A process for overcoating multicoat paint systems comprising (1) applying by pneumatic spray application to the multicoat paint systems the extract, free from opaque pigments, of an aqueous basecoat material (A) or of a corresponding aqueous basecoat material, (2) flashing off and/or drying the resulting film (1) without curing it completely, (3) coating by pneumatic spray application at a reduced spraying pressure the resulting flashed off and/or dried film (2) with the aqueous basecoat material (A) or a ′ corresponding aqueous basecoat material, (4) flashing off and/or drying the resulting aqueous basecoat film (3) without curing it completely, (5) coating the resulting flashed off and/or dried aqueous basecoat film (4) with a liquid clearcoat material, and (6) jointly curing the film (1), and, where resulting clearcoat film (5), the aqueous basecoat film (4) and the appropriate, any further uncured films that are present.