How To Remove Dealer Sticker From Car

Dealer stickers and decals on the back of a new car can be an eyesore and make your vehicle look like a rolling advertisement.

When I was a dealer, we only dealt with used cars, and many of them still had other dealers’ stickers all over them, so knowing how to remove dealer stickers from cars was something I learned early.

Quick Summary of Methods for Removing Dealer Decals

Method	Tools Needed	Best For
Heat	Hairdryer or heat gun, plastic scraper, adhesive remover	Stubborn, older stickers/decals
Chemical	Adhesive remover (e.g., Goo Gone, WD-40), rags	Fresh, not fully cured stickers
Lacquer Thinner & 3M Tape	Lacquer thinner, 3M automotive masking tape, plastic razor blade	Stickers with strong adhesive residue
Rubber Wheel Eraser	Rubber wheel eraser, solvent cleaner	Efficiently removing large stickers without damaging paint
“Wonder Wheel” Tool	Wonder Wheel tool, solvent	Stickers that require a delicate, non-abrasive approach
Without Heat Gun or Blades	Soapy water, detail spray, plastic scraper or old credit card	Stickers without using heat or sharp objects

Below is a guide I created to share with you some of the proven methods we used to get rid of these dealer decals.

How to Remove Dealer Sticker From Car – Step-by-Step

Materials Needed

• Heat source (hair dryer or heat gun)
• Plastic scraper/razor blade (never use metal on paint)
• Adhesive remover (Goo Gone, WD-40, etc.)
• Rags/microfiber towels
• Optional: Drill attachment eraser wheel tool

Preparation

• Wash the area around the sticker to remove any dirt or debris that could potentially scratch the paint.
• Gather your tools: hairdryer/heat gun, plastic scraper/razor, adhesive remover, rags.

Using Heat

This method works best for older, stubborn stickers that have really adhered to the paint.

1. Heat the sticker: Use a hairdryer on its highest heat setting or a heat gun on low to warm up the sticker and soften the adhesive. Wave it back and forth over the sticker for 1-2 minutes.
2. Lift an edge: Once heated, try lifting an edge or corner of the sticker with your fingernail or a plastic scraper. Go slowly to avoid tearing it.
3. Peel it off: With an edge lifted, continue heating and slowly peel the sticker back, working your way across while re-heating as needed.
4. Remove adhesive residue: Use an adhesive remover like Goo Gone and a rag to remove any sticky residue left behind. Let it soak for a few minutes before wiping.

Chemical Removal

For fresh stickers that haven’t fully cured yet, you may be able to remove them with just chemicals.

1. Apply adhesive remover: Spray or pour your chosen adhesive remover (WD-40, Goo Gone, etc.) liberally over the sticker.
2. Let it soak: Allow 5-10 minutes for the remover to penetrate and dissolve the adhesive.
3. Scrape it off: Use a plastic scraper at a 45° angle to gently lift and scrape off the loosened sticker.
4. Clean the area: Wipe away any residue with a rag and additional adhesive remover as needed.

Additional Methods For Removing Dealer Decals

Below are some additional methods to remove dealer decals, some of which we used regularly at my dealership. The links in the table go to Youtube videos that show you step by step how to perform each method.

Method	Key Materials	Process Summary
Lacquer Thinner & 3M Tape	Lacquer thinner, 3M automotive masking tape, plastic razor blade	Apply lacquer thinner, cover with tape, let sit, peel off tape with sticker, remove residue.
Rubber Wheel Eraser	Rubber wheel eraser, solvent cleaner	Attach to drill, abrade sticker off, clean residue with solvent.
“Wonder Wheel” Tool	Wonder Wheel, solvent	Use spinning wheel to heat and peel sticker, clean residue with solvent.
Without Heat Gun or Blades	Soapy water, detail spray, plastic scraper or old credit card	Clean area, apply soapy water, scrape off sticker, remove residue with detail spray.

Tips & Tricks

• Go slowly and re-heat/re-apply chemicals as needed to avoid damaging paint.
• Use only plastic scrapers – never metal, which can easily scratch the clear coat.
• For really stubborn stickers, make cross-hatched cuts through the sticker to allow more heat/chemical penetration.
• Wax the area after removing stickers to restore protection to the exposed paint.
• Ask the dealer to remove stickers before purchase to avoid this hassle.

My Final Thoughts

It’s not actually that difficult to get a dealer decal off of a car, but there is a right way to do it so that you get it off completely and without damaging your car.

Sources For This Article

• https://www.reddit.com/r/howto/comments/10ffv0q/how_to_remove_this_dealer_decal_from_my_new_car/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/howto/comments/153s4i4/how_to_remove_old_stickers_from_car_window_after/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/1jde3r/lpt_request_removing_that_ugly_dealership_sticker/
• https://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/how-do-i-remove-the-car-dealership-stickers-decals-badges-or-emblems-from-my-car/