To remove paint from a car, use paint stripper to safely scrape paint off of your car, and then finish it off by neutralizing the paint-stripping chemicals.

Written by Bonnie Stinson

Reviewed by Carrie Adkins

Updated on Aug 30, 2023

Table of Contents

Work space
Preparation
Removal
FAQs

Whether you are restoring a

vintage car

or simply want to strip and

repaint your everyday car

, you can remove the old paint yourself.

As long as you have a place to do the work, some basic supplies, and a little motivation, you should have that paint stripped off your car within a day or two. Here's everything you need to know on removing paint from your car.

Set up a work space

Secure a location with plenty of ventilation and protection from direct sunlight, wind, and weather. The project will likely take a day or two, so you want to be sure that you're not inhaling too much paint.

Lay plastic sheeting down on the floor or ground where you will be working. The materials you will be using are hazardous. You will want to be able to easily clean everything up and dispose of it responsibly. Plus, it will make it easier to clean up any mess.

Prepare your car or car parts for paint stripping

Materials Needed

Dual-action sander

Dust mask

Heavy-duty masking tape

Sandpaper (80-grit)

Thick plastic sheeting

Tools to remove car parts

Remove the parts you are going to strip from the car and lay them out on the plastic sheeting. If you are removing paint from the whole car, or most of the car, remove the parts that you don’t want to get paint stripper on or carefully tape them off with masking tape.

Tape seams with masking tape to keep stripping chemicals from seeping underneath and then oozing back out to ruin your fresh paint. Sand the paint off of the seams by hand with 80-grit sandpaper after stripping.

Scuff up the paint with 80-grit sandpaper. You can use a DA (dual-action) sander to make it easier. You don’t need to take all the paint off. Just rough it up a little. Wear a dust mask so that you don’t inhale paint particles.

Remove paint from your car through the stripping process

Materials Needed

Acid-resistant paint brushes

Coffee can or container

Paint stripper

Plastic or nylon flat-edged scraping tool

Protective clothing

Protective eyewear

Respirator

Thick rubber gloves

Put on all of the protective gear. You will be working with corrosive chemicals. Make sure your body is well covered and protected. Wear long sleeves, pants, socks, and boots or shoes.

Pour some of the paint stripper into a small coffee can.

Paint the stripper on the car parts with acid-resistant brushes. Make sure you get the correct stripper for the type of car part you are stripping.

There are

different types of paint stripper

formulated for use on metal car parts, fiberglass car parts, and plastic/rubber car parts.

It should take about two gallons of stripper to remove the paint from a full-sized car.

Follow the paint stripper manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. Each type of stripper has a slightly different procedure that must be followed in order for it to work properly.

It is easier to strip the car in sections as opposed to stripping the whole car at once.

Scrape the paint off. Usually, the paint will begin to wrinkle or bubble up when it is ready to be scraped off. Be sure the paint and chemicals stay on the plastic sheeting as you strip them off the parts.

Apply another coat of stripper, if necessary. Depending on how many coats of paint there are on the car parts, you may have to repeat these steps several times.

Neutralize the stripper, if necessary. Some paint-stripping chemicals require a finishing step that will neutralize them. Follow the instructions provided with the stripper.

Take all of the chemicals and paint to a hazardous waste collection site.

Stripping paint off a car is a task you can do yourself, but thorough preparation is key. The last thing you want to do is run to the store when you're in the middle of the job. Plan ahead and gather all your supplies so that removing paint from your car parts is as straightforward as possible.

Whether new or vintage, you'll probably want to keep your car protected after doing all that work to take the paint off. The

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MORE:

How long will a repainted car's paint job last?

FAQs

How do I remove car paint from plastic?

If you notice the problem while it's fresh, you can get paint off of plastic with warm water, dish soap, and a clean rag. If it's too late for that method, use vegetable oil and elbow grease to rub the paint off. When the paint is loose, you can then use a scraper to remove the paint from the plastic.

How do I remove paint dust from my car?

If you have small bits of paint dust on your car, remove them by using a bottle of acetone or nail polish remover with acetone. Get a cloth that won't damage or scratch your car, pour some acetone on it, and scrub gently on the car's surface.

Be careful not to scrub too hard, otherwise, the paint underneath the paint 'dust' will come off, too.

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