How To Remove Clear Coat From Car - Vehicle Freak

• Emma Davies

Updated on May 8, 2022

Clearcoat may not be visible on your vehicle’s paint job, however, you will definitely notice when it starts to deteriorate and show signs of damage.

The clear coat on your car will help to protect your car from corrosion, dust, scratches, and general environmental damage that occurs over time as well as give an overall sheen to your color.

However, this coating can wear away over time and leave your vehicle exposed and vulnerable to permanent and costly damages.

This often leads many people to remove clear coats from their car and reapply a fresh and effective layer to keep their car looking in top condition. In this article, we look at how to remove clear coat from a car.

What Causes Clear Coat To Deteriorate

Unfortunately, it is unavoidable to entirely prevent the pits and scratches that can form on your clear coat and this can lead to ugly peeling. When coupled with the sun’s UV rays that degrade the coating you get that familiar off-white appearance.

Although sometimes it can be an issue with the factory and their application times between covering the base coat with a clear coat, generally the problems arise after a longer period of time due to weather and driving conditions.

How To Remove Clear Coat From a Car

Removing a clear coat from your car is a much cheaper task to carry out at home, but you will need a few tools to get started. This method won’t be as long-lasting as a professional job, but can still provide a sheen and remove any visible damage to your pre-existing clear coat.

You will need:

• Degreaser.
• Aerosol Clear Coat.
• Microfiber cloths.
• Car washing supplies.
• Isopropyl alcohol.
• Sandpaper.
• Painters tape.

Step By Step Guide

1. Start by using your degreaser to remove any remaining wax from the affected area, then follow up with your usual car washing products to eliminate any remaining dirt or contaminants from the surface of your vehicle.
2. Dry the area and apply your painter’s tape about an inch around the area you want to remove the clear coat from.
3. Using your sandpaper sand down the damaged clear coat until you can no longer feel the damaged coat by touch. Make sure to lightly sand the surrounding areas to create an even surface.
4. Once you’re happy with the sanding, apply your isopropyl alcohol to a cloth and wipe the sanded area.

If you wanted to apply a new layer of clear coat on top, then here are some easy-to-follow steps.

1. At this stage you can spray your clear coat on, being sure to shake the product for at least one minute beforehand to ensure it is well mixed.
2. Wait 5 minutes between coats to ensure it is dry and ready for another layer. You can apply up to 3 coats if you feel it is necessary.
3. Once finished, slowly peel your tape away from the area and leave the coat for 24hrs if possible to ensure it is fully dried.
4. Once totally dry you can sand the border surrounding the fixed area in order to blend it with your previous clear coat.

Top Tip: Make sure to wait a few weeks before waxing your car after this clear coat to prevent any damage from occurring.

How Long Does Clear Coat Last?

You can take your vehicle to a professional body shop in order to get the best quality results including stripping and reapplying a primer and basecoat, but this is not a cheap option.

Despite the price, it will provide a long-lasting finish and often an impressive quality finish, but there are ways to re-create this appearance at home, but they won’t be as long-lasting.

In the early 2000’s it was more common to see a vehicle’s paint job deteriorating from delamination and peeling clear coats. This was largely due to poor paintwork and fortunately, over time the use of higher-quality primers and paints has led to a smoother and long-lasting finish.

The duration in which your clear coat will last is dependent on the conditions and surfaces you typically drive your car in. Road debris can easily chip away and create areas in which moisture and other damaging factors can penetrate under the protective coat on your vehicle.

Clearcoat can also easily be degraded through exposure to the sun’s UV rays which leads to paint damage. This can easily be prevented by being mindful of where you park your car, and the amount of direct sunlight your vehicle is in.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix Peeling Clear Coat?

The amount you spend to fix a peeling clear coat can vary anywhere from $500-$10,000 depending on a lot of highly important information. If you only have a small area of delamination on one panel of your vehicle then you are likely to spend no more than $1000.

However, if your whole car has multiple coats of peeling then you are likely to spend upwards of the higher figure.

When multiple coats of paint are peeling this requires the whole vehicle to be sanded down and reapplied over the base coat. But in the worst scenarios where the base coat is also compromised then this would take considerably longer and involve processes such as paint matching and further sanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does WD 40 Remove clear coat?

When mixed and diluted appropriately WD-40 has been proven safe to use on your vehicle’s paint job and it won’t dissolve your clear coat.

How do you remove an old peeling clear coat?

Some people opt to use 800-grit sandpaper to remove the rough clear coat before applying a new coat on the freshly prepared surface.

Will rubbing alcohol damage car paint?

Rubbing alcohol can cause serious damage to your paint job and can remove the clear coat leaving your paint job susceptible to damage much easier.

Can you spray a clear coat over a clear coat?

You can apply a layer of clear coat over a previous layer, however, it will not properly adhere without proper surface preparation and will leave an uneven and ugly finish compared to a proper application.

Conclusion

The clear coat on your car is a hidden hero making sure your vehicle looks shiny and new at all times. It also provides the necessary protection from UV rays, debris, and other damaging properties that can cause your vehicle to look worn over time.

Removing your clear coat doesn’t need to be a difficult task and you can save yourself a lot of money by making sure that you learn how to properly and effectively remove the old clear coat from your vehicle before applying a new layer on top.

Discover more tips from us with these articles:

How Long Does it Take to Repaint a Car?

How To Remove Overspray From Car Safely

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