Indonesian drivers license
The Indonesian drivers license is no longer available to visitors on a 30 day tourist visa.
If you’re looking to get an Indonesian drivers license (“Surat Ijen Mengemudi”, commonly abbreviated to “SIM”) in Bali, here is a quick overview of the process. Before you hit the road, make sure to look up the charges for traffic violations in Bali.
The most common types of Indonesian drivers license are SIM A for a regular car (< 3,500kg) and SIM C for a motorbike. In 2016 there were plans to split the motorbike license into 3 variants but this has not happened yet.

In Indonesia, the minimum age to obtain a Motorcycle license (SIM C) or a Car license (SIM A) is 17 years old.
Only foreigners who have a resident permit (ITAS) can get a drivers license. Foreigners holding an Indonesian drivers license must renew it every five years.
It is no longer possible for those on a tourist visa to obtain an Indonesian drivers license. For those travelling to Bali on a tourist visa, it is best to acquire an international drivers license prior to the journey.
The process isn’t that difficult and corruption has almost completely disappeared due to strict regulations and webcams that monitor the police men. The hardest thing is getting clear instructions from police officers.
If you’re in South-Bali, then you will need to go to the Polresta in Jalan Gunung Sanghyang in West Denpasar. Long trousers are required when entering the police station.
There are also mobile Police driver license units (for example at Carrefour Sunset) but these only process 5-year extensions (not new licenses).
Before you go, make sure you have;
- a copy of your passport
- a copy of your Indonesian visa
- your expired SIM (if you’re extending)
- a health certificate from the doctor
Health Certificate
There used to be a doctor practice next door the Poltabes but it is no longer there. The doctor practice right infront of the police office refuse to give health certificates for the purpose of getting a SIM.
Thank you to “Beachdog” for the following update left in the comments;
I was successful in getting both my A and C (car and scooter) licenses. I did have a bit of drama as the medical examination office has moved (just to the left of the entrance to the police station is a sign for a Babi Guling restaurant, the office for med exam is now located here), and I showed up wearing shorts and beach sandals, so the officer at the gate told me I would have to change into long pants and shoes to get in. So went home, changed and returned with all my docs but was turned away again because I didn’t have a psychological exam certificate.
So off I went for the psych exam, which if you leave the drive from the police facility, you turn left and go about 300 meters, as you go down a hill there is a large tree on the left and a small row of offices/shops on the right. The office for the psych exam is on the far right side. There is also a sign for a Notaris here, if you have gone past that you have gone too far.
– Beachdog
The psych exam cost Rp. 190,000 and was pretty simple, you have to pick out patterns and then they have 15 questions that are also translated into English, basically to weed out anyone who might be prone to road rage or too timid to survive on the roads here 🙂
When you have all required paperwork, you are ready to start getting or extending your SIM. The actual process takes four steps and three announcements. Depending on how busy they are, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours.
Indonesian drivers license step 1 – Registration & Exams:
Go to the first counter with your passport copy, visa copy, health certificate and, if you’re extending, your old SIM. At this registration counter, you will get some paperwork to complete.
If this is your first Indonesian driver license then you will be asked to do theoretical exam. If you are extending then normally you don’t need to redo the theory exam (although I had to do it once).

The exam is done at a computer. They are visual questions and the answer is by clicking True or False. You get maximum 30 minutes to complete the exam. If you are doing both your car license and your motorbike license then you have to do 2 exams.
There used to be an English version on paper but this seems to be no longer available. After successfully completing the theory exam, you will either continue to the practical exam (if this is your first ever Indo drivers license) or back to the main office.
If you have to do the practical exam then a motorbike or car will be provided for the test. These are some of the tests:
Motorbike:
- Slalom between traffic cones.
- Drive a narrow number 8 two times.
Car:
- Drive up a hill and stop. Then continue driving without reversing.
- Drive down a hill and stop. Then reverse back up the hill without going forward.
- Slalom between traffic cones.
- Reverse slalom between traffic cones.
Indonesian drivers license step 2 – Payment:
After successfully completing the theoretical and practical session, you return your paperwork to the registration office at the main office. You will be sent to process payment at the BRI bank counter. You’re not supposed to give any cash to police officers at any point.
The official fees are published in plain view at the BRI bank counter;
- Car License (SIM A) – Rp 120,000 for a new license or Rp 80,000 for the extension.
- Motor Bike License (SIM B) – Rp 100,000 for a new license or Rp 75,000 for the extension.

With the payment receipt, you need to return to the police registration counter.
Indonesian drivers license step 3 – Verification (Koreksi):
After you have paid you deliver all your paperwork to the registration counter. You will then be asked to sit and wait until they call your name over the speakers. This can take quite some time. When they call your name you go to the registration counter and you will be given a queuing number.
