How Long Does Ceramic Coating Take?
How long a professional ceramic coating takes, from 1 to 3 days depending on the package, what happens each day, and when you can drive and wash your car.
A professional ceramic coating takes 1 to 3 days at our shop, depending on the package. Quick Shine, Simple Shine, and Shine & Protect take 1 to 2 days. Showroom Shine takes 2 to 3 days, because it adds paint correction and takes the wheels off. Most of that time is prep. The coating itself goes on in a few hours. Getting the paint clean enough for it to bond is what takes the time.
How long does each package take?
| Package | Time in the shop | What adds time |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Shine | 1 to 2 days | Full wash, then the coating on paint and exterior trim |
| Simple Shine | 1 to 2 days | Full wash, then the coating on paint and exterior trim |
| Shine & Protect | 1 to 2 days | More surfaces: the wheel faces, windshield, headlights, and taillights |
| Showroom Shine | 2 to 3 days | Paint correction, wheels off, and coating on all the glass, lights, and trim |
We give you the exact timing with your quote, so you know your pickup day before you drop off.
What happens while my car is at the shop?
- Walk-around. We go over the car with you when you drop it off. From then on, it's under 24/7 video surveillance.
- Wash and decontamination. A full wash, then iron and tar removal, so nothing gets trapped under the coating.
- Paint correction (Showroom Shine only). We machine polish out swirls and haze so the coating seals in a clean finish. This step is most of the extra time.
- Coating. We apply it panel by panel in our climate-controlled bay.
- Inspection. Every panel gets checked under inspection lights before you pick it up.
You can watch the prep we do before a CARPRO Finest Reserve coating in the videos below.
Why does Showroom Shine take longer?
Two reasons. Paint correction is careful machine work, panel by panel, and it can't be rushed. And we take the wheels off so we can coat the faces and the barrels. That way brake dust rinses off the inside of the wheel too, not just the face.
A brand-new car usually doesn't need correction. If your paint is already in good shape, Shine & Protect or Simple Shine gets you ceramic protection in less time.
Can I wait while you do it?
No. Even our quickest package is a drop-off. Leave the car with us, and we cover a one-way Uber or Lyft while it's in the shop. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 to 4.
When can I drive it and get it wet?
You can drive it home at pickup. Rain is fine after the first 4 hours. Give it 7 days before you use soap, a car wash, or any other chemicals, because the coating is still hardening that first week. If it gets dirty or a bird hits it, rinse gently with plain water. Our ceramic coating care guide covers the first week and the wash routine after it.
What if I'm getting PPF too?
Paint protection film usually takes 3 to 5 days on its own. When you do both, we schedule them back to back. The film goes on first and the coating goes over it, and we give you one timeline for the whole job. Our ceramic coating vs PPF guide explains how the two work together.
How long does the coating last once it's on?
That depends on the package. Our coatings are rated from 1 to 2 years for Quick Shine up to 7 to 10 years for Showroom Shine. Our guide to how long ceramic coating lasts in Florida covers what shortens it and how to get every year out of it.
Every coating is done in our own shop in Wildwood, across from Brownwood Paddock Square. See our ceramic coating packages.