Bali Driving license 2024

Issue of driving licences in Indonesia

The types of SIM valid for a renewable period of 5 years are:

• SIM A — for private cars and private goods vehicles up to 3500kg. Age 17+
• SIM A umum — for public use; must have held SIM A for 12 months. Age 20+
• SIM BI — for private buses and goods vehicles over 3500kg — must have held SIM A for 12 months. Age 20+
• SIM BI umum— for public use, must have held SIM BI or SIM A umum licence for 12 months. Age 22+
• SIM BII — for heavy equipment, tow trucks, and for towing trailers over 1000kg must have held SIM BI for 12 months. Age 21+
• SIM BII umum — must have held SIM BII or SIM BI umum for 12 months. Age 23+
• SIM C — for motorcycles up to 250cc. Age 17+
• SIM CI — for motorcycles 250.01–500cc — must have SIM C for 12 months. Age 18+.
• SIM CII- for motorcycles >500c — must have SIM CI for 12 months. Age 19+.
• SIM D — for special disabled persons vehicles similar to SIM C. Age 17+.
• SIM DI- for special disabled persons vehicles similar to SIM A. Age 17+.

SIM Internasional is valid for 3 years.

An expired SIM must be re-issued from scratch, but a non-expired one can be renewed.

The requirement for a SIM are:

• application form
• KTP for Indonesians or immigration documents for foreigners
• driver’s education certificate not more than 6 months’ old
• copy of work permit for foreigners who work in Indonesia
• biometrics in form of fingerprint/retina scan
• proof of payment
• a doctor’s inspection of eyesight, hearing and physical condition from a Polri-approved/appointed doctor, not more than 14 days old
• a psychologist’s inspection of cognitive and psychomotor abilities and personality from a Polri-approved/appointed psychologist, certificate not more than 6 months’ old
• an online theory test , minimum score 70 — for new SIM or increase in level. Available in Indonesian for Indonesians, English for foreigners
• a simulator test (where available), minimum score 70 — required for new SIMs other than D/DI, renewals of all SIM umum, SIM BI, BII, increases in level. Valid for six months.
• a practical test — for new tests and increases in level

With respect to foreigners, the regulation is poorly drafted based on copy/paste from old regulations, and says:

• passport and KITAP, or
• passport and diplomatic visa, plus diplomatic membership card for embassy staff/family, or
• passport and official visa or kartu izin tinggal sementara for expert workers or students in Indonesia

In fact there is no such thing as a kartu izin tinggal sementara — this should say izin tinggal terbatas. Since the article is very poorly drafted, it is not really clear what its intent is, especially given that ‘visas’ are irrelevant to people in Indonesia, who should instead talk of ‘izin tinggal’. It seems that therefore an Indonesian driving licence is therefore available in the case of:

• ITAS holder of any kind (not just those listed in the copy/pasted law)
• ITAP
• IT Dinas
• IT Diplomat

but not IT Kunungan (visit stay permit)

The reference to a visit card for foreigners not domiciled in Indonesia has been removed from the 2021 regulation as compared to 2012, however it might still in practice be possible for non-residents to get a driving licence by simply asking at the police administration centre.

Note also that a provision for 1-month tourist driving licence for Bali has long since been revoked, so any foreigners obtaining a driving licence must obtain a 5-year licence.

For Indonesian SIM holders wishing to obtain an IDP, it is done using scans/photos as follows via the website https://siminternasional.korlantas.polri.go.id/

• passport photo
• KTP
• SIM
• passport
• KITAP for foreigners (ITAS holders excluded)
• existing SIM internasional for renewals
• signature

Plus biometrics (fingerprint/retina) and proof of payment.

Note that certain countries, such as South Korea, will not accept Indonesian IDPs, on the basis that Indonesia is not a party to any treaty, while certain countries will accept any foreign licence for visitors, so given the basic legal shortcoming in Indonesia’s IDP, it may be best not to apply for one unless the legal position in the destination country for Indonesian IDPs is clear in law.

Laws in Indonesia typically have an over-riding statute (undang-undang) followed by subsidiary government regulations (peraturan pemerintah) and ministerial regulations (peraturan menteri).

The statute for road law is UU 22/2009 (UU LLAJ). This was modified in various ways by the omnibus law 11/2020, in various ways but the original law for general use was largely unaffected. The main regulations Perpol 5/2021.

In brief:

• wear a helmet as a motorcyclist
• carry STNK (registration) for your vehicle
• carry your local licence (SIM) if you are an ITAS or ITAP holder
• carry your ID and foreign / international licence if you are not an ITAS or ITAP holder

Under article 314 road traffic offences can also be subject to revocation of driving licence and victim compensation, further to the penalties below.

Driving licence penalties and points

Based on the accumulation of points (new rules from 2021 law) the following can occur:

• Penalty 1–12 or more points
• Penalty 2–18 or more points

Reaching Penalty 1 or 2 means that you cannot renew your licence.

Penalty 1 means he licence can be withdrawn by the police temporarily and subject to retesting.

Penalty 2 means a licence withdrawal for a court-appointed period of time after which the licence can be re-applied for.