With this queuing number you have to wait again. This can take again a very long time. There is a television screen where they show what numbers are up. They also announce the numbers.
When your number is called you will notice that you will either need to enter office A, B or C. These three offices have the same purpose.
Indonesian drivers license step 4 – Personal and Biometric Data:
These little offices do get crowded and you will be standing up while waiting until an officer calls your name.
You need to sit with the officer who will verify your personal details such as name, Bali hotel address, height… , and enter these into the computer.
In this office they will also take your digital fingerprints, signature and picture. After having done this you take your paperwork next door where you leave it on the counter.
You will need to take a seat and wait once again until they call out your name. When they call you it is time to finally collect your drivers license and return home!
Some official penalties;
- If you are driving a vehicle and you cannot show a valid international or Indonesian drivers license then you may get a one month prison sentence and/or a Rp 250,000 penalty.
- If you are driving a vehicle and you do not have an International or Indonesian drivers license then you may get a four month prison sentence and/or a Rp 1,000,000 penalty.
- If you are driving a motorbike without wearing an SNI (Standard Nasional Indonesia) certified helmet you can get a Rp 250,000 penalty.
Source : Indonesia National Police
2024 update. You don’t need to do any of the things mentioned in the article if you don’t want to. You can just contact any visa agency and ask them if they can help you with the process of getting a driving license. You’ll just have to get a quick appointment at the police station and will get the driving license on the same day. No tests required. At the time of writing this, the price for going through a visa agency is between 1.8M and 2.6M.
You just need a photo of your passport, and to give them information like your parents’ name, your blood type, and your current address in Indonesia. You don’t even need a KITAS apparently.
Hello,
I recently moved to Indonesia for a few months. I would like to know what are my options for learning to drive motorcycle in Surabaya and driving legally in Indonesia.
I have a Polish driving license B category, which in Poland allows me to drive a scooter up to 125cc. I also have an international driving license issued in the Netherlands with an annotation I can drive a moped. I am staying here for study purposes on Visa C9. I do not have KITAS and I am not sure if I can get one, I’ve read it is needed if one wants to get a local driving license.
Do you know a place where I could get motorcycle driving lessons in English and potentially help with getting the driving license in Surabaya?
Hi,
I know rules changed recently.
I have driver licence B, and in Europe you dont need licence for small motorbike, so I can not get international one.
(I am not going to drive real bike, just scooter).
So if it is not possible to get SIM C for turist visit for 1 week, then there is no possibility to drive scooter legally at all, correct?
Hi,
I read your post this morning before going in to get my license and thought I would return the favor of providing info on getting your license.
I was successful in getting both my A and C (car and scooter) licenses. I did have a bit of drama as the medical examination office has moved (just to the left of the entrance to the police station is a sign for a Babi Guling restaurant, the office for med exam is now located here), and I showed up wearing shorts and beach sandals, so the officer at the gate told me I would have to change into long pants and shoes to get in. So went home, changed and returned with all my docs but was turned away again because I didn’t have a psychological exam certificate.
So off I went for the psych exam, which if you leave the drive from the police facility, you turn left and go about 300 meters, as you go down a hill there is a large tree on the left and a small row of offices/shops on the right. The office for the psych exam is on the far right side. There is also a sign for a Notaris here, if you have gone past that you have gone too far.
The psych exam cost Rp. 190,000 and was pretty simple, you have to pick out patterns and then they have 15 questions that are also translated into English, basically to weed out anyone who might be prone to road rage or too timid to survive on the roads here 🙂
Then back to the police station, there was an agent outside that offered to “help” me but I declined and forged ahead on my own. I speak almost no Indonesian as I have just arrived, so it was a bit of a challenge trying to fill out the forms but Google Translate came to the rescue and I was able to make it through to the next round.
After giving them my personal info, getting photographed and fingerprinted, it was off to the testing room. The test is completely in Indonesian so I had no clue as to what was being said but there is a video accompanying the audio, and as you only have to pick out whether the action on the screen is something you should or shouldn’t do, you should have a pretty good chance of passing if you pay attention to the video. The answers are just True/False, no multiple choice.
After passing both the video tests (one for car and one for scooter) it was off to the driving test. The officers there are very helpful, so nothing to be afraid of. And after the driving test you pay the fee for the licenses and then just pick them up.
I was surprised that I actually got through as quickly as I did (after having the right attire and med/psych certificates…).
Many thanks for taking the time to make this post, it was very helpful to read before I went in. And good luck to all of you taking the test, its probably not as bad as you think it will be 😉
Thank you very much and congratulations on getting your license.
What sort of questions are on the written exam? Thank you in advance of your response, Dave
I’ve had my Australian unrestricted motorbike licence for 20 years and ride an 1800cc back home. If I get and International license in Australia will that be enough?
