How Long Does Car Painting Take?
3 Answers
Car painting takes approximately 3-4 hours. Precautions for car painting: Paint surface smoothness: Check the paint surface smoothness: For some car owners, due to poor-quality repair shops, after bodywork and painting, the entire car's paint surface may become uneven, and there may even be some pitting or impurities on the paint surface. In severe cases, paint runs may occur. Therefore, it is recommended that car owners choose reputable 4S shops or repair shops when getting their cars painted. Avoid contact with other items: Do not wash the car or come into contact with other items: For freshly painted cars, it is best not to wash the car while the paint is still wet. It is also advisable not to drive out in the rain to prevent watermarks on the paint. Additionally, avoid letting the paint come into contact with chemicals or grease, as these substances can damage the car's paint surface. Moreover, do not cover the freshly painted car with a car cover, as the paint is not yet dry, and these items can cause scratches on the paint surface, making it look less attractive.
I've been in the car painting business for several years and have seen all kinds of scenarios. The time it takes to paint mainly depends on what kind of job you're doing: if it's just a small scratch repair, like fixing a bumper, you might get the car back the same day; but if it's a full repaint, it'll take at least 3 to 5 days. This includes prep work like sanding the old paint, applying filler, spraying primer and clear coat—each layer needs to dry properly, and humid weather can drag it out even longer. Once, I had a car where the owner was in a hurry, and rushing the job caused the paint to bubble, leading to extra time for rework. Another key point is color matching—the new paint needs to be spot-on, and don't assume faster means better. So I always remind people: don’t just focus on speed with painting; durability and safety matter most. Plan your schedule ahead to avoid travel delays.
Last year, I had my old car repainted, thinking it would only take a day or two, but it ended up taking four whole days. The shop explained that a full-body repaint starts with sanding, with rust spot treatment alone taking half a day. The main painting process required two to three days because each coat needed several hours to dry thoroughly. Summer painting was manageable, but in winter, hot air baking was necessary to speed things up. I also realized that the shop’s busyness affected the timeline—peak seasons meant longer waits for a slot. The whole process demands patience; driving the car out before the paint fully hardens risks scratches. Now I know to ask for details upfront, like whether the drying cycle is included, instead of carelessly overlooking it like I did, to avoid rework.
