How do you remove road tar from your car?
Small black dots along the rocker panels are usually tar. They are stubborn, but they come off with patience.
Where road tar on your car comes from
Road tar on your car is kicked up by your own tires from fresh patch work, sealed cracks and warm asphalt. It collects behind the wheels, along the lower doors and on the rear bumper.
Summer road work and long freeway miles on 101 and 280 bring more of it. On light-colored cars the specks are obvious; on dark paint you may only feel them as rough bumps.
Tar often hides alongside brake dust and road film, so it can be hard to tell what you are looking at. Run a clean fingertip over the lower door after washing: tar feels like small raised bumps.
A careful first approach
Tar is oily, so water alone will not dissolve it. Your goal at home is to clean around it safely and avoid spreading it.
- Wash the lower panels with pH-neutral car shampoo and a dedicated mitt.
- Rinse well and check for remaining specks.
- Leave stubborn spots alone instead of scraping them.
- Use a separate towel for the lower panels so tar does not travel up the car.
What not to do
Never use a razor blade, fingernail or abrasive pad on painted tar spots. Avoid gasoline, paint thinner and similar harsh solvents; they can damage paint, plastic and rubber, and they are a fire risk.
Rubbing tar with a dry towel smears it into a gray haze that is harder to remove.
If a spot is close to a paint chip or the edge of a panel, leave it for a professional so you do not lift paint along with the tar.
When to book NOVA
For a car with lots of tar, Elite Restoration is the right fit. It includes bug and tar removal and paint decontamination, along with everything in the Complete Detail. Light specks on an otherwise clean car can often be handled during an Exterior or Complete Detail; text a photo and NOVA will tell you which.
Tar that has sat for a very long time may leave light staining on some paint. NOVA does not offer clay bar service, multi-stage paint correction or coatings, and we will be upfront if a mark is unlikely to fully clear.
The package we suggest
Elite Restoration. Prices depend on the car and its condition, so we text you an exact price before anything is booked. Not sure? Text a photo and we will suggest one.
Questions
Why is there tar only on the lower part of my car?
Can tar damage paint?
Does a regular car wash remove tar?
Which package includes tar removal?
How do I show you the tar?
More answers on the FAQ page.
Request a detail
About a minute online, no card needed. We text you to confirm the day, arrival window and price.