Taking your car to a professional car wash or shop may force you to dig deep into your pockets. Instead, make your way to a local repair shop locally referred to as Duco painters, some of which can be found along Jl. Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta.

Street painters: Madi (left), assisted by his coworker, carries out polishing work on a damaged car by the roadside. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

Relying on only sunlight and some basic equipment for paint jobs, these repair garages tend to fix damaged cars by the roadside.

Without the use of high-tech, sophisticated equipment like oven rooms, these Duco painters are not only quick, but they are also willing to negotiate the cost of their services. This is why car owner Herman prefers them.

Working tools: A bucket is filled various tools for the mechanics’ repair work. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

“I've repaired my car here three times so far. Apart from being cheap, they are also fast,” said Herman, whose red car had suffered several scratches.

Car owners come for repairs on their vehicle’s bumper bar/plastic damage, scrapes, cracks, tears, holes, scuffs, dents, dings, chips, scratches, gutter rash, faded paint and so on.

Meticulous: Newspaper is applied to protect the hood of the car from being splattered with paint. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

"The price depends on the damage, but it is negotiable,” said Madi, 46, a Duco painter who has been running his own service since 1996.

"To repair these two panels, it costs Rp 600,000 [US$42.27],” he said, pointing to Herman's car.

The price is said to be much cheaper than what is charged by public or official repair shops.

The repair work is usually completed in a few hours, while in a public or official repair shop, the vehicle usually needs to be kept overnight.

Spray and dry: After the applied putty is polished, it is time to spray a coat of paint. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)

Duco painters on the roadside have become preferable for some vehicle owners who seek quick and cheap services and to have their car back on the street, smooth and shiny.