Question: I just bought a used Toyota from CarMax. I’m stoked, but there’s a big CarMax sticker on the rear of my car that I’d rather not keep. How do I safely remove it without damaging the paint?
Answer: The easiest way to remove a CarMax sticker is to have an agent do it for you, as many drivers report that CarMax agents will remove the decal for you if you ask while buying the car. You may even be able to bring the vehicle back to a CarMax location after you purchase it to have the sticker removed.
However, if you’d rather just remove the sticker yourself, there are a couple DIY options that will also work well:
How to remove a CarMax sticker with vinegar
What you’ll need:
- Paper towels
- White vinegar
- Credit card, plastic spatula, or squeegee
- Rubbing alcohol or soapy water (optional)
What to do:
- Soak a paper towel in white vinegar, then lay it over the sticker. Let it sit for five minutes.
- Remove the paper towel and use a credit card or squeegee to carefully scrape away the sticker.
- If it’s still stuck, cover the sticker with a fresh vinegar-soaked paper towel for five more minutes.
- Once the sticker is gone, wipe the area with another fresh vinegar-soaked paper towel to remove any remaining adhesive.
- Use rubbing alcohol or soapy water on the area if there’s any stubborn residue left behind.
How to use a heat gun to remove a CarMax decal
What you’ll need:
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Microfiber towel
- Warm soapy water in a spray bottle
- Credit card, plastic spatula, or squeegee
What to do:
- Clean the area around the sticker by spraying it with warm soapy water and wiping it down with your microfiber towel.
- Use a heat gun or hair dryer to melt the glue under the sticker. To avoid damaging the paint, don’t hold the heat gun too close to the surface of the car and don’t leave the nozzle pointed at one place for too long. If you don’t have experience using a heat gun, a hair dryer is recommended, as it’s less likely to damage the paint. Once the sticker feels really hot to the touch, you’re probably ready for the next step.
- Scrape off the decal using your credit card or squeegee. The sticker should come off easily—if it doesn’t, continue heating the area with the heat gun or hair dryer.
- Clean off any sticky residue with warm soapy water and the microfiber towel.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Nick Kunze is an insurance writer with four years of insurance and automotive writing experience. Nick’s mission is to help car owners better understand the inner workings of their vehicles by providing straightforward, simple explanations of otherwise complicated aspects of car ownership and maintenance. Nick has written over 900 articles for Jerry, focused mainly on car repair and maintenance. Prior to joining Jerry in 2021, Nick worked in insurance and automotive advert.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
