How Long Can a Repair Shop's Paint Touch-Up Last?
2 Answers
After a car paint touch-up, the color can remain unchanged for up to 5 years, but this largely depends on the driver's habits. 1. Touch-up Time: For traditional paint touch-up methods, whether at a 4S shop or a specialized repair shop, it typically takes 1-2 days to complete. Only small-area touch-ups can be finished within a few hours. The vehicle can be driven away on the same day after the touch-up, but it's important to avoid contact with corrosive cleaners like adhesive removers or asphalt removers on the touched-up areas, as they can severely damage the new paint, even causing it to melt completely. 2. Precautions: Avoid using high-pressure water to wash the car body directly. The hardness of the touched-up paint is lower compared to the original factory paint, and excessive water pressure can damage the car's paint surface. Also, refrain from indiscriminately using cleaners. While driving, the vehicle is inevitably exposed to substances like asphalt, oil stains, and insects, which require careful handling.
Right after the paint job, it looked as good as new, but it's hard to say how long it'll last. Last time I had it touched up at my friend's shop using regular paint, and after parking it outdoors for just over two years, the yellowing became obvious. The technician said if you use higher-quality imported water-based paint and wax it regularly, it can last four to five years without issues. The key is proper sanding of the base layer during application—if the primer isn’t fully dry before painting, bubbles and cracks can appear in no time. It’s even worse for someone like me who always parks under trees—tree sap left unwashed can leave stains in just three months. Wish I’d added a paint protection film back then.
