Driving in Indonesia: Licences, Scooters & Safety

• Traffic style: Dense, unpredictable, lots of scooters, informal “rules”.
• Infrastructure: Mixed. Big-city toll roads are modern; village shortcuts can be potholed tracks.
• Enforcement: Increasingly strict in tourist areas and cities; more police operations targeting helmets, licences, and drunk driving.
• Risk profile: Motorbike injuries are one of the top causes of expat and tourist hospitalisation nationwide.

• Short stay visitors: Usually rely on an IDP (International Driving Permit) plus home-country licence.
• Residents with a stay permit (KITAS/KITAP, etc.): Apply for an Indonesian SIM A (car) or SIM C (motorbike).

2.1 International Driving Permit (IDP) for Indonesia

• IDP is a translation, not a licence. It only works with your original, valid licence.
• Police in Bali, Jakarta, Lombok and other hotspots increasingly ask tourists for an IDP Indonesia and home licence during scooter checks.
• If your home licence does not show motorcycle entitlement, most insurers and police will treat you as unlicensed on a scooter, even with an IDP.
• Typical home-country IDP fee: about US$20–70, often valid for one year (range, last verified June 2026).

2.2 Indonesian driving licence (SIM) for foreigners

• SIM A: Private car (up to 3,500 kg).
• SIM C: Motorbike / scooter, up to 250cc for the standard SIM C (higher classes exist for larger bikes).

• Valid stay permit: KITAS, KITAP or similar (including some long-term visas; confirm locally).
• Passport + proof of address in Indonesia (rental contract, utility bill, or surat domisili from your banjar / RT).
• Medical check (basic vision, blood pressure), usually done at or near the SATPAS office for a small fee.

• Official SIM application fee: roughly IDR 120,000–250,000 per licence type, depending on class and region.
• Medical + photos + admin extras: IDR 50,000–150,000.
• Agent assistance (optional): IDR 600,000–1,500,000+ per licence, depending on city and how “hands-off” you want the process.
• Validity: up to 5 years; foreigners often receive a SIM tied to the validity of their stay permit.

Short-stay visitor (tourist, business, 30–90 days)

• Legally safe option: Home licence + IDP matching vehicle type (car / motorbike).
• Enforcement: Police in Bali and big cities often ask for both documents.
• Insurance: Most travel policies require you to hold a valid licence for that vehicle.

Longer-term resident (KITAS/KITAP/Second Home/Golden Visa)

• Best practice: Apply for SIM A (car) and/or SIM C (motorbike).
• Use IDP only as backup; expect to be treated as resident.
• Need: Stay permit, passport, address proof, medical, tests and fees.

Unlicensed driving

• Legal risk: Fines, vehicle seizure, and immigration attention if it escalates.
• Insurance: Almost always void in serious accidents.
• Banjar/Community: Causing a serious accident without licence can create long-term local tension.

4.1 Do you need a licence for scooter rental in Bali?

• A valid motorcycle entitlement on your home licence, plus an IDP; or
• An Indonesian SIM C.

• Police in tourist areas run regular roadside checks.
• They often stop riders with:
  • No helmet
  • Tourist look (no gloves, singlet, no jacket)
  • Visible phone use or riding with three on a bike
• If you cannot show:
  • Passport copy / ID
  • Valid visa or eVOA
  • Home licence + IDP (or SIM C)
  expect a fine. The official route is an on-the-spot electronic ticket (e-tilang) or court reference; practices still vary by region.

4.2 Typical scooter rental costs

• Simple 110–125cc scooter: IDR 70,000–150,000 per day; IDR 800,000–1,600,000 per month.
• Larger or newer models (NMAX, PCX, ADV, etc.): IDR 120,000–250,000 per day; IDR 1,800,000–3,000,000 per month.
• Delivery/collection, phone holder, extra helmets: usually an extra IDR 20,000–100,000.

4.3 Common problems with scooter rental

• Minimal insurance: Many rentals include only basic third-party cover or none at all. You crash — you pay.
• Passport held as deposit: Risky. If there’s a dispute, you have limited leverage. Safer to refuse and offer a cash deposit instead.
• Damage disputes: Minor scratches suddenly become “full panel repaint”. Always:
  • Video the bike at pick-up and drop-off.
  • Photograph any existing scratches, broken plastics, worn tyres.
• Unroadworthy bikes: Bald tyres, weak brakes, dim lights — check everything before leaving.

• goldenvisaindonesia.com for the Golden Visa.
• secondhomevisaindonesia.com for Second Home Visa requirements.

5.1 Typical SIM application steps

1. Prepare documents:
   • Passport and photocopies
   • KITAS/KITAP or long-stay visa card & copy
   • Proof of address (rental contract, surat domisili, or local ID of guarantor)
2. Medical check: Usually at a small clinic kiosk near the SATPAS. Simple health questions, eyesight test. Fee often IDR 50,000–100,000.
3. Register at SATPAS: Take a queue number, submit forms and documents.
4. Pay official fees: Via bank counter, ATM, or e-payment (depends on region).
5. Theory test: Computer-based multiple choice in Bahasa Indonesia (some offices offer English). Many expats use translation apps or take prep courses.
6. Practical test:
   • SIM A: Basic manoeuvres, parking, hill start.
   • SIM C: Riding slow straight lines, figure-8, and emergency braking on a closed course.
7. Photo and fingerprint: Taken on site once you pass.
8. Licence issued: Usually same day or within a few days.

