How long does it take to pick up the car after repainting?
4 Answers
You can pick up the car within a week after repainting. Here is an introduction to automotive painting: 1. Introduction to automotive painting: Automotive painting refers to applying a layer of paint to the car's surface to protect it. Automotive painting generally uses baking paint. In automobile manufacturing plants, after the frame and body are welded, the next step is painting. 2. Classification of automotive painting: (1) Standard paint: Standard paint is the simplest material, consisting of resin, pigment, and additives. (2) Metallic paint: Metallic paint, also known as metallic flake paint, is a popular type of automotive topcoat. (3) Pearl paint: Pearl paint, also known as mica paint, is another popular type of automotive topcoat.
I just helped my cousin pick up his car from the 4S shop after a paint touch-up a couple of days ago. They usually finish small-area touch-ups within 24 hours. However, for large-area scratches or complex metallic paint color matching, it takes two full days for drying and polishing. A special reminder: don't rush to drive off just because the surface looks dry after the touch-up. If the inner layers aren't fully dry, high-speed driving can cause bubbles. If it's raining, I suggest letting it dry for an extra half day to be safe. Before picking up the car, remember to use your phone's flashlight to shine at an angle on the painted surface—this helps check for color mismatches or orange peel texture.
Our repair shop handles over a dozen paint touch-up jobs daily, and the actual time required really depends on the situation. For minor scratches, the paint can be polished after just two hours of baking. However, full panel jobs like doors need at least overnight drying. The most time-consuming are three-layer pearl white paints – color matching alone often requires three trial attempts. Summer heat speeds up drying, but in winter without a baking booth, we recommend allowing an extra half-day. When picking up your car, don’t just stand and look – walk around twice to check reflection uniformity, as paint drips tend to accumulate in corners.
As a fifteen-year veteran in auto body repair, paint touch-up time mainly depends on three factors: first, whether the damage has reached the primer layer - exposed metal requires rust prevention treatment first; second, weather humidity - the baking room temperature needs to be increased during rainy seasons for faster drying; third, the type of paint - solid colors take about four hours, but metallic paints must be left overnight to dry thoroughly. Our shop typically offers same-day pickup for small touch-ups, while full bumper repaints are recommended for next-day collection, as polishing requires additional paint surface sealing treatment.
