sold – avoid the temptation and don’t buy it. The absolute best is 10 year tape, which has a much higher percentage of UV inhibitors to protect from sunlight break down. It’s important to note that your tape will not immediately fail after these time frames, it’s just what the manufacturer feels comfortable stating for legal purposes. The number one reason why reflective tape fails is improper installation. Reflective tape should not be installed over fresh paint – the fumes will cause early release. Nor should it be installed over grease, dust, or very heavily pitted and rough surfaces. It should also NOT be installed using finger tip pressure – it needs total heavy pressure across the entire surface with a roller or firm plastic scraper. Ignoring or not following these factors will cause early release and tape falling off. it’s important also to remember that the adhesive used on all DOT reflective tape is usually of very high quality to adhere in exterior conditions for years. This adhesive needs to “cure” when the tape is installed. This is why tape installed new outdoors in very old weather may fail early; the freezing temperatures did not allow the adhesive to set up and cure properly. Finally – the one factor that eventually causes all tape to fail is not water as often supposed – but rather sunlight. Years of harsh sunlight UV rays cause the plastic layers of tape to begin to crack, fade, and break down. This is another reason why you should only get the highest quality DOT tape. It’s a common sight to see reflective that may be tightly adhered to trucks and trailers but the red color has faded to a light pink. This is not compliant andcan result in a citation or safety check failure. If in doubt – REPLACE your tape! Remember it’s only pennies a linear foot! A small price to pay for safety.