To remove tar from a car, wash and dry the car first, spray a tar remover such as AutoBead Tar Gel directly onto the spots, give it a short contact time without letting it dry, then rinse or wipe the dissolved tar away and repeat on stubborn spots. Finish by washing the panel and putting wax or sealant back on, because tar removers strip protection.
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 describes its Tar Gel as 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. AutoBead says it is less aggressive than its Glue and Tar Remover, which makes it a suitable choice for more sensitive areas. As with all glue and tar removers, AutoBead does not advise using it on plastics or rubbers.
Sonax PROFILINE Stain Ex: for heavy tar, adhesive and overspray
A hydrocarbon-based cleaner that Sonax says removes adhesive residue, spray adhesive, paint overspray, graffiti, greasy and oily dirt, silicone, tar, bitumen and waxes, and dries without leaving residues. Sonax limits it to resistant surfaces such as glass, metal, PVC and cured paintwork, and says not to use it on single-layer paint without clear coat, on acrylic glass or Plexiglas, or on hot surfaces.
Tar removers compared
Details are each maker's own, from its website.
| 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, let a tar remover dissolve the spots, remove it the maker's way and re-protect the panel. The steps follow AutoBead's and Sonax's own instructions.
- Wash and dry the car: AutoBead says to 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; Sonax says not to use Stain Ex on hot surfaces.
- Test first: Sonax advises testing for compatibility in 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: AutoBead rinses Tar Gel clean with a pressure washer. With Stain Ex, Sonax wipes with a soft cloth after a short exposure time.
- Repeat on stubborn spots: apply again instead of scrubbing harder, as Sonax does if necessary.
- Wash and protect: wash the treated panels again and re-apply wax or sealant.
Wear gloves, keep the area well ventilated as Sonax advises, 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. Dodo Juice explains that 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. Dodo Juice says 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 the treated area again, dry it and put protection back on. AutoBead Spray Sealant is quick to apply: spray it onto a microfibre applicator, work it in straight lines, let it bond for 1 minute and buff off with a short pile microfibre. AutoBead rates it for a durability of 9 months, on paintwork and wheels. A protected finish also makes the next tar spots easier to remove. For which protection suits you, see wax vs sealant vs ceramic coating.
Silicone polymers and silica resins that AutoBead rates 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 AutoBead says its gel consistency reduces run-off and drying out.
Is tar remover safe on car paint?
A remover made for paintwork is, used as the maker says. AutoBead makes Tar Gel for paintwork and calls it a suitable choice for more sensitive areas. Sonax lists cured paintwork among the resistant surfaces Stain Ex is for, but not single-layer paint without clear coat, so check older or resprayed panels first. Keep Tar Gel off plastics and rubber, as AutoBead advises for all glue and tar removers. Remember that tar removers also take off wax: Sonax lists waxes among what Stain Ex removes, which is why the last step is always to re-protect.
Does tar remover strip wax?
It can. Sonax lists waxes among what Stain Ex removes, so wash the treated panel afterwards and put wax or sealant back on.
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 15 October 2026.
