Professional polishing begins before the machine touches the paint. Washing, decontamination and drying reveal the true condition first.

Inspection under direct light and paint-thickness readings where appropriate can take thirty minutes or more. Masking sensitive trim adds further preparation time.

A one-stage gloss polish on a medium vehicle may take several hours. Multi-stage correction requires repeated passes, pad cleaning and inspection across every panel.

A final refining stage removes haze and balances the finish after stronger correction. The vehicle is then cleaned and checked under several light sources.

Wax or sealant can add one or two hours, while ceramic coating may require more preparation and controlled curing. Highly involved projects can remain in the workshop for several days.

The historical estimate of roughly four and a half hours represented a best-case basic process, not a universal standard. AVP quotes time after seeing the paint and agreeing the result.