A Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Decals from A Car

How to Successfully Remove Decals from a Car

You can remove decals from a car without damaging the vehicle’s paint by following the steps shown here. Whether you’re removing old advertisements, bumper stickers, or custom graphics, this guide will walk you through the process to ensure your car’s surface is left clean and intact.

There are two ways to remove stickers from a car; soaking with an adhesive remover and scraping OR using a rubber eraser wheel.

How to use a rubber eraser wheel to remove stickers from a car

Rubber eraser wheels are often used in body shops to remove decals from a car prior to painting. They’re also used to remove old pinstripping and trim adhesive. As long as you don’t use too much pressure, these rubber wheels work well and don’t damage the paint.

Attach the Rubber Eraser Wheel To Your Drill

The rubber eraser wheel is designed to be used with a drill, not a high-speed die grinder tool. Attach the eraser wheel to the drill’s chuck, making sure it is secured tightly. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper attachment.

How to remove decals from a car using a rubber eraser wheel

Position the rubber eraser wheel over the sticker and start the drill at a low to medium speed. Gently press the wheel against the sticker while moving it in a circular motion. The wheel will begin to grind away the sticker and adhesive.

TIPS for using a rubber eraser wheel:

• Keep It Moving: Avoid keeping the wheel in one spot for too long to prevent overheating the paint.
• Apply Light Pressure: Let the wheel do the work without applying excessive pressure.

Check Your Progress

Periodically stop and check your progress. If the sticker and adhesive are being removed effectively, continue with the process. If you encounter any stubborn areas, you might need to apply a bit more pressure or use the eraser wheel for a longer period.

Here’s a video on using a rubber eraser wheel.

What you need to remove stickers from a car

• Hair dryer to soften old adhesive
• Paint-friendly adhesive remover citrus oil-based, not solvent-based remover
• Plastic scraper
• Rubber eraser wheel and drill

Start removing stickers from a car by softening the adhesive with a hairdryer

1) Warm the sticker and the glass or paint. But don’t overdo it. You don’t want to cook the adhesive, just soften it.
2) Peel up the top edge using a plastic scraper and adhesive remover
3) Add more adhesive remover to the top edge and let it soak
4) Peel the sticker down from the top
5) Once the sticker is off, use a soft cloth soaked in adhesive remover to remove the leftover adhesive.

Best adhesive removers for removing decals from a car

You want an oil-based remover that doesn’t damage the paint. Goo Gone, De-Solv-it, 3M #38983 adhesive remover all work well. Or, use a 3M Strip Remover

Products to avoid when removing stickers from your car

These heavy-duty solvent-based products will remove stickers from your car much faster than the products shown above. But they also hold the potential to remove paint, so avoid them:

• Goof Off is an excellent adhesive remover. But it’s not a good choice to remove stickers from your car
• Acetone is an even better adhesive remover. But it’s also not a good choice for car paint.

WD-40 is a general purpose lubricant. It contains solvents and oil and many people use it to remove adhesive. It does work, but it will take much longer than any of the products listed above. If you want to spend way more time than is necessary, then choose WD-40.

©, 2021 Rick Muscoplat