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For the latest information about this skill visit Car Painting on worldskills.org.


Car Painting

Restoring a damaged vehicle to its original finish, matching colours, shades, and textures exactly, in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

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Why is this skill important?

Car painters (refinishers) are responsible for reinstating the pre-accident paint colour and finish to vehicles after the panels, structure, or entire car have been repaired or replaced. Car painting requires professionals to refinish a wide variety of materials such as metals, plastics, composite materials or wood.

Car painters prepare surfaces to receive paint, which may involve making minor repairs; then, they apply undercoats, colour coats and sealant coats which provide the high gloss levels required. They may be required to identify a colour code using various methods, mix the colour to pre-determined formula and spray test cards to test the suitability of this colour match to the original colour and shade. Typically they will apply paints inside an enclosed spray booth in order to protect the environment.

Often, a car painter works on several vehicles at one time, requiring a keen awareness of overall schedule as well as the time it takes to apply and dry individual coats and finishes.

Car painters have opportunities to work on passenger cars, high-performance racing cars, high-price and unique vintage and classic vehicles, commercial vehicles, and even trains, aeroplanes, static structures, or furniture.

Could this skill be for you?

If you like:

  • Fixing things
  • Craftsmanship
  • Using tools

You should also take a look at:

The Challenge

Important elements of the challenge include:

  • Bodywork is brought back to its original shape by filling and sanding.

  • Next, primer and filler is applied.

  • A car painter must match the colour, shade and texture of the adjoining panels that are not being painted and apply the correct colour formula.

  • Under timed conditions, vehicles must be refinished to a high standard.


Skill sponsors

Results

Medal Result Competitor Country/region
Gold 753 Yingcheng Jiang China
Silver 742 Daryl Head United Kingdom
Bronze 738 Maurus von Holzen Switzerland
Bronze 738 Jonas Heinze Germany
Bronze 736 Enzo BARRAGATO France
Medallion for Excellence 735 JUNSIK KIM Korea
Medallion for Excellence 728 Mads Pallisgaard Holm Denmark
Medallion for Excellence 721 Yuto Fukami Japan
Medallion for Excellence 718 Lucas Yuri Bessoni Campos Brazil
Medallion for Excellence 716 Gullbjørg Ekre Norway
Medallion for Excellence 712 Olle Karlsson Sweden
Medallion for Excellence 706 Dusti-lee Franchi Australia
Medallion for Excellence 702 Shahad Shahida Manzil India
698 Pond Banpachart Thailand
697 Ashley Weber Canada
697 Alex Banks New Zealand
693 Silvia FOLGUEIRA Spain
692 Iurii Mitin Russia
692 SHIH-TI YAN Chinese Taipei
685 Teguh Kamaludin Indonesia
681 Roope Rokkonen Finland
678 Lionel Dias Portugal
676 ZAKARIA LAHKAK Morocco
670 Tsz Hong Cheng Hong Kong, China
655 Livhuwani Netshituni South Africa
641 Mohammad Jabbari Iran

How to compete

To reach the level of skills required to compete in a WorldSkills Competition takes several years of training and dedication. But the best time to start is now.

Find out more about how to take part in a WorldSkills Competition.