How Long Does It Take to Paint a Car?

Whether your vehicle was involved in an accident in Santa Monica or you’re looking to restore an older car, your vehicle will eventually need a paint job, so it looks like new on the California roads. There are many places in the Beverly Hills area that offer car paint services, but you may be wondering how much a car paint job will cost and how long it takes to paint a car. A complete vehicle paint job will take between 40 and 80 hours, depending on the size of your vehicle and the bodywork that is needed. Read about the different factors that go into how long it takes to paint a car with Eli’s Collision Repair below. Then, read about how long your new paint job will last once it’s completed.

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What Goes into a Car Paint Job?

If your vehicle has car paint oxidation or it’s just time for a new coat, many body shops in the Beverly Hills area offer full-body paint jobs and restoration services. It will take between 40 and 80 hours for a body shop to complete a full paint job on your vehicle. A professional shop like Eli’s Collision Repair has multiple repair technicians and the proper equipment to paint and restore your vehicle in a reasonable amount of time— sometimes under the usual 40-80 hour timeline, but it’s still helpful to see what factors go into the time it takes to paint a vehicle:

Vehicle Model

The size and style of your vehicle is a big factor in how long it will take to paint it. A full-size SUV or van will take longer to paint than a sedan or coupe. If all you need is touch-up work or a small area repainted, the size of your vehicle won’t have a big impact on the time it takes to be painted.

Body Work

Body work is one of the biggest factors in how long it takes to paint a car. If your vehicle has body panel damage, extra time will be required to repair these damages before paint can be applied. Ignoring dents or scratches and painting over them can lead to paint oxidation and rust developing under the paint. This can cause the rust to spread to the body of your vehicle, leading to costly repairs later.

Preparation

Preparation is another stage that takes time in the car painting process. First, the proper paint must be acquired by your selected auto body repair shop— this can take extra time if you drive a luxury vehicle or you have an exclusive paint color. Then, the body panels on your vehicle must be sanded down. Finally, any surface on your vehicle that won’t be painted (glass, tires, etc.) will need to be covered and taped to avoid paint damage.

Paint Application

Once the paint has been acquired and the vehicle has been prepped for painting, the application process can begin. The vehicle will first receive a coat of primer, which will take a few hours to dry. After the primer has dried, the paint will be applied over a few coatings. The car paint is then allowed to dry, which takes about 30 – 90 minutes for car paint to dry. Then, a layer of clear coat is added. After the clear coat has dried, your vehicle will be buffed and polished. How long do you wait to buff a car after painting? Typically, a shop will allow the clear coat to harden for 24 hours before the buffing process can begin.

Have Your Car Painted at Eli’s Collision Repair

While a car paint job can take a long time to complete, the final result is well worth the wait. Let the professional team at Eli’s Collision Repair paint your vehicle, so it looks brand new on your Downtown LA commute! You can get a free estimate online or contact our team to get an approximate time for how long a paint job on your vehicle will take. We look forward to helping you keep your vehicle in excellent condition for years to come in California!

LDM