Is It Okay Not to Polish After Car Painting?
3 Answers
It is not okay to skip polishing after car painting because after the car surface is painted, some minor defects such as coarse particles and flow marks will appear on the paint surface. To compensate for these minor defects, repair technicians usually use polishing techniques after painting to grind the car's paint surface. More related information is as follows: 1. Protect the paint surface from damage: Grinding and polishing are not just for the car's aesthetics but more importantly to protect the paint surface from damage. This can improve the mirror effect of the paint film, making the paint surface smooth and bright. Therefore, polishing after car painting is very necessary. 2. Do not polish the car frequently: Although car polishing can enhance the car's appearance, frequent polishing can damage the paint, making it thinner and even potentially wearing through the paint. Therefore, it is recommended that car owners do not polish their cars frequently. A car should not be polished more than five times. Generally, the paint of a new car is very smooth and looks very bright. After 3-4 years of use, the paint will lose its original luster. Polishing can restore its original appearance, making the whole car look brand new, but frequent polishing is not recommended. 3. The car must be cleaned thoroughly before polishing: Avoid any dust causing new scratches on the paint. After grinding is completed, the car needs to be waxed to restore the paint's brightness.
I also struggled with this issue right after getting my car repainted. Skipping polishing after painting is technically possible, but the results will be significantly compromised. Freshly painted surfaces always have minor imperfections, such as dust particles invisible to the naked eye or orange peel texture. Polishing serves to smooth out these uneven areas. Without polishing, the paint surface may feel slightly rough to the touch and exhibit uneven reflectivity. This is particularly noticeable on dark-colored paints under sunlight - my black sedan looked noticeably dull after just three months without polishing, and regular washing couldn't restore its shine. For very small touch-up areas like a scratched side mirror, skipping polishing might be acceptable. However, for full-body repainting jobs, I strongly recommend not skipping this step. After investing significant money in repainting, it would be a shame to compromise the final result by neglecting this crucial detail.
It depends on what you prioritize. If appearance means nothing to you, skipping polishing can save you 200-300 RMB. But the actual consequence is that the paint surface will become like frosted glass—not only rough to the touch but also prone to accumulating dust. The last time I skipped polishing, I ended up washing my car more frequently because dust got trapped in the paint texture and was hard to clean. The mechanic told me that newly sprayed paint is actually more fragile than the factory finish, and without polishing for protection, it fades faster under sun and wind exposure. Especially for white paint, unpolished areas noticeably yellowed after six months. However, my neighbor never polished his pickup truck, saying it didn’t matter for a work vehicle. So if you’re after a flawless glossy finish or frequently attend car meets, polishing is a must. But if it’s purely a utility vehicle, you can get by without it.
