Is paint overspray harmful to my car's finish?

Some wood stains and etch primers could potentially damage your paintwork, but most paint overspray won't cause any lasting damage.

However, it will cause your car's finish to appear dull, dirty, and can harbour dirt and other contaminants.

It is the act of removing it which may cause damage to the paint finish. For example, a clay bar is often recommended for removing overspray, but even when used correctly, rubbing a claybar over your paintwork will call some light scratches, which will need to be polished out. 

Overspray can be removed with hot solvents, but great care must be taken not to damage plastic and rubber. It is not uncommon for cars to arrive here which damage from kitchen scourers. Thankfully, we can usually polish out this kind of damage to the paintwork, too.

While paintwork can be restored, paint overspray can cause damage to plastic parts, and sometimes its more cost-effective to replace them than to attempt to clean them.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 08/03/2024 4:30

• How can I tell if my car has been affected by paint overspray?
• Can paint overspray be removed without damaging the original paint?