How Long Does It Take to Get the Car After Painting?

[CarolineDella]

The time it takes to pick up the car after painting varies depending on the situation: small area painting takes 2 to 3 hours; large area painting requires at least 2 to 3 days. Methods for maintaining car paint include: Wash the car after the engine has cooled; minimize exposure to direct sunlight; promptly clean dirt and stains from the car body; rinse with clean water after rain to prevent acid rain corrosion; apply wax or glaze. The car painting process involves: Removing oil stains and rust from the car body surface, degreasing plastic parts, and keeping the surface clean; using zinc phosphate solution to phosphorate the surface, then rinsing with water and waiting for the body to dry before painting; ensuring uniform air pressure and nozzle size during spraying for even and smooth paint application; after painting, the car is moved into a paint drying booth to quickly cure the paint.

[ConnorFitz]

As someone who frequently handles car paint repairs, I think the time mainly depends on the scope of the repair. For small scratches and partial repainting, it can be done in as fast as one day, typically with the car dropped off in the morning and picked up by evening. However, for extensive repairs like a large area on the door, it may take 2-3 days due to the steps involved, such as sanding, applying primer, three layers of paint spraying, and high-temperature baking. Recently, with the high humidity during the rainy season, the drying time can take half a day longer than usual. It's advisable not to rush into washing the car or driving on highways immediately after repainting. Waiting for a week allows the paint to fully cure, which is more reliable to avoid issues like bubbling or peeling later on.

[JackFitz]

After over a decade in auto repair, I've observed that the most time-consuming steps in dealership paint shops are color matching and quality inspection. A standard door repair typically takes two days, but if special metallic paint needs mixing, color matching alone can take half a day. Many shops now offer expedited services—paying an extra 500 yuan can reduce three days to one and a half, though I'd advise against scheduling paintwork during rainy days as humidity affects paint adhesion. During pre-holiday repair peaks, waiting five or six days is completely normal.

[DeTucker]

Car paint repair is like cooking, the process determines the time. Small scratch treatment: 1 hour for sanding, 2 hours for primer, 2 hours for topcoat, plus baking and cooling, the car can be delivered in half a day. A full color change is a different story, taking over a week. The most troublesome I've seen is repainting old cars, often encountering rust that needs to be dealt with first, which alone takes an extra day. Metallic paint requires two more steps than regular paint, adding about 30% more time.