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Removing Permanent Marker from a Car

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Date: 06/02/2007 Topics: Cars > Cars | Readers Request > Cars  
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How can I remove permanent marker from car paint? I had some kid write on white car with black permanent marker. I would also like to make sure there is no shadow left behind.

Christine from WVC, UT
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By dudeimpissed (1) Contact
Some punk tagged on my truck while I was staying over at a friends house for the night. Last time I park it in a bad neighborhood. Hairspray took it right off, it only took me about 5 or 10 minutes. Thanks!

Posted on 05/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Red Neck (59) Contact
Tagging. If I ever caught a punk doing this I'd wring his little neck.

I wonder from reading this if the punks who tag are hired by the bandits who then want hundreds to repaint the car, when household products are sufficient. My own favorite blend for getting marks off of auto paint: WD-40 and baking soda on a paper towel.

Posted on 03/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By MP (Guest Post)
I used rubbing compound and with a little elbow grease, it came right off.

Posted on 02/09/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By tom/susan (1) Contact
Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover worked to remove permanent marker off clearcoat finish.

Posted on 01/24/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By willconn (Guest Post)
Hairspray and elbow grease worked a treat. Thanks to all who left feedback I thought I was going to die when I first saw the permanent marker that my 2 year old drew on the white car with. It's nice to know you can always find a fix on google :o)

Posted on 01/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By willconn (Guest Post)
Hairspray and elbow grease worked a treat. Thanks to all who left feedback I thought I was going to die when I first saw the permanent marker that my 2 year old drew on the white car with. It's nice to know you can always find a fix on google :o)

Posted on 01/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Norm D. (Guest Post)
Careful with that nail polish remover folks, you could end up taking the paint off with it! I used Gumout carburetor cleaner. It took the Sharpie off in a jiffy with no damage. Just to be safe though, try it on an inconspicuous spot, (like under the hood) first.

Posted on 01/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Norm D. (Guest Post)
Careful with that nail polish remover folks, you could end up taking the paint off with it! I used Gumout carburetor cleaner. It took the Sharpie off in a jiffy with no damage. Just to be safe though, try it on an inconspicuous spot, (like under the hood) first.

Posted on 01/19/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Alex H. (Guest Post)
Nail polish remover!

'Nuff said =]

Posted on 12/27/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By SIERRA (Guest Post)
A lovely little punk left me a nice thanksgiving day present by tagging up on my car with a black permanent marker. I didn't notice until 3 days later. I used brake fluid to clean it off, 15 minutes and some elbow grease removed it and there is a very faint shadow left, hardly noticeable, but I will try the hairspray or mr. Clean sponge to buff that out! The little turkey is lucky I didn't catch him.

Posted on 12/01/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Kris (Guest Post)
I purchased Mr Clean Magic Eraser to remove permanet marker off my vehicle and it worked in less than ten mintues. Saved me from having to pay insurance deductible. I was a little skeptical but it did the job.
I appreciate all the advice from this site. I didn't know what to do.

Posted on 11/05/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Karim (Guest Post)
I looked out my kitchen window and saw that someone had tagged my work truck (Comcast) which is white. I used nail polish remover it came right off. Took less than 5 minutes. I would recommend this to anyone. Did not have any direct sunlight for a long period of time. It was done less than 8 hrs before I noticed it. "NAIL POLISH REMOVER" who would have thought of that. Great idea!

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from a Car

Posted on 10/24/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By ben (Guest Post)
Hairspray worked well, left a little bit of it but enough for now to drive it to get some kitten wax to remove it all I suggest?

Posted on 10/01/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Sominder Sharma (Guest Post)
I want to know that it's possible to remove the permanent marker from CFL Lights.Does anyone know?

Posted on 09/25/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Me (Guest Post)
I woke up to find that some kid drew a picture of a penis on the hood of my car with a blue permanent marker. Blue on a pearl white finish. It was lovely. :sarcasm:

Anyway, I googled my issue and landed here. The Mr Clean Magic Eraser took care of it. I was hesitant to use it but decided to try it gently and it worked. It didn't scratch my car or remove any paint.

Now, if only I could use it on the kid that did this. I find it odd that everyone posted about their problems but never went off about how kids are these days and how parents rarely teach their kids the difference between right and wrong. I have a two year old son and he'll be very aware that doing something of this nature is wrong. He'll also be aware that if people don't get caught doing the bad things they do, then karma will get them eventually.