I tried the test today near jakarta 2nd time. You allowed to do the test ones in 7 days and you have 1 try only each time. The practical test is now so difficult that all Indonesian I know get the driving license illegally. It cost 750k instead of around 150k. I know it’s a lot of money for that joke but what can you do. The test for a car is even more weird. You must park backwards between cones which you can’t see from the drivers position . You not allowed to correct, just one try. I never had problems showing my international driving license. If you have that one no issue. Don’t drive without, it’s really expensive getting caught without.
can you suggest any agent to help with this ?
Thanks to my Balinese neighbor, today I got my SIM C card from the Singaraja office with the help of an agent. I did give the agent copy passport and copy Kitas (1 year visa)and 500.000 Rp (400.000 for locals like my neighbor). Then I did not have to do the doctor and psychology test and had to go to the SIM office to the right contact inside.Arriving at the very full SIM office (already happy that I used an agent, neighbor warned me about it)we could directly walked inside one of the lokets where our contact officer was.From there the process went quickly; taking fingerprint, signature and photo.Then the papers got to the loket where they filled in my exam questions, then my card was printed! Agent did say it was for 1 year valid cause of my 1 year Kitas but luckily it turned out to be 5 years 🙂 Only my length is now 165 cm while I am 185 cm …:o)
Hi there – what agent did you use? I’ll be doing this later on this week and would really appreciate your advice 🙂
Hello
Can tou send the agent contact in order to complete a new driving license pls.
Can you get a motorbike licence if you have the ‘pay on arrival’ visa or is this the same as the free visa?
Tourists can no longer get an Indonesian drivers license unfortunately.
So it means tourist can not drive scooters at all? Unless you have international driving licence for all motorbikes
Yes that is correct.
Hi Ketut!
I am wondering if a 1 year kitas holder with Indonesian Drivers License can get an International License?
Hi!
When I’ve got my Indonesian Drivers License can I then apply for an International Drivers License that I can use in Europe? It needs to come with a German translation.
That’s a good question but unfortunately I don’t know the answer. If you find out can you come back here and let us know? Good luck.
Hi Ketut,
thank you for this informative article. I have an Indonesian driving license that expired in 2010 (I moved to another country then). Is it still possible to extend this one even though 8 years have passed in between?
Thank you beforehand
Kind regards,
Daniel
I am pretty sure it is to late to extend.
Hello,
iaminterested for the information,
i would like to ask if possible to inbox me more english version question
thanks
I have international driving permit for Indonesia from India, am I allow to drive a car in jakarta and Serang
Yes you can
I am so confused lol. I am from Canada, I only have a car license. I am coming to Bali in September for 2 months. I want a bike license. Do I need a international licence from Canada? And can I get a bike licence in Bali? I have read that tourists can’t this makes no sense to me! I am so confused!
It used to be that tourists could get a tourist driver license but that is no longer possible. Nowadays an Indonesian driver license is only available to foreigners who are here on a 1 year visit. For tourist visitors you need to bring an international drivers license. (sorry for the late response)
Hi
We tried to get a sim c today all was going well as you described, go down side road to the right of police station to find medical office, then queue for forms picture etc then take theory test. Now here is where things went wrong it has to be taken on computer only in Balanese no English option anymore, we used Google translate but there is a time limit of 8 mins I think and with the messing about at the beginning and the slowness of translation, i only got 13 out of 15 questions correct, to pass I needed 20 out of 30. Had I known I would have been more ready at the start and put b for everything in the last minute or taken someone who reads Balanese. We can’t take again for a week which is no good we will be in Flores then.
Hello Ketut,
I’m staying in Bali for 4 months with the social budaya visa. I where wondering if it’s then possible to get one of the motor licenses?
Is it also smart to take an indonesian friend with you?
with kind regards,
Sanne ten Tusscher
As far as I am aware it is now only possible to get an Indonesian drivers license if you have a 1-year KITAS visa.
Hi, thanks for this post – very helpful. Please could u tell me in i can get a scooter license – 125cc i think – on a Social visa? Many thanks
Hi there, thanks for all the information.
There are some bike rental websites offering the tourist driving license if you rent a bike with them.
Any idea if this is correct and/or legal?
Hi Euge, I checked the website link and it says “we can help you to get an official Indonesian Motorbike Driving”. Helping is not illegal so I am guessing this is legitimate. Have fun.
As I have 3 drivers licenses
– Swiss (40 yrs left hand drive)
– Hong Kong (18 yrs right hand drive) and
– Singapore (9 yrs right hand drive)
Do I still have to take the drive tests theory & practical as I drive daily in Hong Kong?
Hi Stephan, if you are on a tourist visa you can no longer get a driver license either for car or motorbike. If you have a KITAS (temporary resident – 1 year) then you can get the Indonesian drivers license. You will need to take the test although sometimes they don’t make you do it. In my opinion it is much easier to get an International drivers license at home before travelling to Indonesia. An international drivers license is valid to drive in Indonesia.
