Standing on the Sidewalk, They Wait for Scratched and Dented Cars

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Rows of signs reading “Car and Motorcycle Paint”, “Scratches and Dents”, and “Welding and Bodywork” can be seen lining the streets of Jakarta.

“Duco paint” is a term commonly used to refer to the technique of painting vehicles using fast-drying nitrocellulose (NC) paint.

This service is typically chosen to repair scratches, scuffs, and minor dents at a lower cost and with a faster turnaround time compared to official body repair shops.

With the increasing cost of vehicle maintenance, roadside duco paint services continue to thrive and serve as an alternative for some drivers in Jakarta, especially those who want to improve the appearance of their vehicles without spending a lot of money.

“At an official workshop, it could cost millions [of rupiah]. Here, people are looking for something quick and cheap,” said Asep (48), a duco paint service provider in Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (May 13, 2026).

“The most important thing is that it looks good enough to use,” he said.

For Rian Saputra (34), an online motorcycle taxi driver from East Jakarta, roadside duco paint services are a realistic option compared to official workshops.

That day, Rian was seen standing in a small workshop in the Salemba area while waiting for his motorcycle to be painted on the front body, which had been scratched by another vehicle a few days earlier.

He admitted that he had considered taking his motorcycle to an official workshop. However, after calculating the costs, he chose to look for a roadside paint service.

“I once asked at an official workshop, and it would cost more than Rp 1 million. But the scratch and damage weren’t that bad,” said Rian when interviewed.

“If I work every day, I have a lot of expenses. So I’m looking for something that’s still good to look at and not too expensive,” he said.

Rian eventually had his motorcycle’s body repaired through a roadside duco paint service for around Rp 300,000. The work was promised to be completed within one day.

“It can be dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon. That’s important to me because the motorcycle is used for work,” he said.

Although he is aware that the quality of the work is not as good as an official workshop, Rian believes that the result is sufficient for his daily needs.

The same goes for Kurniawan (41), a rental car driver from Bekasi who regularly uses informal duco paint services to repair his company’s vehicles.

According to Kurniawan, rental vehicles are prone to minor scratches and scuffs because they are used by many different renters.

“If every scratch is taken to an official workshop, it would be very expensive,” he said.

He said that the cost of repairs at official workshops is often not worth the minor damage that occurs.

“Sometimes it’s just a small scratch, but they charge for an entire panel. It can cost millions,” he said.

Therefore, Kurniawan chooses to have the vehicles repaired at a small workshop affiliated with a roadside duco paint service in the Matraman area.

“It’s more flexible here. You can also negotiate,” he said.

He said that he has used similar services several times and is satisfied with the results.

“It can’t be compared to an official workshop. But for quick needs, it helps,” he said.

Behind the low cost of repairs, there are informal workers who risk working on the roadside every day to find customers.

A Kompas.com report in the Salemba Raya area showed several workers standing on the side of the road, watching vehicles pass by in the traffic.

As soon as they see a car with a scratch or a small dent, they immediately wave their hands and offer their services.

“If someone stops, then we explain,” said Luhur (32), one of the roadside duco paint workers.

Luhur has been working in the field for almost 10 years. Initially, he only helped with sanding and filling at a small workshop before eventually starting to look for customers on the street.

“I started by helping a friend. Over time, I learned how to spray paint, and now I also look for customers,” he said.