If properly installed, all permanent and some temporary marking tapes achieve and maintain bonding to the pavement surface that will last for the life of the pavement. Tapes should always be removed prior to placement of new markings. Therefore, removal of these markings becomes a challenge and is the major drawback to their use.

Removal of permanent tapes can only be achieved by a small number of methods, which are often destructive to the pavement surface. Burning and scraping of the marking materials with an oxygen torch is one method. Often, however, the permanent tapes have achieved such a tight bond to the surface that they must be ground off, which scars the pavement. This is especially true of permanent markings that have been inlayed into the pavement surface.

Most of the temporary tapes that are in use are easily removed by hand or by a mechanical roller with no special equipment required.