Provided is a method for producing a coating that includes a surfacer coat and topcoat on a substrate and including applying a first coating material to an untreated substrate or a substrate coated with a cured electrodeposition coat, and applying a second coating material to the surfacer coat. The produced coating system is cured to form the coating. The first and second coating materials are compatible according to DIN EN ISO 12944-5:2008-01, and the second application takes place before the first coating material has reached drying stage 1 according to DIN 53150:2002-09, and the drying stage is determined according to EN ISO 9117-3:2010. The method is suitable for producing coatings on automobiles and commercial vehicles, such as trucks, vans, and buses.