5.2 Using an agent vs doing it yourself

• DIY cost: Typically under IDR 400,000 in total per SIM type (fees + medical), if you pass tests first try.
• Agent-assisted: IDR 600,000–1,500,000+ per licence (range, last verified June 2026).
• Time trade-off: DIY could be a half-day or more, plus returning if you fail. Agents can streamline but cannot legally “guarantee” a licence.

6.1 Core rules foreign drivers should not ignore

• Left-hand traffic: Indonesia drives on the left.
• Helmet mandatory: For motorbikes, both driver and passenger must wear an SNI-approved helmet, properly fastened.
• Lights: Motorbike headlights must be on at all times (day and night) in many regions.
• Seatbelts: Mandatory in cars for front passengers; increasingly enforced for back seats in cities.
• Drunk driving: Zero-tolerance in practice; alcohol limits are low, enforcement is rising, and foreign DUI cases can trigger visa problems.
• Mobile phones: Hand-held phone use while driving is prohibited.
• Children: Kids on scooters is common locally, but as a foreigner you risk intense scrutiny if there’s an incident.

6.2 Police stops: what to expect

• Wave vehicles into a checkpoint.
• Ask for licence (SIM or IDP + home licence), STNK (vehicle registration) and sometimes passport/ID.
• Focus on:
  • No helmet rider or passenger
  • No licence / wrong licence
  • No plates, modified exhaust, or illegal lights

• Travel insurance from your home country.
• Local vehicle insurance (the owner’s policy for the car or motorbike).

7.1 Travel insurance and scooters

• You must hold a valid licence in the country of travel for that vehicle type.
• You must wear a helmet and obey local laws.
• Engine size limits (e.g., covered up to 125cc and no racing/competition).

• You have car-only licence at home, but rent a scooter: In the event of a serious crash, many insurers will treat you as unlicensed and may decline claims.
• No IDP, only home licence: Some insurers accept this if the home licence is in English and recognised; others expect an IDP for Indonesia. You must check your policy wording.
• Drunk riding: Almost always excludes cover, even if you “felt fine”.

7.2 Local vehicle insurance

• You may be asked to pay for:
  • Repairs to the rental vehicle
  • Compensation to the other party (especially if injured)
  • Time off the road for the rental company’s bike

8.1 Honest self-assessment

• Have you ridden scooters or motorbikes for years in your home country?
• Are you comfortable riding in heavy, unpredictable traffic?
• Are you fully insured and holding the right motorcycle licence?

8.2 Gear and visibility

• Helmet: Proper full-face or at least half-face helmet, fastened. Rental “bucket” helmets often offer minimal protection.
• Clothing: Long trousers, shoes, and a jacket — even in the heat. Road rash in a tropical climate gets infected fast.
• Rain: Roads are very slippery during first rain after a dry spell; slow down dramatically.
• Night riding: Reduce it. Many vehicles have weak or blinding lights and dogs wander the roads.

8.3 Driving culture basics

• Assume nobody has seen you.
• Use your horn as a presence signal, not aggression.
• Expect vehicles from side roads to nose out slowly and join traffic without fully stopping.
• Slow down in village areas: Kids, roosters, offerings (canang), ceremonies, and dogs all share the road.

9.1 Using ride-hailing apps

• Car rides: Often cheaper and less stressful than renting a car if you’re not driving daily.
• Bike taxis: Cheap, efficient, but carry the same helmet/licence/insurance risks for you as a passenger; check your travel insurance wording.

9.2 Hiring a car with driver

• Day hire (8–10 hours): IDR 600,000–1,200,000 depending on region, car size and distance.
• Airport transfers: IDR 150,000–500,000+ depending on distance and time of day.

• You avoid licence and police-check stress.
• Your driver navigates local ceremonies, road closures and banjar checkpoints.
• You can actually look around instead of constantly scanning for potholes and dogs.

• Tourist / eVOA: Treated as temporary visitor; IDP + home licence is the standard route.
• Work KITAS, family KITAS, student KITAS, Second Home Visa, Golden Visa, KITAP: You’ll be seen as a resident, so a SIM A/C is strongly recommended.

• Golden Visa details: goldenvisaindonesia.com
• Second Home Visa: secondhomevisaindonesia.com
• Bali-focused visa support: balivisaapplication.com

• Licence first, scooter second: Not the other way round.
• IDP + home licence for visitors; SIM A/C for residents.
• Unlicensed riding can void insurance and create serious financial and legal problems.
• Police focus hard on no-helmet, no-licence, DUI and tourists on scooters.
• If you are not already an experienced rider, use drivers and apps instead of experimenting in real traffic.