Car Paint Company

How long does it take for car paint and clearcoat to dry?

Im having my car painted as we speak... i have a 4 and 1/2 hour road trip to go on with the car in 2 days... can I feel safe taking my car with its new paint job on the highway?....the conditions around here and have been snowy and humid the past 2 days. please give me peace of mind!

Public Comments

1. Eh... It SHOULD be safe. But should and is are completely relative.' I'd ask the painter guys.
2. Most modern paints need only 30-45 minutes of drying time. Hit the road, and have fun in your beautiful, freshly painted car!
3. keep the car in a warm place before you leave, that will give it a chance to dry......... the clear coat take a long time to dry... it won't be totally dry before a couple of months....( it look dry but it is still soft)
4. In a heated paint booth, over night is more than enough. Two days in a relatively warm environment is sufficient. The paint isn't truly dry for a much longer time, but it is dry enough to drive.
5. As stated above, paint does "dry" quickly and it will dry in the two day time period, actually before they would let it leave the shop. BUT paint "cures" very slowly, as i'm also sure the shop will tell you. For paint to fully cure it can take from 4 to 10 weeks and even longer for extravagant paint jobs. This is why the shop will tell you not to wax the car for at least a month. The paint stays "soft" for a long period of time and if you get hit with road debris on your trip, it can very easily damage the finish. Also, in conditions under 50 degrees, the paint will not cure, period. If you happen to have a heater in your garage, this would help immensely if you must take this car on your road trip.