You don’t need to do the test if you have a license from Singapore. Singapore is part of ASEAN just like Indonesia what means they accept the license.
Does it mean Philippine Driver’s License is also okay to use in Bali since the Philippines is a member of ASEAN? Thank you!
Isthis current info for february, 2017?
where is office near Ubud?
my KITAS good until may. do I only get a license good until may? or one year?
where can I get International DL in bali(near UBud?)
thank you
nice website
If you are in Ubud then you may be able to get your driver license in Gianyar although I am not entirely sure. The driver license for foreigners is normally valid per 12 months.
great website, prepared me for getting the sim
so yesterday i went to tabanan for the sim c (motorcycle). easy process. took only three hours from arriving to polres until i had the sim in my hand.
everyone very friendly and helpful. most difficult part was filling the form as it is in bahasa indonesia.
1. make copy of passport and kitas in a small office inside polres
2. psycology test in a street just behind polres. i was asked to draw a human on a piece of paper. took 5 minutes
3. doctor visit also behind polres. they only checked the blood pressure. took 5 minutes
4. filling out the form that is in bahasa indonesia but google translate and friendly people helped.
5. teoretical test. not available in english but the officer was very helpful and helped me with the 30 questions. very easy
5. driving test. just driving in an 8 and making a u-turn
6. paying 100.000 ird in the bri inside polres
7. photo and fingerprinting, then waiting 10 minutes and the sim was ready
i also spent around 40.000 ird for photocopies and the doktor and psycology test
it was great to see how easy it was and how helpful everyone is.
om shanti
lars
hi lars. i speak informal indonesian and still i found difficulties to understand formal indonesian language for the test. i tried to use google translator with camera but it took longer than the allowed time. in what way did they help you? or how did you get them to help you?
Hi,
I am travelling to Bali from February 10th-20th and due to time crunch i am not in position to apply for International Driving Permit from India itself.
I will be travelling on tourist VISA, basically VOA.
I would like to know if i can apply for local tourist license once i arrive in Bali but yes i did read they do not offer now to one’s on tourist VISA, still want to get a confirmation.
Thanks in advance.
It is no longer possible to get a driving license if you are on a tourist visa.
I have driving licence India I can change livened to Indonesia please send me inform
Hi I am from New Zealand, I have my New Zealand Motor Cycle licence but only want to hire a scooter in Bali. Can I hire one just using my New Zealand licence?
Thanks
Hello Glen, that is a good question. If you have an INTERNATIONAL drivers license that allows you to drive a 110-125cc scooter then normally the police will see this as a valid license.
Hi Kekut
I wanted to do an update. I just went to do my drivers licens in bali and they told me that the regulations has changed. Not tourist license for tourist anymore, unless you go to inmigration and get some sort of paper called kikat or something like that.
I dont know if there is another way to get it, they were very insistent that it is not possible. Thanks anyway for all your postings.
Thank you for the article. I got my driving license (SIM C) on Sep 20 in Denpasar and here is my very detailed experience with several wikimap links.
Disclaimer: (1) I didn’t have an international driving license (2) I didn’t have a bike category in the local driving license (3) My overall experience with bikes is ~1 month of riding in Phuket (4) I don’t have any kind of visa, only a visa free entrance for 1 month.
I arrived to the station on Tuesday and immediately went to make copies in a “copy center” (http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=-8.648927&lon=115.182689&z=19&m=b). Just gave my passport to the manager, and he started to make copies without any questions. Probably, it is not much to do for foreigners there. Pay attention to copies, because he duplicated stamps from Malaysia instead of the Indonesian entry stamp. I pointed it to him, and he copied it as well. Done.
I went to the office (http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=-8.648696&lon=115.183051&z=19&m=b), and to my surprise, it was completely empty – only a couple of people inside. I asked one officer near the entrance, but she was unable to explain to me what should I do next and redirected my to another officer, who speaks English slightly better. He said that I need to get a health certificate and explained where to go. Unfortunately, I got nothing from his speech. I recalled, that I saw something like a clinic near the “copy center” and went firstly there. It was a clinic indeed, but I found a sign on the doors in Indonesian. My eternal love Google Translate said that they don’t issue health certificates for driving license anymore.
With help of several officers managed to find it. Later I noted, that you already explained it in your article. Nevertheless, here is the link – (http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=-8.648778&lon=115.182021&z=19&m=b). It is a small garage, and, I believe, it is always full of people. Next to the entrance you will find a chair with pieces of paper. This is an analogous electronic queue %) Just pick up the lowest number available and wait for your turn. Numbers are called in Indonesian, so it would be better to find a person before you in the queue and to follow their. I took a picture of the “clinic” – (https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8043/29514345470_fed796d581_b.jpg). The doctor checked my blood pressure, checked me for color-blindness, asked my height and the address, and that’s all. The charge was 25k. The doctor speaks English, so any kind of translation is not required. Done.
