First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Park the car in shade and let the paint cool.
- Rinse loose grit off with cool water before any soap touches it.
- Keep the soap on the tar until it starts to loosen.
Removing road tar from car paint is worth doing soon, because tar is greasy and sticky and left on the finish it can cause damage. Car paint can take water and a careful solvent, though abrasives and hot water are off the table, so a gentle, soap-first approach makes the most sense. Fresh tar on the surface usually softens with car-washing soap and a light rub, while tar that has been on for a while takes more time.
Tar spots on car paint are easier to handle one at a time, so you can watch how the finish reacts. If a clay bar is part of your kit, use it on leftover film after the bulk has lifted, not as a first step. If road tar has hardened into the paint, stop and get a professional detailer to check it.
Before you start
What car paint & exterior can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care2
- Soaking
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
Avoid3
- Hot water
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Car-washing soapUsed undiluted, it breaks the tar down without stripping wax or dulling the paint.
- Microfiber, cotton or sponge applicatorSpreads the soap over the tar without grinding grit into the finish. (opens Amazon)
- Lukewarm or cold waterRinses loose grit off before the soap goes on.
- Tar remover made for car paintOnly for tar that survives the soap and wash. (opens Amazon)
- Non-abrasive car waxPuts protection back once the tar is gone and the paint is clean. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Move the car into shade
Move the car out of direct sun and wait until the paint feels cool to the touch. That gives you a calm, controlled spot to work on.
Careful. Never wash a car that is hot to the touch or in strong direct sunlight.
Step 2 of 6
Rinse off the loose grit
Rinse the car with lukewarm or cold water so loose dirt and grit come off first. Grit left on the paint can get rubbed in when the soap goes on.
Careful. Hot water, strong household soaps and chemical detergents can damage the paint.
Step 3 of 6
Apply undiluted car soap to tar
Use car-washing soap straight from the bottle, with no water added. Spread it over each tar spot with a 100%-cotton, microfiber or sponge applicator so the whole mark is covered.
Step 4 of 6
Rub the soap gently into the tar
Work the soap into the stuck-on tar with two or three fingers in small circles. Keep the pressure light and let the soap do the loosening, so you're not forcing the tar off.
Step 5 of 6
Let the soap loosen the tar
Leave the soap on the tar until it starts to soften and lift. If it dries out on the paint, add more soap with the applicator before you wash.
Tip. Tar that's still there after the full wash needs the stronger treatment in the set-in section.
Step 6 of 6
Wash and rinse the whole car
Wash the whole car as you normally would, then rinse every panel until no soap is left. Look over the treated spots once the paint is wet and clean.
Tip. Check the spot in shade, not direct sun, so the light shows any leftover film.
Careful. Keep a high-pressure sprayer away from stripes and graphics.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for tar on car paint & exterior
Choose a car-washing soap made for painted finishes and a tar remover labeled for car paint. Those two product types are all you need on car paint.
Chemical Guys, Bug, Sap & Tar Remover, Fast-Acting Pre-Wash Spray, 15
Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on car paint & exterior, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The tar should soften and move under the applicator, and the paint should look clean and glossy once rinsed. If the tar is still firm and sticky after the full wash, it's set in, so switch to the stronger treatment rather than rubbing harder.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your car paint & exterior
Asphalt, bitumen, and tarmac
Asphalt, bitumen and tarmac leave a thicker, grittier film than fresh tar, so the soap needs more time to work. Apply it, rub gently with your fingers, and let it loosen before the full wash.
A thick film can need a second soap round, so repeat the soap and rinse once before you decide it's set in. If a gritty film still remains after that, move on to the stronger set-in treatment.
Road tar
Road tar tends to show up on the lower panels, bumpers and wheel arches, where the road throws it up. Treat those areas with the same soap and rinse routine, and check them in shade after each wash.
Work one panel at a time so the soap doesn't dry on the paint before you rinse. Keep the applicator soft and the rinse water cool.
Tar spots and splatters
Small spots and splatters come off faster than a long streak, so treat them as soon as you spot them. Dab a little undiluted soap onto each one with the applicator, then rub gently with two or three fingers until it loosens.
Splatters often spread when they're rubbed hard, so keep your strokes light and small. Rinse the spot well before you check it.
Body panels and doors
On doors and side panels, tar tends to collect along seams and edges, where soap can pool and dry. Use a small applicator to get the soap into those spots instead of a big sweep.
Work one panel at a time, and rinse each one before you move to the next so the tar doesn't spread across the car.