Offences for all road users

• • Article 274–up to 24 million/1 year in prison for damaging the road
  • Article 282 — up to 250k/1 month+ 1 point for not following orders of a police officer

Motorcycle offences

• Article 285(1) — up to 250k rp/1 month+ 1 point for not meeting requirements of tyre tread depth, rear view mirror, brake light, headlight, turn lights, reflectors, speedometer, horn, exhaust regulations (including emissions and noise)
• Article 291(1) — up to 250k/1 month + 1 point or not wearing SNI helmet while driving motorcycle
• Article 291(2) — up to 250k/1 month+ 1 point for driver who allows passenger not to wear SNI helmet
• Article 292 — up to 250k/1 month+ 1 point for carrying more than 1 passenger
• Article 293(2) — up to 100k/15 days+ 1 point for not using lights during the day as a motorcyclist

Car offences:

• Article 278 up to 250k rp/1 month+ 1 point without seat belt, spare tyre, safety triangle, jack, wheel key, first aid kit
• Article 285(2) — up to 500k rp/2 months + 3/5 points for not meeting requirements of tyre tread depth, rear view mirror, brake light, headlight, reverse light, side lights, front windscreen, windscreen wipers, turn lights, reflectors, speedometer, horn
• Article 286 — up to 500k rp/2 months+ 3/5 points for driving unroadworthy vehicle
• Article 290 — up to 250k/1 month + 1 point for not wearing helmet and seatbelt for totally open 4-wheel vehicles

All motor vehicles:

• Article 279 — up to 500k rp/2 months+ 3 points for installing equipment that threatens the safety of traffic
• Article 280 — up to 500k rp/2 months+ 3 points for driving without number plate
• Article 281–up to 1000k rp/up to 4 months + 5 points for driving without a licence
• Article 288(2) — up to 250k/1 month+ 1 point for failure to show a driving licence when asked
• Article 283–up to 750k rp/3 months + 5 points for driving while performing other activities affecting concentration (e.g. mobile phone usage)
• Article 284 — up to 500k rp/2 months + 3 points for driving without prioritizing safety of cyclists and/or pedestrians
• Article 287(1),(2) — up to 500k/ 2 months+ 3/5 points for failing to follow traffic signs/road markings
• Article 287(3) — up to 250k/1 month+ 1/5 points for breaching rules on movement, stopping and parking
• Article 287(4) — up to 250k/1 month+ 1 point for failing to give priority to vehicles fitted with sirens
• Article 287(5) — up to 500k/2 months +3/5 points for breaking speed limit
• Article 287(6) — up to 250k/1 month+ 1 point for breaching vehicle attachment/towing rules
• Article 288(1) — up to 500k/2 months+ 3 points for driving a vehicle without STNK
• Article 289- up to 250k/1 month+ 1 point for driver or front seat passenger not wearing seatbelt
• Article 293 (1) — up to 250k/1 month+ 1 point for not using lights at night
• Article 294 /295 — up to 250k/1 month + 1 point for not using turn signals or hand signals when turning, reversing, changing lane, moving to the side
• Article 296 — up to 750k/3 months+ 5 points for not following signals at crossings for trains
• Article 297 — up to 3000k/1 year + 5 points for racing on the road
• Article 298 — up to 500k/2 months+ 3 points for stopping in emergency without using hazard lights, emergency triangle, etc.

Felonies:

• Article 277–up to 24 million/1 year for importing a vehicle without type approval
• Article 312- up to 75000k/3 years + 10 points for not stopping at an accident you are involved in, or failing to report it to the police, or failing to give aid in relation to it
• 311(1) dangerous driving without accident 3000k/1 year + 5 points

Careless (article 310)/dangerously (article 311 2–5) driving, causing an accident:

• 1000k or 6 months + 5 points /4000k or 2 years+ 10 points — with property damage
• 2000k or 1 year + 5 points/8000k or 4 years + 10 points — minor injuries
• 10000k or 5 years + 12 points /20000k or 10 years + 12 points — serious injuries
• 12000k or 6 years + 12 points / 24000k or 12 years + 12 points — death

Speed limits

The speed limits applicable nationally and notionally, based on Permenhub 111/2015 and UU LLAJ:

• toll roads: minimum 60, maximum 100kph out of cities, 80kph in cities
• intercity roads: maximum 80kph
• city roads: maximum 50kph
• residential areas: maximum 30 kph

There is supposed to be signage of speed limits and setting of speed limits based on road conditions, but this rarely happens in most parts of Indonesia.

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Driving permit vs. driving licence

There is a common misconception that there is a difference between a ‘driving permit’ and a ‘driving licence’. In fact there is none. The international treaties refer exclusively to ‘driving permits’, so a ‘driving permit’ is a ‘driving licence’ is a ‘driving permit’. Indonesian does not have as many words as English, so there is only ‘surat izin mengemudi’, or SIM, which means ‘letter of permission to drive’, which is equivalent to both ‘driving licence’ and ‘driving permit’

Insofar as ‘International Driving Permits’ are documents issued pursuant to international treaties, it is usual that only ‘International Driving Permit’, or IDP, is used to refer to an international driving licence. In some cases fraudsters may attempt to sell an ‘international driving licence’, which is something other than an IDP issued pursuant an international treaty.