Licence and IDP rules
Motorcycle licence and IDP rules for riding in Indonesia (2026)
You can't ride in Indonesia, Bali included, on your home licence alone. Carry it with an International Driving Permit that covers motorcycles. GOV.UK names the 1968 permit for UK riders.
Checked against official sources on 2026-11-05.
Check what you need for Indonesia
Three answers and you get a plain verdict. Rules checked against official sources; links below.
This is general information from official sources, not legal advice. Rules change; check with the embassy if your trip depends on it.
The rules in Indonesia
- International Driving Permit
- Police Regulation 5/2021 recognises international driving permits issued abroad under the UN road traffic convention or other treaties. GOV.UK says UK visitors can't ride on a UK licence alone and need a 1968 IDP.
- Motorcycle category
- Your licence and IDP must cover motorcycles. For reference, Indonesian licences use SIM C for bikes up to 250cc, SIM C I for 250cc to 500cc and SIM C II above 500cc.
- Local licence
- Foreigners with immigration documents such as a KITAS (stay permit) can apply for an Indonesian licence. We found no official tourist licence scheme for Bali, despite reports of one.
- Helmets
- Compulsory for rider and passenger, and must meet the Indonesian SNI standard (Road Traffic Law 22/2009, article 106).
- Enforcement
- Bali police ran checks on foreign riders in 2023, and in March 2025 the Governor of Bali issued a circular asking visiting tourists to hold an international or national licence and to wear a helmet. GOV.UK warns that foreigners in even minor traffic incidents can be vulnerable to extortion.
- Insurance
- Smartraveller: "Your travel insurer will deny any claims you make if: you're unlicensed / you don't hold the correct type of licence".
What you need, by where your licence is from
Assumes your licence includes the motorcycle category. Without it, no IDP makes riding legal.
| Riders from | What you need in Indonesia |
|---|---|
| United States | Check first: an IDP from the United States (1949) may not be accepted in Indonesia. Indonesia is party to neither convention. Its police regulation (Perpol 5/2021) accepts foreign IDPs issued under "the UN convention on road traffic" without saying which one. Smartraveller tells Australians, whose permits follow 1949, to carry their IDP with their licence, which suggests 1949 permits are used in practice, but we found no official confirmation. In the United States permits are issued by AAA and AATA. |
| United Kingdom | Yes: carry your licence plus a 1968 IDP. Carry your licence from the United Kingdom together with a 1968 International Driving Permit. In the United Kingdom permits are issued by PayPoint shops (for the DVLA). |
| Australia | Check first: an IDP from Australia (1949) may not be accepted in Indonesia. Indonesia is party to neither convention. Its police regulation (Perpol 5/2021) accepts foreign IDPs issued under "the UN convention on road traffic" without saying which one. Smartraveller tells Australians, whose permits follow 1949, to carry their IDP with their licence, which suggests 1949 permits are used in practice, but we found no official confirmation. In Australia permits are issued by the Australian Automobile Association, through state motoring clubs such as NRMA, RACV and AANT. |
| Canada | Check first: an IDP from Canada (1949) may not be accepted in Indonesia. Indonesia is party to neither convention. Its police regulation (Perpol 5/2021) accepts foreign IDPs issued under "the UN convention on road traffic" without saying which one. Smartraveller tells Australians, whose permits follow 1949, to carry their IDP with their licence, which suggests 1949 permits are used in practice, but we found no official confirmation. In Canada permits are issued by CAA. |
| Germany | Yes: carry your licence plus a 1968 IDP. Carry your licence from Germany together with a 1968 International Driving Permit. In Germany permits are issued by your local Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (driving licence office). |
| Ireland | Check first: an IDP from Ireland (1926 or 1949) may not be accepted in Indonesia. Indonesia is party to neither convention. Its police regulation (Perpol 5/2021) accepts foreign IDPs issued under "the UN convention on road traffic" without saying which one. Smartraveller tells Australians, whose permits follow 1949, to carry their IDP with their licence, which suggests 1949 permits are used in practice, but we found no official confirmation. In Ireland permits are issued by the Road Safety Authority, through NDLS centres. |