Old tar stains
A tar stain that has been on the paint a while needs more soap and a longer wait, not more force. Apply the soap, let it loosen, and then wash it off as one job.
If the mark is still there after the wash, it has moved past a simple stain, and the stronger treatment below is the next step.
Tar with bugs, rubber, or oil
Bugs and tar often end up together on the front of the car, and the same soap and gentle rubbing handles both. Leave the soap on long enough to loosen the bug residue, then wash the whole car.
Rubber, oil and road paint are different materials, so start with car soap and ask a professional detailer if they stay. Start with the car soap, and if those marks stay, ask a professional detailer before you try anything stronger.
White cars
White paint makes leftover tar easier to see, so check each panel in shade after the wash. The steps stay the same, with the same car soap, cool water and gentle rubbing.
If a mark still shows on white paint, don't scrub harder to chase it. Take the set-in route or ask a professional detailer.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old tar that has sat on the paint for a while needs more soap time and gentle rubbing, not force. Repeat the soap step once, then wash the car as before.
Dried tar is harder to lift, so a tar remover made for car paint is the stronger option to try. Use it only on the tar left after the soap and wash.
Some tar won't come out completely at home, and etching that has already set in can't be fixed at home. If the mark stays, a professional detailer or body shop is the safe next step.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on tar on car paint & exterior?
Most kitchen and laundry remedies are a poor fit for car paint, and several can damage the finish. Car-washing soap, cool water and a tar remover made for car paint are enough for this stain.
Skip4Avoid2
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't wipe the paint dry
A dry cloth drags dust and grit across the finish and leaves scratches. Rinse the car first, then work with soap and a soft applicator.
Don't scrape the tar off
Scrapers and other sharp objects cut into the finish, so let the soap do the loosening instead. Tar that won't lift with soap and gentle rubbing belongs in the stronger treatment.
Don't use gasoline or lighter fluid
Gasoline, lighter fluid and organic cleaners such as benzene are not for painted surfaces. For stubborn tar, use only a tar remover made for car paint.
Don't leave tar sitting on the paint
Deposits left on the paint can cause damage, so tar should come off as soon as you can get to it. Kitchen detergent is not a substitute, because it is made to cut grease and wax.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
The tar is still sticky after one pass
Apply more undiluted car-washing soap and rub gently with two or three fingers. Let it soften, but do not let the soap dry on the finish. If it still will not lift, use a tar remover made for car paint and re-wax afterward.
Soap dried on the panel
Rinse with cool or lukewarm water and a neutral-pH car shampoo. Do not scrub at dried soap with a dry cloth; Hyundai warns that dry wiping scratches the finish. Keep the surface wet and lift the residue gently.
The paint looks dull after a tar remover
Hyundai notes that spot removers strip wax, so re-wax the area. Ford says to use a wax that does not contain abrasives. If the dullness does not improve, have a professional look at the paint.
The tar is thick and chunky
Do not dig at it with a scraper or sharp object. Soften it with undiluted car soap, adding more as needed and keeping it from drying. Work gently from the edges inward, then wash the whole car.
When to call a professional
Chips and scratches should be repaired promptly and covered with touch-up paint to reduce corrosion. If a body shop does the work, ask that it applies anti-corrosion materials to the repaired parts. Matte paint can't be spot-repainted, so take it to an authorized dealer.
Questions
How do I remove tar from car paint without damaging it?
Use undiluted car-washing soap on the tar, rub it in gently with your fingers, then wash the whole car. That pretreatment is the gentlest route because it breaks the tar down without stripping wax or dulling the finish.
How do I use a tar remover on car paint?
Use a tar remover made for car paint, and only on tar that's left after the soap and wash. Work in a ventilated area away from flames and sparks, and pretest it on a hidden spot before it touches the finish.
Does coal tar or tree tar need a different method?
No, the first step is the same for any tar type on paint: undiluted car-washing soap, rubbed in gently, then a full wash. If a tree-based or black residue stays after that, skip new products on the paint and ask a professional detailer.
Should I wax the paint after removing tar?
Yes, if the paint looks dull once the tar is gone. Use a wax that does not contain abrasives, and apply it only after the paint is fully rinsed.
What if my car has matte paint?
Use car soap and light rubbing only, and skip polish, abrasives, wax-finish cleaners, rotating-brush car washes and steam cleaners. Matte paint needs this gentler handling at every stage.
Why is a faint tar mark still there after washing?
A faint mark can remain after one wash, and it's usually leftover residue rather than new damage. Give the spot one more soap and rinse round, and if it still shows, move to the stronger treatment.
Tar on other materials
Other stains on car paint & exterior
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.