I returned to the officer, and he redirected me to the counter one. Unfortunately, no photo, because officers were very strict and strained, when found a camera on the neck. They immediately asked to take it off, and I decided not to provoke them stating that it is closed and off. There on the counter officer asked what type of visa do I need, approved my copies with a stamp, and returned it to me. The officer pointed me to the cashier, who gave me a kind of receipt (without paying on this stage), can’t say exactly what it was, and sent me back. The officer said that it’s a time for a theory exam and sent me to the testing room. They called something like “Locke 2” or “Lotte 2”. It is situated right above the “copy center”. I arrived (google Indonesian Highway Code during my walk) and another officer there asked if I want a test in English. Of course I did. Then he sent my to … the “copy center” of course to get a test. I went there, and the manager without asking started to make a copy.
Now I had time to bring it back and of course I started to read it immediately. Yes, there were tons of spelling errors, but in general questions are easy to understand. I tried to google it and found nothing. Then I found several questions for which I knew correct answers. And the enlightment happened. All correct answers have a dot in the end. Maybe several questions are made wrong intentionally, but it was enough to pass the test. Don’t forget to fill the first page, including your address and your parents’ names.
After the test the officer send me to a practical exam. As it was my first time, I had to have a ride on the training ground. It is situated right in front of the entrance – (http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=-8.648834&lon=115.183148&z=19&m=b). There I found a person in charge under the umbrella, who made me to fill my parents’ name in the form from the theory exam. I didn’t know it is so important, so skipped it before. Then we proceeded to the ground, where he showed me two maneuvers to do for an exam – s-turn (http://bcvvm.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/202311803_6.jpg) and double “figure-eight” (http://bcvvm.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/006.jpg). The worst thing – the bike has a manual gearbox, and you are not allowed to replace it. The instructor enabled the first gear and said that it will be enough for the test. I said that I will practice it at first. It was awful. I didn’t hit any cone, but the path was completely wobble and definitely not suitable for testing. During the whole I had to use my legs to keep the balance. After the ride the instructor asked if it was enough for me, but I asked one more ride. He switched the bike to the second gear, in order to make it less reactive. The second ride was slight better, but still unacceptable. To my surprise, the instructor said to park the bike and come back. There, under the umbrella, he filled my exam list and that’s all! What was the point for it?
Then I returned to the counter one, where an officer checked my papers and sent me to the cashier again. There I paid 100k and returned to the counter. Then the strange thing happened. They asked me what is my address in Denpasar. I said, that I don’t have any, because I live in Ubud. They told back that I have to have it, otherwise they can’t issue the license. I had a whirl of feelings. Why not to say it BEFORE I paid for it? I think, they had been tired to see me all the day, and said just to use an address of any friend in Denpasar. I took my docs, googled a condotel in the city, and added it as a main address in a theory exam list. Back to the counter. Seems like they are happy now, but then gave me a big folded sheet to fill. Completely in Indonesian, god damn it. There were samples to fill on counters, but it wasn’t clear what does every field mean. Fortunately I had Google Translate. 30 minutes later I managed to do it and returned with the list to the counter. They took my papers and said to sit. Couple of minutes later they called me back, gave me a little piece of paper and said to go to the next room.
There I gave my papers again, and the officer began to fill something in the computer. During the typing, she made sure, that I need a license for bike and that I need it for one month only. Then she asked my height three times! At first she didn’t understand, so I told it by numbers 1-8-3. I wondered, because I already wrote it twice in the docs. Later she asked again and after the answer looked very strange on me, like I’m a midget trying to fool her. On the third time I offered to stand up and check it, but she refused. After that, they took a photo of me, scanned my thumb, and asked to make a sign on the paper. After this, I got my papers back and returned to the waiting room. In 10 minutes an officer in the corner window called my name, picked my papers and gave me a license.
The quest is over. Had to say, I didn’t face any kind of “beneficial offers” or “donations to make it quicker and simpler”.
Dmitry that is a great post. Thank you so much for sharing and glad to hear all went well for you.
Hi Ketut,
Do you have an email address I could contact you on please? I have a quick Q, problem I had last time I went (28th Sept 2016)
Thanks,
Hi Dmitry,
We tried recently to do this (28th Sept 2016) and were told that it’s all changed and we need to go to immigration first and that you have to actually live in Bali? Is this now the case? Or can you, as before, still get it as a tourist on a standard tourist entry visa? We’re only go for a week each time.
They seemed very sure about the need to go to immigration first THEN do the licence.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
All the best.
