What you need to ride a motorbike or drive a car in Indonesia, and what happens if you do not have it.
Rules and fines may change. This guide is information, not legal advice. Check current rules with the Indonesian traffic police (Korlantas Polri) or the Indonesian embassy in your country before you travel. Last checked: 2026-10-12 against Police Regulation (Perpol) No. 5 of 2021 on the issuance and marking of driving licences, as amended by Perpol No. 2 of 2023.
The short version
| You want to drive | You need |
| Motorbike (automatic or manual) | Your home licence that covers motorbikes, plus an International Driving Permit (IDP) with the motorcycle category (category A). Or an Indonesian SIM C (SIM C I or C II for motorbikes above 250 cc). |
| Car | Your home car licence, plus an IDP with category B. Or an Indonesian SIM A. |
- A car licence does not cover a motorbike, and an IDP without the motorcycle category does not allow riding.
- The IDP must be issued in your home country, before you travel. It cannot be issued in Bali.
- Carry the original home licence and the IDP at all times.
About the IDP
- It must be issued by an authorised body of your home country (for example AAA in the United States, the Post Office in the United Kingdom, ADAC in Germany). Online “IDPs” from unofficial sites are not valid.
- Category labels can differ by issuer (for example A, A1, A2 for motorcycles). Make sure the motorcycle category is stated.
- Indonesia recognises IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (Perpol 5/2021, Article 3). Indonesia is not a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention; if your country issues IDPs only under that convention, whether the police accept it is at their discretion, so ask your issuing body and the owner before you travel.
- An IDP is valid only together with your home licence and only while you are a visitor. If you live in Indonesia (KITAS or KITAP), you need an Indonesian SIM.
- Nationals of ASEAN countries may drive on their national licence (ASEAN Agreement on the Recognition of Domestic Driving Licences, 1985) if it is in English or has a certified English translation.
Indonesian licence
- SIM C for motorbikes up to 250 cc, SIM C I for over 250 cc up to 500 cc, SIM C II for over 500 cc (Perpol 5/2021, Article 3); SIM A for cars up to 3,500 kg.
- Minimum age: 17 for SIM A and SIM C, 18 for SIM C I, 19 for SIM C II. Many owners require 18 or 21 for cars. Each listing states the owner’s minimum age.
- An Indonesian SIM is valid for 5 years. Foreigners can apply with a passport and a KITAS or KITAP.
Documents to carry
- Home licence (original)
- IDP
- Vehicle registration (STNK), which the owner must provide
- Copy of your passport and visa
Checks and fines (indicative, may change)
Police checks are frequent, especially in tourist areas of Bali such as Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Kuta, Ubud and along Sunset Road. Reported on-the-spot fines are:
| Offence | Reported range |
| No valid licence or IDP | Around IDR 300,000 to 500,000 (some sources report up to IDR 1,000,000) |
| Missing vehicle registration (STNK) | Around IDR 300,000 to 500,000 |
| No helmet | Up to IDR 250,000 |
Fines can add up. Riding without the correct licence category may also lead to your vehicle being held, and may void your travel and medical insurance.
Helmets
By law (Law No. 22/2009, Article 106(8)), everyone on a motorcycle must wear a helmet that meets the Indonesian standard SNI (SNI 1811:2007). The penalty can be up to IDR 250,000 or up to one month’s confinement (Article 291). The rider can be fined if the passenger has no helmet. Rental helmets can be thin: check the SNI label, fit and condition at pickup. Headlights must be on, and traffic keeps to the left.
On Sewa Rent
- When you request a motorbike or car, you confirm that you hold the right licence.
- The owner checks your documents at pickup and can refuse to hand over the vehicle if they are missing or invalid. In that case you cannot rent it. Example: you have a car licence and an IDP without the motorcycle category, and you asked for a motorbike. The owner must refuse, and you pay nothing.
- Owners must provide SNI helmets and the vehicle registration.
Boats
On a crewed boat, the captain holds the qualification and you do not need a licence. Bareboat (no crew) charter needs an internationally recognised qualification and the owner’s agreement. In practice most charters in Indonesia are crewed. Each listing states the mode.
