Behind the Matraman Hammering: Roadside Number Plate Services Remain a Staple for Residents
JAKARTA — Amidst the increasing digitalisation of motor vehicle service systems, roadside number plate printing services continue to persist. In several areas across Jakarta, particularly in the Matraman district of East Jakarta, rows of stalls making vehicle number plates remain busy with customers seeking fast and practical services.
Some members of the public choose these services not merely because they are cheap, but because the processing time is significantly shorter than the official process for replacing Vehicle Registration Plates (TNKB) through the Samsat office.
“The STNK (Vehicle Registration Certificate) and the plate number are actually already issued and active. However, the physical official plates are still in a queue and take a long time to be released. Meanwhile, the car needs to be used immediately for work,” said Rangga when interviewed at one of the stalls on Friday (15/05/2026).
He noted that driving a vehicle without number plates carries the risk of attracting police attention on the road. Therefore, he chose to print temporary plates at the roadside service. “If I drive without plates, I will certainly be fined. So, I chose to make a temporary one here,” he added.
Rangga expressed his admiration for the fact that the plate-making process at these stalls is still performed manually. “In this digital age, everything is online, but here they still hammer them one by one by hand. I saw how meticulous they were in making the letters and numbers,” he said.
For a pair of electric vehicle plates featuring the distinctive blue line for EVs, Rangga reported paying Rp 150,000. “In my opinion, it is very worth it. The car can be used immediately while waiting for the official plates to be released,” he said.
Doni (28), an online motorcycle taxi driver, shared similar sentiments when visiting to replace a broken rear motorcycle plate. He admitted he was reluctant to handle the replacement through Samsat due to fears of a lengthy process. “If I have to go to Samsat just to deal with a broken plate, I dread the thought of the queues. My working time would be wasted; I would rather spend it driving,” said Doni.
He chose the roadside stall because the process is fast and can be completed while waiting. Doni even negotiated the price, eventually agreeing on Rp 80,000 for the motorcycle plate. “The price is still reasonable for me,” he said. Although he is aware that these are not official Samsat prints, Doni feels he is not committing a violation as the printed number matches the original STNK. “The important thing is that the number is the same and the tax is active,” he noted.
However, the Director of Traffic for Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Pol Komarudin, stated that official TNKB plates possess specific features, such as particular logos, which unofficial plates lack. “Official TNKB plates have a specific logo,” Komarudin told Kompas.com.
He noted that citizens have already paid the official TNKB issuance fee through Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP). Therefore, the public is advised to re-print official plates at Samsat if they experience damage or loss. “If the TNKB is damaged or lost, it is best to request a reprint at the Samsat corresponding to your registered address,” he concluded.