| New Zealand | Check first: an IDP from New Zealand (1949) may not be accepted in Indonesia. Indonesia is party to neither convention. Its police regulation (Perpol 5/2021) accepts foreign IDPs issued under "the UN convention on road traffic" without saying which one. Smartraveller tells Australians, whose permits follow 1949, to carry their IDP with their licence, which suggests 1949 permits are used in practice, but we found no official confirmation. In New Zealand permits are issued by AA New Zealand. |
| France | Yes: carry your licence plus a 1968 IDP. Carry your licence from France together with a 1968 International Driving Permit. In France permits are issued by ANTS (France Titres), online. |
| Netherlands | Yes: carry your licence plus a 1968 IDP. Carry your licence from the Netherlands together with a 1968 International Driving Permit. In the Netherlands permits are issued by ANWB. |
| Switzerland | Yes: carry your licence plus a 1968 IDP. Carry your licence from Switzerland together with a 1968 International Driving Permit. In Switzerland permits are issued by your cantonal road traffic office (or TCS/ACS in some cantons). |
| India | Check first: an IDP from India (1949) may not be accepted in Indonesia. Indonesia is party to neither convention. Its police regulation (Perpol 5/2021) accepts foreign IDPs issued under "the UN convention on road traffic" without saying which one. Smartraveller tells Australians, whose permits follow 1949, to carry their IDP with their licence, which suggests 1949 permits are used in practice, but we found no official confirmation. In India permits are issued by your Regional Transport Office (RTO). |
| Singapore | Check first: an IDP from Singapore (1949) may not be accepted in Indonesia. Indonesia is party to neither convention. Its police regulation (Perpol 5/2021) accepts foreign IDPs issued under "the UN convention on road traffic" without saying which one. Smartraveller tells Australians, whose permits follow 1949, to carry their IDP with their licence, which suggests 1949 permits are used in practice, but we found no official confirmation. In Singapore permits are issued by AA Singapore. |
| South Africa | Yes: carry your licence plus a 1968 IDP. Carry your licence from South Africa together with a 1968 International Driving Permit. In South Africa permits are issued by AA South Africa. |
| Israel | Yes: carry your licence plus a 1968 IDP. Carry your licence from Israel together with a 1968 International Driving Permit. In Israel permits are issued by the Ministry of Transport. |
| Brazil | Yes: carry your licence plus a 1968 IDP. Carry your licence from Brazil together with a 1968 International Driving Permit. In Brazil permits are issued by your state Detran or the Automóvel Clube Brasileiro. |
No motorcycle licence?
An IDP never adds a motorcycle category, so without one you can't legally ride in Indonesia. You can ride pillion behind a licensed local rider, or join a guided tour where a staff rider carries you, if the operator offers that. A guided tour does not make it legal to ride yourself without a licence. App-based motorbike taxis (ojek) are regulated by the Transport Ministry, and both rider and passenger must wear a helmet.
Questions riders ask
- Can I ride a scooter in Bali without a licence?
- Not legally. Bali's 2025 rules for tourists ask you to hold an international or national licence and to wear a helmet, and Smartraveller says insurers will deny claims from unlicensed riders.
- Which IDP do I need for Indonesia?
- GOV.UK names the 1968 permit for UK riders. Indonesia's police regulation doesn't name a convention, and Smartraveller tells Australians, whose permits follow 1949, to carry their IDP. If yours is a 1949 permit, check with the Indonesian embassy.
- Is there a tourist driving licence in Bali?
- We found no official tourist licence scheme. Foreigners with a stay permit (KITAS) can apply for an Indonesian licence.
Sources
Checked on 2026-11-05.
- Indonesian National Police Regulation 5/2021 on driving licences
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Indonesia, safety and security
- Smartraveller (Australian Government): Indonesia
- Antara Bali: Governor's circular on rules for foreign tourists (March 2025)
- JDIH Kemenko Infrastruktur: motorbike taxi passenger safety
- GOV.UK: International Driving Permits, which one you need by country
- UN Treaty Collection: 1949 Convention on Road Traffic, status
- UN Treaty Collection: 1968 Convention on Road Traffic, status
This page is general information drawn from the sources above, not legal advice. Rules change; if your trip depends on it, check with the embassy of the country you're visiting.
Tours in Indonesia
See every motorcycle tour listed in Indonesia. If you're unsure what you'll need on a particular trip, ask the operator about licence requirements through the enquiry form on the tour page before you book.
Motorcycle tours in Indonesia