Thanks for the Magic Eraser suggestion. It worked perfectly. :)

Posted on 09/22/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Steve (Guest Post)
After finding the tag went to the Honda Dealer recon area. The guy used shellac thinner to wipe off the tag then sprayed a solution I think was an acrylic over the spot. Looked normal again. Just remember Karma works both ways.

Posted on 09/20/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By (Guest Post)
Thanks for the advice! Someone used black magic marker on my white car. I got most of it with a dry-erase marker, but not enough. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser took care of the rest easily.

Posted on 09/19/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By (Guest Post)
Some little turd tagged my bright blue focus this morning with black permanent texta. Found this website. Used the magic eraser, took about 30 seconds and it's gone! Absolutely no trace it was ever there! Thanks heaps guys!

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from a Car

Posted on 09/03/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Steve (Guest Post)
I went out to my driveway this morning to find that my silver 1978 corvette had been tagged with a thick black permanent marker. As you can imagine I was very mad. But I took carb cleaner to it and it wiped off without a problem.

Posted on 09/03/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Kelli (Guest Post)
I had permanent marker on the side of my Silver Honda. I used the dry erase marker, and then erased the remaining shadow with hairspray. Thanks for all the ideas!

Posted on 08/24/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By NM (Guest Post)
I found my car after half a day in the hot sun with writing on the hood and door. I tried the hairspray and it took some of the marker off, but then tried the Mr. Clean eraser. With a lot of scrubbing it all came off! Thanks to all for your help and tips!

Posted on 08/15/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Andy P (Guest Post)
My white VW van and one of my neighbours VW vans has just been tagged with a thick marker pen. I used carb cleaner (alcohol in a can). It wiped off with ease, looks cleaner than before. Im so happy it came off.

Posted on 08/12/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Samantha (Guest Post)
All it takes is the Mr Clean sponge. Do not you nail polish remover it will strip your clear coat

Posted on 08/01/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By tom nj (Guest Post)
Just used nail polish remover and a Mr. Clean sponge to get off permanent marker off of my white truck......amazing! Can't tell there was anything there. Thanks for the tip.

Posted on 07/23/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By (Guest Post)
I guess rich people are pretty dumb.

Posted on 06/29/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Fumed over vandals (Guest Post)
We have a white van with a pearl finish. I used Acetone (nail polish remover) to remove the bulk of the permanent markings. Then Mr. Clean's Magic Sponge with toothpaste to rub away residue markings. maybe 5 minutes of actual elbow grease. Worked like MAGIC!

Posted on 06/06/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Nicole (Guest Post)
All it took was nail polish remover and a rag, and the marker came off easy. Thank you everyone! I was in a panic earlier.

Posted on 05/16/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By miss mcneil (Guest Post)
OMG, just found out from a friend that my car had been tagged, looked on some sites for removal of permanent marker,and was delighted to find this one. I rushed to my car, with hairspray, nail polish remover, and toothpaste,used them all, What a result. Thanxs

Posted on 04/02/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Aaron (Guest Post)
I had my silver BMW tagged on earlier this morning with what looked like a sharpie marker. I used nail polish remover and a soft cloth and it came off with little to no effort. Thanks to everyone on this website for the advice

Posted on 03/20/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Aaron (Guest Post)
I had my silver BMW tagged on earlier this morning with what looked like a sharpie marker. I used nail polish remover and a soft cloth and it came off with little to no effort. Thanks to everyone on this website for the advice.

Posted on 03/20/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By jackie B (Guest Post)
Just wanted to say thanks a million, I got a knock on the door this morning from a local to say my car had been written on in black marker, After seeing my car, I went straight on internet and came across this site, I used hairspray and I was delighted it all came straight off, my cars silver , there's a slight shadow but unless you were literally looking for it you would never know, thanks again to all.

Posted on 03/20/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Mel. (Guest Post)
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS! Some awful people tagged something nasty on my SUV (I am a Mum - and driving around with that on it was horrendous!). I did a quick google and a dry eraser worked like a charm (my husband told me it wouldn't work!). Thank you all you lovely people!

Posted on 02/01/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Dan Yeager (Guest Post)
After Greased Lightening = Sprayed onto black marker area, before I had a chance to wipe it, the whole area was marker free. GREAT stuff.

