How long after car coating can you drive?
2 Answers
You can drive the car 30 minutes after coating, because the coating surface hardens after 30 minutes and can withstand rain after hardening. Here are the advantages of car coating: Heat resistance: Glass coating can effectively reflect sunlight and external heat radiation, significantly reducing the interior temperature. Scratch protection: Coating provides better protection for glass against damage from sand and gravel. Easy cleaning: The coating resists dust and stains, requiring only water for cleaning, maintaining high glass clarity. Superior water repellency: Rainwater instantly beads up and rolls off the glass, effectively preventing water spots.
I specifically asked the technician right after getting the coating done. Actually, you can drive the car away immediately after application, but it depends on the specific coating agent. For water glass-based materials, the surface usually hardens within 2-3 hours, but it's not recommended to go on long trips right away. If it's a spray-on crystal coating, you need to wait at least 12 hours for complete curing. Last time I got the coating done at noon and parked in the garage, but drove out in the rain that evening. The next day I noticed some water stain marks on the roof - later learned it was because the coating hadn't fully dried and crystallized when exposed to rainwater. Now in cold weather I wait a full day before driving, especially for slower-drying areas like side mirrors. Remember not to wash the car for the first three days - if it gets dirty, just gently wipe off surface dust with a soft cloth.