Yes, you can use WD-40 to remove tar – but it isn’t as safe or effective as the specialized formulas we’ve listed here. These tar removers are solvent-based formulas specifically designed to remove tar from cars, whereas WD-40 is a multi-purpose lubricant that just so happens to work reasonably well for this purpose. Bug and tar removers are formulated to be gentle, easy to remove and not damaging to your paintwork – WD-40 on the other hand is not water soluble, so can be difficult to fully remove from your car’s surface.