How to Remove Tar
From Car Paint

What you'll need

• A dedicated tar and glue remover — we use BlackJack
• Two clean microfibre towels: one for lifting the tar, one for a dry buff after
• A hose or bucket of clean water for a quick rinse
• Decent light so you can actually see what you're treating

How to remove tar from car paint: 5 steps

1. 1

   Step
   Wash the car first

   Don't spray tar remover onto a dirty panel. Any loose grit sitting on the paint will grind into the surface the moment you wipe it, turning a tar spot into a scratch. Give the car a proper pre-wash and rinse first, so you're working on a clean, grit-free surface.
2. 2

   Step
   Test in an inconspicuous spot

   Tar and glue removers are safe on modern paint and wheels, but caution is needed on vintage paintwork, single-stage paint, or any panel that's had a smart repair. Pick a hidden area — inside the fuel flap or a lower sill — apply a small amount, and check the finish before treating the main area.
3. 3

   Step
   Spray and let it dwell

   Spray BlackJack directly onto the tar deposit and leave it to work for 2–3 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature (cold days need a little longer). You'll see the tar start to bleed and loosen as the emulsifiers break the bond with the paint. Don't let the product dry on the panel, and avoid applying in direct sunlight. Keep it away from headlight covers and bare plastic trim.
4. 4

   Step
   Lift it away — don't scrub

   Wipe the loosened tar away with a clean microfibre towel using light pressure in straight lines rather than circles. Turn the cloth to a clean face as soon as it starts picking up tar. If a spot won't shift, reapply the product rather than pressing harder — the chemical should do the work, not your wrist.
5. 5

   Step
   Rinse and reapply your protection

   Tar remover lifts wax, sealant or coating from the exact spot you treat, the same way it lifts the tar, so that patch is left bare afterwards. Rinse the area, dry it, and reapply your usual wax, sealant or quick detailer to that section so it matches the protection level of the rest of the panel.

What not to use to remove tar from your car

A few "free" fixes get recommended online. Here's why we'd skip them:

• WD40: it can loosen tar in a pinch, but it's not formulated for paintwork. It tends to strip more wax or sealant than necessary and isn't tested on plastic trim or coatings the way a dedicated remover is.
• Petrol or diesel: both will dissolve tar, but they strip protection far more aggressively than needed and carry real fire and skin-contact risks — not worth it for a tar spot.
• Nail polish remover or acetone: too harsh for clearcoat, and can leave the area dull or discoloured.
• Scrubbing with an abrasive pad or your fingernail: the single most common cause of swirl marks around old tar spots. Let the dwell time do the work instead.

How do you remove tar from car tyres and trim?

The same remover works on tyres — rubber isn't affected by it the way painted surfaces can be, so spray, let it dwell, and wipe. For plastic trim and headlight covers, apply the product to the cloth first rather than spraying directly, since overspray onto bare trim is exactly what the manufacturer warning is there to prevent.

Frequently asked questions