Can I Pick Up My Car on the Same Day After Painting?
2 Answers
Whether you can pick up your car the same day after bodywork and painting depends on the size of the painted area. If the painted area is small, you can usually pick up the car the same day, but the paint needs time to dry completely. Differences in bodywork painting: Bodywork painting can be divided into paint and powder. Powder coating dries relatively quickly, especially in a drying oven, while paint, being a liquid, dries more slowly. Paint thickness: The drying time depends on the thickness of the paint and the degree of atomization. Thicker paint takes longer to dry in an oven, and even longer if left to dry naturally—possibly up to a week. Weather conditions: Sufficient light is required when mixing paint to avoid color discrepancies, so paint cannot be mixed on cloudy days.
I remember last time my car got scratched, and I was so upset that I immediately took it to the paint shop hoping to get it fixed the same day. The owner told me that painting isn't a small job. For small scratches, like the size of a palm, if you bring it in early in the morning, you might get it back by the afternoon—they can rush the job with a quick spray and bake. But if it's a whole door or a large area that needs repainting, that's a different story. It takes at least a full day, sometimes even until the next day. The painting process involves several steps: first sanding and cleaning, then applying primer, waiting for it to dry, then applying the color coat and clear coat. Each step requires drying time. If you drive the car before it's fully dry, dust can stick to it or water can cause bubbles, and the paint will quickly look terrible. That time, I waited 24 hours. Although it was a bit of a hassle, the car looked much better when I drove it home. My advice is to ask about the size of the job and the shop's schedule beforehand next time you need painting. Don't get your hopes up too high about getting it back the same day, or you might just end up making a wasted trip.
