How to spray paint a car step by step (with video)

Spray painting a car is fun, but also a meticulous job. If you want to succeed, you must do a nice and clean prep work before spraying (otherwise, it will be a complete mess). Follow our tips on techniques and masking tools to use to give your vehicle a shiny new coat of paint!

Here you can find the steps that bodyshops usually follow before picking up paint sprayers.

1 - Sand the surfaces

First things first: make sure that any rust or old paint on the car is thoroughly sanded off. To do this you’ll need an orbital sander and some abrasive sponges (a 600-grit will be fine) to reach any difficult spot. The goal is to give your paint an even surface onto which it can adhere: sand the vehicle using circular motions, removing all the paint either all the way to the bare metal, to the original primer, or just enough for your new coat of paint to adhere to. If you are in a hurry, the third option will be enough.

Suggested product

Q1® Double Sided Sanding Sponges - super fine A new tool made to prime difficult locations that ordinary sanding tools cannot reach, such as bumpers, door handles, headlight openings, door jambs and other locations. They work on wet and dry surfaces.

2 - Clean and prep the area you are going to paint

Remove any dust or dirt from the area you are going to paint using a dry cloth. If there is any stubborn dirt, try wiping it off using a small amount of cellulose thinner, denatured alcohol or mineral spirits. Now clean any residue left and let it dry completely.

3 - Mask the area you need to protect

Our favourite step: masking. Use automotive masking tapes and films to cover the surfaces of your vehicle that you don’t want painted, including mirrors, window trim, grills and door handles. Take all the time you need: good masking leads to a high quality final result.

Suggested products for spray painting

Q1® High Performance Masking Tape This product has been specifically designed for most critical jobs in the automotive aftermarket and can withstand high temperatures of up to 110°C (230°F) for as long as 30 minutes. It’s also UV resistant for up to three days and water resistant.

Q1® Performance Foam Tape A quick, performance-engineered solution to seal openings, this is the ideal masking tool for reducing masking time around doors, tailgates and other vehicle access points.

Q1® Premium Trim Masking tape This masking tool is designed to facilitate trim masking situations including: inset door handles, windscreen, side mouldings, taillight, sidelight and headlight units. Pre-cut every 38mm, the tape supports high temperatures (up to 110°C/230°F) without leaving any residue.

Q1® Premium Protective Film A car paint protection film treated to ensure paint adhesion of both solvent and waterborne paints specific for vehicle painting jobs. This feature is due to its electrostatic property result of corona treatment and the composition of the raw material with specific additives.

If you need some advice on how to apply these masking tools, this video should give you some good tips.