Hi Dmitry,
Do you have an email address I could contact you on please? I have a quick Q, problem I had last time I went (28th Sept 2016)
Thanks,
Feel free to write to omun.spambox@gmail.com
Hey,
Today we went to the Police station you mentioned in Denpasar Jl. Gunung Sanghiang. We heard the same story as John,that things changed and that we couldn t get it anymore. On the way out we met a Spaniard who s married with an Indonesian, and who d brought his brother in law in order to extend his sim. We asked if his brother in law could dubble checked and they told him the same: not possible here anymore.
However the police officer who told us that it’s no longer possible, told us to go to Polrest Badung in Mengwi, where it should be possible. We took a cab to this station 10 km up north. Overthere they said we couldn t get it because we needed a extra paper from immigration. The copy of the visa exempt stay was not enough. I told them I wanted to take the exam, and pointed to the practical exam site just in front of the counter all to no avail…
So conclusion is: no SIM possible anymore it seems.
Well, seems like I have to thank my fortune for perfect time. Maybe it worth to try to get the required paper from the immigration office?
Hi. Firstly thank you for all the info. I read this page and went to the address above. Easily got the health certificate from the small doc office you told. Then went to the main office. I submitted the passport and litas copy and health paper. They said there ahould be another ceetificate, sertifikat mengemudi. I did not understand so they showed me a sample. It is a driving school certificate, like you ahould attend a driving course and pass it and get the certificate and bring it. I did not have so asked what to do. I was told they can issue it (corruption) if i want so for all i give 450K. I accepted. So my steps became like this:
1) first counter,give documents and partially fill a form, give them.
2) they call me from the first counter after a couple of minutes. Five me a file. I take that file to the next counter.
3) there without waiting for any queue number had the finger print/foto etc done.
4) after sitting dor a couple of minutes my name is called and i got my licence.
I was luck also it wasnt a crowded day. So all went very quickly, no test, no going to different buildings. Easy but more expensive.
Great job Katy 🙂 Normally the drive school certificate is not required as the police officers are supposed to test your skills (there is a small test track behind the police office as well as an virtual reality bike if it is still there and in use).
Mine was for car licence. Maybe they started asking for that certificate so that ppl will not have it and will have to pay them.
Does anyone have a recent update? I see that as of 4/7/16 Joao was denied a license. Is it now impossible to organise a sim c license?
Hi, thank you so much for this post as I am going to Bali for a 5 months internship and I will really need a scooter. However I have never been driving a scooter before, do you know if its possible to take some lessons before? Also I would be super thankful if you could send me the pictures of the theoretical exam you have taken – I am super stressed that I might fail it. My e-mail address is gabrielle.czapla@gmail.com
Big cheers!!
Hello, there is someone on facebook who offers scooter lessons. I have never used them so I am not sure whether they are good or not. http://www.facebook.com/baliscooterlessons. In my personal opinion Bali is quite a challenge to drive a scooter if you are a beginner. As an alternative perhaps you can download the Go-Jek app which is similar as Uber but then for motorbike taxis. They are very cheap and cover most of the tourist areas of Bali. http://www.go-jek.com. Many Indonesians and foreigners use Go-Jek and they are quite popular.
Ketut:
Hi,Ketut. thanks for your answer.I am going to redo the theory exam this saturday.I didnt pass the exam last time .so if you have more imfomation about the exam,please send it to me .I am working in jakarta.
Your blog is great.
Thank you! Best regards.
ZH
The exam in Bali might be different than the one in Jakarta. In Bali you can ask for an English version exam which is a printed exam (the Indo version is on a computer).
Hi,
I will go to bali on a SCV. I do not have a motor license (not a international or local). So can I just go and ask for a tourist drivers license for max 250 cc, do the test and do some nice chit chat 🙂
If so, is there a possibility to convert this to a international drivers license which I can use in my home country?
Ciao, Youri
Hello Youri, I don’t know what an SCV is unfortunately. You can take the tourist drivers license in Bali. If your home country recognizes and Indonesian drivers license then perhaps you can use it in your home country to convert to a national drivers license but I doubt this will be possible 🙂
Thanks for the info, I just took the exam yesterday at Poltabes Denpasar. Two things to keep in mind:
1. They did not have the english printed version for the theoretical exam, so I had to take the computer indonesian test, which was confusing, but I managed to succeed on the second try. Just ask the police officer to stay with you and translate at some of the questions, but most of them are animated videos and it is not hard to tell if the movement is correct or not.
2. They asked me to take the practical exam, on a manual scooter, which was pretty simple.
Hi Lucian, congratulations on getting your license and thank you for getting back to us and share your experience. The English version exam you need to get on the ground level at the copy center. Good to hear you managed to do the Indonesian computer version with help from the police officer. I have never been asked to do the practical exam but sounds as if it is pretty easy 😉
Hi, is Poltabes Denpasar, the ONLY place in Bali wher to get the licence? What about Kuta?