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from a Car

Posted on 01/12/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Dan Yeager (Guest Post)
Tried WD-40 = After much rubbing, it made the test spot a little it lighter.

Tried Greased Lightening = Sprayed onto marker area and before I had a chance to wipe it, the whole area looked factory new. Then I did a courtesy wipe, since I had the cloth in my hand. GREAT stuff.

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from a Car

Posted on 01/12/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Frank (Guest Post)
Thank you to members of this forum. I had black marker graffiti written over the paint of my white mercedes. I'm waiting for temps. to rise a bit outside, but I'm going to give the dry erase method a try.

Posted on 01/12/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By drag4cash@yahoo.com (Guest Post)
Thanks for the help. I used toothpaste and a magic eraser with soap and water to rinse and they came right off without harming the finish.

Posted on 12/27/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By dawn (Guest Post)
Wow! The dry erase marker really worked. I didn't have to scrub at all, and it took less than 5 min.

Posted on 12/23/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Sexy Saechao (Guest Post)
If you want it to be EASY, grab a sponge and pour some NAIL POLISH REMOVER on the sponge, and wipe it gently or angrily, depending on how you feel, it will be like erasing writing on the white board. SO EASY! Nail Polish Remover is the master of all.

Posted on 12/08/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Susan (Guest Post)
Wow! Thank you so much! When I went to leave for work today I found that some idiot had written on the front of my grey car in black permanent marker. I just tried using the Mr. Clean magic eraser thing and it worked effortlessly. I would have never thought of that. Thanks again.

Posted on 10/09/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Beverly Royce (Guest Post)
Removing permanent marker from car interior leather seats

Posted on 09/13/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Jack (Guest Post)
This works! I thought I was going to be out tons of money but then I found this forum. A little dry erase marker, hairspray, washcloth and elbow grease was all it took. THANK YOU!

Posted on 09/04/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Spice of Life (Guest Post)
Thank You All Indeed, my skyblue BMW was tagged with black Perm Marker and after finding this site I didnt look no further with so many consensus replies on the "Hairspray and Dry Eraser" I scribbled over the entire mess with dry eraser alittle at a time not in uniform pattern and wiped away with hairspray, all gone. In some spots may have to wait and go back over but comes completely off with little muscle and time and NO damage to paint. Thank You All.

Posted on 08/12/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Fiona (Guest Post)
Thanks for the suggestion, HAIRSPRAY worked great.

Posted on 07/29/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By maria (Guest Post)
hairspray works 4 sure

Posted on 07/20/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Doug (Guest Post)
Try a dry-erase marker FIRST!!! I was skeptical at first but it worked instantly and no elbow grease required!!

Posted on 07/16/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By N.D. (Guest Post)
I had a silver rental car that got marked with a permanent marker. I used the dry erase marker technique suggested by A.I., wiped off with a napkin and it worked perfectly. It was a green Avery marks-a-lot whiteboard marker. Thanks very much for the recommendation.

Posted on 06/07/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Jo (Guest Post)
Methylated spirit on a cloth will rub it off easily, and not affect the paintwork underneath.

Posted on 06/06/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By K (Guest Post)
i wouldn't have believed it if i didn't see it! someone tagged my green car with black permanent marker. it sat in the sun for a full day. i tried a regular eraser and it worked a bit, but with lots of scrubbing and residue. THEN, i tried the dry erase marker. i traced over the permanent ink with the dry erase marker, let sit for 5 seconds, then rubbed off with one swipe of a cloth towel. Amazing!

Posted on 06/05/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By MommieG (1) Contact
I tried using a dry erase marker but found that spraying WD-40 on it first then dabbing nail polish remover on the rag and rubbing it off in little sections worked the best for me thank you for the suggestions.

By Christine

Posted on 06/04/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

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Request: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

Archived on 06/02/2007

Does anyone know how you remove permanent marker on the outside of your car? My car was tagged by kids with a permanent marker.

Any advice?
Randy

Answers:

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

Hair spray often works. (04/19/2005)

By siris

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

Try Armour-all (sorry not a good speller) orange de-greaser wipes. (05/11/2005)

By Michelle from Tennessee

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

Gasoline worked wonders for me today. I started with lighter fluid, but the took a while. Gasoline worked great. I used it on my windows and on my front right quarter panel. Just make sure you rinse the area well after you're done to remove any gas.

