We recommend dissolving tar rather than rubbing or scraping it. Wash and dry the area, test a compatible remover such as AutoBead Tar Gel, then treat the spots on cool paint for the labelled contact time. Remove the dissolved residue, wash the panel again and check its protection. Keep the product away from surfaces excluded by its label.
What removes tar from car paint?
A solvent-based tar remover. Tar is oily, so water and shampoo alone will not shift it; hydrocarbon solvents dissolve it so it can be rinsed or wiped away. AutoBead Tar Gel is a blend of hydrocarbon solvents that dissolve tough tar spots, with emulsifiers that help rinse the product away afterwards. These are the tar and glue removers we stock for the job.
AutoBead Tar Gel: our first pick for paintwork
Made to remove tar deposits from paintwork. Its gel-like consistency reduces run-off and drying out, so you need less product. It is less aggressive than AutoBead Glue and Tar Remover, which makes it a suitable choice for more sensitive areas. As with all glue and tar removers, keep it off plastics and rubbers.
Sonax PROFILINE Stain Ex: for heavy tar, adhesive and overspray
A hydrocarbon-based cleaner that removes adhesive residue, spray adhesive, paint overspray, graffiti, greasy and oily dirt, silicone, tar, bitumen and waxes, and dries without leaving residues. Use it only on resistant surfaces such as glass, metal, PVC and cured paintwork, and never on single-layer paint without clear coat, on acrylic glass or Plexiglas, or on hot surfaces.
Tar removers compared
| Tar remover | Type | Use on | Keep off | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoBead Tar Gel | Hydrocarbon solvent gel | Paintwork, more sensitive areas | Plastics, rubbers | Spray on, contact time, rinse with a pressure washer |
| Sonax PROFILINE Stain Ex | Hydrocarbon-based cleaner | Cured paintwork, glass, metal, PVC | Single-layer paint without clear coat, acrylic glass, hot surfaces | Brush or spray on, short exposure, wipe with a soft cloth |
How do you remove tar from a car step by step?
Wash first, test the product and treat a small area at a time. We recommend allowing the solvent to do the work, removing it within the labelled contact time and reassessing before repeating. Different removers have different surface exclusions and removal methods.
- Wash and dry the car: thoroughly wash and dry the vehicle first, so you are not rubbing grit around. AutoBead Snow Foam and AutoBead Pure Shampoo do this part.
- Work on a cool panel: stay in the shade; never use Stain Ex on hot surfaces.
- Test first: try it on an inconspicuous area before use.
- Apply the tar remover: shake AutoBead Tar Gel well and spray it directly onto the tar deposits.
- Give it time, but never let it dry: leave a suitable contact time so the solvent can dissolve the tar.
- Remove it: rinse Tar Gel clean with a pressure washer. With Stain Ex, wipe with a soft cloth after a short exposure time.
- Reassess stubborn spots: repeat only within the product's directions and while the finish remains unchanged. Stop if you see softening, staining or colour transfer; do not compensate by scrubbing harder.
- Wash and protect: wash the treated panels again and re-apply wax or sealant.
Wear gloves, keep the area well ventilated, and use a clean microfibre cloth for any wiping.
Nitrile Ninja Stealth Pro Detailing Gloves
Black nitrile detailing gloves in a range of sizes.
FibreKing Premium Microfibre Cloths
Single microfibre cloths that work wet or dry, for wiping away dissolved tar.
Is it tar or iron fallout?
Black, raised spots low down on the sills, behind the wheels and on the lower doors are usually tar thrown up from the road. Tiny orange or brown specks spread across the paint are usually iron fallout, and a tar remover will not touch them. Fallout is small iron particles from brake discs that land on paintwork. For those, use an iron remover such as Dodo Juice Ferrous Dueller: spray it on a cool surface out of direct sunlight, let it dwell until it turns purple, never let it dry and rinse thoroughly. It works on paintwork and wheels.
A pH-neutral, colour-changing iron fallout remover for paint and wheels that dissolves brake dust and rail dust.
What should you do after removing tar?
Wash away residue and dry the panel, then assess the existing protection. We recommend restoring wax or sealant if the treatment has weakened it, using a compatible product and its preparation method. On a coated car, follow the coating's maintenance advice rather than automatically layering a different sealant. Our guide to wax vs sealant vs ceramic coating explains the options.
Silicone polymers and silica resins rated for 9 months on paintwork and wheels.
For the wash itself, read how to wash your car safely, and for where decontamination fits in a full detail, the correct order to detail a car.
Common questions
How do you get dried tar off a car?
With patience rather than pressure. Old, hardened tar takes longer to dissolve, so apply the tar remover, let it work for the contact time without letting it dry, remove it and repeat until the spot has gone. Never scrape at tar on paint with a fingernail or a blade, which is how scratches happen. A gel such as AutoBead Tar Gel helps on vertical panels and sills, because its gel consistency reduces run-off and drying out.
Is tar remover safe on car paint?
It can be suitable when the specific remover is approved for the finish and used correctly. We recommend a hidden-area test, especially on repaired, older or single-stage paint. Keep AutoBead Tar Gel off plastics and rubber, and respect Stain Ex's exclusions for single-layer paint without clear coat and acrylic glass. Check protection afterwards because solvent treatment can weaken it.
Does tar remover strip wax?
It can. Stain Ex also removes waxes, so wash the treated panel afterwards and put wax or sealant back on.
For adhesive left by a badge or decal, use our separate sticker and residue removal guide.
Orange specks may need the different chemistry covered in our iron-fallout guide.
Need help?
Send the TDHQ team a photo of the spots and tell us what paint the car has, and we will point you to the right remover. You can also browse every tar and glue remover, iron fallout remover and the full AutoBead range.
Last updated 16 October 2026.