If you stay in Kuta then the Poltabes in Denpasar is the nearest place to get your Indonesian drivers license.
Hi there,
You post have been really helpful.
I am from Singapore and am planning to do a solo trip in Bali to explore the city.
I am would like to rent a scooter or my trip for 3 days.
However I do not have an international licence.
Do you think it will be tough to get the Indonesian Tourist Licence SIM C?
Also do I have to do the theory lessons as well?
Because I have contacted a Bali Scooter Rental company which will help me get through the procedure but it is quite expensive.
What do you suggest?
Hi Vicki, I am pretty sure you will be fine by yourself. A motorbike license will officially cost you Rp 100,000. If you get your scooter license through the scooter rental company it will be more expensive as there will likely a guide joining you to assist (I think). Just make sure you have the proper paperwork with you (passport, doctor certificate). You will need to do the exam which is pretty easy. Be prepared as it will likely take a couple of hours. There is a help desk with two English speaking police officers ready to guide you. Please come back here and let us know how it went for you Vicki. Good luck!
Hi Ketut,
This is Amit from India. I will be coming to Bali on 11th… Have currently lost my drivers license in India. I have a copy of lost license of India and Copy of Application made for new license in india.
Can I get Tourist License without showing Original License of Home Country?
Thanking you
Best Regards
Amit
Hi Amit, if you enter Indonesia on a tourist visa then you can only get a driver license for a scooter. If you want to drive a car then you will need your original (not copy) international drivers license.
If you want to get yourself an Indonesian scooter driver license then it doesn’t matter much if you can show your India driver license or not as you will need to go through the entire process regardless.
Please come back here to let us know how it went for you.
Ketut
Hi Ketut,
Thanks for the reply.. One last question.. if i can get a Internation drivers permit from India without my Original License with me, Will the Authorities want to check my Original License alongwith Driver’s permit?
Thanking You
Regards
Amit
Hello Amit, as far as I know if you get stopped by police in Bali they generally only ask to see your international drivers license and there will be no need to show your national license.
Hi Ketut,
Quick question.
If I don’t have my Bali tourist license expired, and I go for the extension, do I still have to do the tests? Or I have to do the tests regardless the status of the old SIM?
Hello Andrei, that is a very good question and unfortunately there is no clear answer. I extended once and had to redo the theory. The next time I extended I did not have to redo the theory. I have tried asking but I never got a clear answer. I don’t think you need to redo the theory when extending. Please come back here and let us know how it went for you Andrei. Good luck.
So, for tourist SIM extension I had to do (Poltabes Denpasar):
– health certificate (i had to pay 30 000 idr to the doctor across the street)
– copy of the passport + visa
– the written test
– hand in the old SIM
For the written test the officer in charge with the test told me to go downstairs where the copy center is and ask for the foreigner test form, which I did. Well, actually I took a picture of the questions and if you are interested in displaying them here I could send them to you.
I was there early in the morning around 8:30 and by 10:30 I was done.
The officers were nice and helpful there. And I think if someone would like to do the procedure by themselves I advise to do so Do not pay people to “help” you through because the officers there will guide you through.
Cheers! Andrei
Hi Andrei, thank you VERY much for sharing your experience on the extension process. Thank you as well for offering a copy of the English questions. I also took pictures of the questions but I don’t really want to get into trouble and put these questions on my website. The questions are pretty easy anyway and the hardest part of the English theory exam is trying to decipher all the English spelling mistakes.
Hi Andrei
Can you send me the picture of the exam? I´m going there in June and it would great to know on what to count.
Thanks for the info.
João
my email 🙂
joaonuno7@hotmail.com
Hi , can you plz email me a copy of the questions
Kazza1270@hotmail.com
Thanks heaps
Hi
I’ve been there in the beginning of the month and it’s not possible to do the SIM-C driver license any more. The only way to do it is if you are a resident in Bali and have the proof of residence.
Hi Ketut,
when I will pass practical part of the exam, I will do it on scooter or bike? Manual or automatic transmission?
Thanks
I have never been asked to do the practical test but I know they have a track behind the police office. I also know that they have a fake motorbike that is connected to a computer. So maybe they let you do a simulated practical test on a computer screen. It would be interesting if you can come back here to let us know how it went.
O’kay. Thank you.
Hi there, nice blog..
as i’m italian and willing to move to bali in next two months, i have my italian driver license expired, can i still get indo drivers license for scooter?? one more question is about the health certificate from doctor.. should it be from my italian doctor (so in italian language) or i can visit any doctor in Bali and use that health certificate??
thanks in advance
Hi Luke, you do not have to show your Italian driver license to get an Indonesian driver license. You will need to do the theory exam and other things detailed above. You can get a doctor certificate from a Balinese doctor. There is a doctor opposite the police office and also next to the police office. Please note that your Indonesian driver license will only be valid for the duration of your visa. If you are here as a tourist then you can only get a 1 month tourist driver license and only for a scooter. Sometimes it is easier to get an International driver license from home (Italy) if possible as the process at the Bali police office takes a long time and the police are not very helpful but … it is possible. Good luck Luke
Hi Ketut,
Great article, do you have a copy of all the questions required in english for the theory test? Or do you know where you can get them from / practice so I don’t fail?
