Roadside Paint Services Offer Quick Fix for Car Bodywork

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Roadside car and motorcycle paint services have long been a part of Jakarta’s urban landscape.

This type of paintwork is known for its glossy finish and quick-drying properties, used to repair the appearance of car, motorcycle, or furniture bodies.

These services are generally used to cover scratches, dents, and minor damage, making vehicles look like new again.

Although often subject to enforcement, these informal services persist because they offer a quick and relatively affordable repair option for the public.

According to him, the service has grown because there are always consumers who need quick vehicle body repairs without having to go to an official body repair shop.

“Roadside paint and bodywork services have been around for a long time; it’s not a new trend,” said Bebin when contacted by Kompas.com, Thursday (14/5/2026).

According to him, this type of service is an alternative for vehicle owners who want to repair minor damage at a lower cost.

The work process is also considered much faster than at an official repair shop.

However, Bebin cautioned that low costs are usually directly proportional to the simple quality of the work.

The paintwork is not always durable due to the limited materials and equipment used.

“Of course, the prices are also standard for roadside services, with the consequence that the quality of the work is mediocre and not long-lasting,” said Bebin.

He said that customers of roadside paint services generally come from those who do not have vehicle insurance or drivers who want to quickly repair minor damage without reporting it to the vehicle owner.

“This service is for those who don’t have insurance coverage,” he added.

However, he said that the quality of official repair shops is not always perfect either.

According to him, many roadside painters actually have good technical skills because they used to work in large repair shops.

According to him, some informal painters actually have sufficient experience and technical skills because they used to work in large repair shops.

However, limited capital prevents them from equipping themselves with adequate tools and materials to produce optimal paint quality.

He added that consumer demand for low prices often forces businesses to use lower-quality materials.

Economic observer and Head of the Macroeconomics and Finance Center at Indef, M Rizal Taufikurahman, said that the proliferation of roadside paint services cannot be separated from urban economic pressures and the high number of vehicles in Jakarta.

“The roadside paint business has grown because there is a combination of market demand and cost pressures,” said Rizal when contacted.

According to him, Jakarta has a large vehicle base, so the need for vehicle body repairs is also high.

On the other hand, the lower middle class tends to look for cheap and fast services rather than official repair shops.

Based on BPS data from February 2026, the number of informal workers in Jakarta reached around 1.98 million people, or 38.13 percent of the total working population.

“Businesses like roadside paint services grow because there is demand, but also because people are looking for alternative sources of income,” said Rizal.

Rizal said that informal services and official repair shops actually target different market segments.

Official repair shops excel in quality and guarantees, while informal services excel in price and speed.