Gasoline and its fumes are very flammable. Make sure you are very careful and no smoking or starting the vehicle until it has had time to dissipate. Be careful with the disposal of rags also. (11/16/2005)

By Joe

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior From what I remember, go over the permanent with an EXPO marker - the ones used for white boards then wipe off the marker as soon as you put it on... it should erase the permanent marker. (01/17/2006)

By A.I.

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I just used WD-40 to remove black permanent marker from my red van. It worked very well. It took a little bit of elbow grease, but it was relatively easy to rub off the black marker after the WD-40 soaked in. I recommend it. (01/19/2006)

By Friend from Arizona

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I use aerosol deodorant on my desk, works beautifully, you can actually see the pen mark coming off without even wiping it. So just try a squirt of lynx on the mark and wipe, you should be amazed (02/09/2006)

By Sambo

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I tried gasoline, WD40, and hairspray. The hairspray worked the best. There were a couple of stubborn dark spots left (the car is white). I took a little Arm and Hammer mildly abrasive toothpaste and a cotton swab which worked fine on those (02/23/2006)

By MW

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I just had this same problem and the responses here helped a lot. What I found that worked the best was to spray the spot with wd-40 and then spray it with car washing solution. This way it came right off. With the wd-40 by itself I was rubbing forever and the car washing solution by itself didn't take anything off at all. (03/06/2006)

By Elisa

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

Hairspray worked perfectly,thanks very much. you may have saved my local hoodlums from an arse kicking. (04/06/2006)

By Gareth

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

The dry erase marker worked for me. I have a very light blue colored car and it was tagged with a black sharpie. Write over it and it wipes off (04/24/2006)

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

Try the MrClean Magic Eraser. It's not super cheap but if it gets your marker off it will be worth the cost. It works great on pebbled surfaces as well, the ease of use makes it worth the $ for us. My local grocery store chain just came out with a cheaper store brand so check around your area. (08/15/2006)

By Taurusfeen

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I had a black marker written on my car (vandalism) and used the Mr. Clean eraser pad and it did come right off with very little elbow power. (09/29/2006)

By Aries

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I have a white car and the hairspray left some dark spots but it works fairly well. (10/03/2006)

By Alan

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

Amazingly, a dry-erase marker will completely and instantly remove permanent marker from most hard surfaces, like counter tops, desk tops, furniture, cars, some high gloss painted walls, etc. (10/24/2006)

By Josh

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I just used a black dry erase marker to remove black permanent marker from my silver car and it totally works! there is a faint "shadow" where the permanent marker was, but that will buff or wax out. this method defies all logic, but i highly recommend it! use a cloth towel to gently rub the dry erase marker off because paper towels can be abrasive to the car finish. (10/28/2006)

By Tammy

Try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, followed by WD-40.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser succeeded in removing most of the black color, leaving behind a shadow of the tag. I got rid of the shadow by rubbing WD-40 into it for 15-20 minutes with a soft cloth. I was skeptical starting this whole process, but there isn't a single mark left. This happened while I was away, so the tag may have been as new as 12 hours or as old as 3 days; it had no direct sun exposure and temp. was 40-50 degrees. (11/26/2006)

By Tina

Try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, followed by WD-40.

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I just wanted to thank everyone and the owners of this forum! Someone wrote on my car in black permanent marker. I filed a claim with my insurance company and went in for an appraisal of damage today. They said my door would need to be sanded and re-painted and the cost would be $360. My deductible is $500 so nothing would be covered. I don't have that kind of money. So, I just went out right now and to my amazement hairspray completely took it off in minutes and didn't hurt my paint at all. You cannot even tell anything happened. This is wonderful! Thanks:) (01/08/2007)

By Rebecca B.

RE: Removing Permanent Marker from Car Exterior

I just wanted to thank everyone for the information on removing permanent marker from car paint. I used the fingernail polish remover and rubbed with WD40, but still had a residue, so we put rubbing compound that did the trick. Completely gone. This may have been on there for a week and was in the sun at all times. So we are glad it is completely gone. (02/04/2007)

By Eileen

RE: permanent marker

Randy use GOOF OFF, you can buy from home depot store and I am sure 99.99 percent it will remove the stains. (02/04/2007)

By Rahul

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