Thanks,
John
Hi Ketut
I’m in Bali on a social visa which was initially valid for 60 days but is then able to be extended 4 times for 30 days at a time. Would I be able to get a motorbike license that would be valid for the whole duration of my social visa including extensions or would I have to apply for a new license every 30 days when I extend my visa?
Also, is the cost for the motorbike license 100,000rp for foreigners as well as Indonesians?
Thanks!
Hi Rebecca,
I think the tourist scooter drivers license is only valid for 30 days regardless how often you extend. I could be wrong though so please come back and let us know if it is different.
The Rp 100,000 fee should be the same for foreigners and Indonesians. In my personal experience most police will try to charge above the official rate.
If possible I recommend you to have an International drivers license which is easier to get (in your home country). Of course, if you are already here then you will have to go for the tourist drivers license. Please come back and let us know how it went.
Cheers
hi ketut!
is this the same that some call “tourist driving licence”?
if i already have a driving licence for motorbikes, but not an international, do i still have to do the exam?
i’ve read that some offer a translation of my permit. do you think that will be good enough for the police?
and last question: is this licence valid everywhere in indonesia or only in bali?
thank you once again for your 5☆ blog!
Hello again Luca!
When are you travelling?
To drive a motorbike in Indonesia you either need an International drivers license or an Indonesian drivers license (“tourist driving license”).
Your national drivers license will not be accepted by police on the street but also likely not at the police office to get a “tourist driving license”.
If you have time to get an International drivers license at home before travelling then that would make most sense as it would be faster and also cheaper.
Have a good trip!
Hi Ketut,
Great tips, thanks! Can you give any more info on what the practical part of the exam involves?
Cheers
Hi Tessa, there is an obstacle track behind the police office where they will ask you to perform a certain set of maneuvers to show that you are capable of driving. Please come back here to let us know how it went for you 🙂
Thanks Ketut, will do 🙂
Sorry for the, (stupid question?), but do they care whether you have a motorbike license in your home country? I couldn’t find it in your guide – even though its lovely!
I really dont want to get pulled over, since I heard lots of stories where people had to pay some quite heavy bribes.
Hi Kris, if you have a valid International drivers license for a motorbike then that will generally be accepted by Indonesian police.
There are set rules for traffic violations. E.g. if you cannot show your license then the penalty is Rp 250,000. If you don’t have a license then the penalty is Rp 1,000,000. If you have a valid license, and a police officer is trying to “take you for a ride” (some officers always try), don’t feel shy to be firm (but polite) and explain that you believe you have the proper paperwork.
Hey Ketut.
Thank you for your swift answer. Even though I see it doesn’t show properly, my question was regarding whether you could acquire the Indonesian tourist SIM C (bike) even though you do not have the license for motorbikes in your home-country. Sorry for the unclarity 🙂
Best regards
Hi Kris, yes, you can get a motorbike license even if you don’t have a motorbike license at home. You can just do the paperwork and exam as detailed above. It will take you an hour or so. Remember to have a doctor health statement with you before you get there. Take copies of your passport as well (there is a small copy center inside the police quarters as well). I hope this helps, if you need more info please let me know 🙂
Hey Again! We’re currently in flores heading towards denpasar on monday – how do you recommend getting to the police office and is it only possible during a certain time of day / day in the week? I think of staying in kuta (obviously 🙂 ) buts its quite far away right? Any better suggestions? What’d you do?
Best regard
Kris 🙂
Hi Kris, if you are not familiar with Denpasar then it’s not that easy to find. It is probably about 30-45 minutes from Kuta depending where you stay.
You will either need to get a taxi or hire a driver for half a day. If you go by meter taxi you will need to ask the meter taxi to wait for you and keep the meter running as there are not much taxis in that area.
If you are good with (Google) map navigation then you could jump on your motor bike and get there yourself although you “shouldn’t” do that if you don’t have a valid license “wink wink” 😉
P.s. I hope Flores was good
Hi Ketut,
Could you recommend any reasonably priced hotels near the police station? This is the address, right? Poltabes Denpasar, Jl. Gunung Sangiang, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Thanks 🙂
Tessa
Hi Tessa,
Yes, that is the correct address.
The police office is not really in a touristic area and I don’t know any hotels that are nearby. Even if you managed to book a hotel nearby it would be pretty boring. If I were you I’d book a hotel in Kerobokan or elsewhere and then just go to the police office to get your license done.