Short answer: carry a licence that covers motorbikes. For most visitors that means an International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers motorcycles, carried with your home licence.[1][2] Riding without a valid licence can mean up to four months' detention or a fine of up to IDR 1,000,000.[3] Some details, such as which IDP format Indonesia accepts, are not settled in public sources, so check before you travel.
What Indonesian law requires
Indonesia's Road Traffic and Transport Law (Law No. 22 of 2009, known as UU LLAJ) requires anyone riding a motor vehicle to hold a valid driving licence, called a SIM. Press summaries of Article 281 put the penalty for riding without one at up to four months' detention or a fine of up to IDR 1,000,000.[3]
Helmets are also a legal requirement. Under Article 291, a rider without a helmet meeting the Indonesian SNI standard faces up to one month's detention or a fine of up to IDR 250,000, and the rider can be penalised if a passenger rides without one too.[4]
For foreign licences, the same law (Article 85(4), as amended) refers to foreign licences where Indonesia has a bilateral or multilateral agreement with another country; the text we found does not say which agreements apply.[5] These penalty figures come from Indonesian press reports from 2020 and 2022; we did not check them against the current consolidated text of the law.
Riding on an International Driving Permit
The UK government's travel advice for Indonesia is direct: "You cannot drive using your UK driving licence" and "You can drive using an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by the UK." It also says to make sure you "have the appropriate licence" before "driving, riding or hiring any type of vehicle."[2] For a scooter or motorbike, check that your IDP covers motorcycles, and ask the issuer what your home licence needs to include for that.
Bali's own transport agency has said the same thing from the rental side: foreign tourists who want to rent a motorbike must hold a licence, and if they don't have one, "they can't" rent.[1]
Which IDP format?
This is where public sources disagree. IDPs are issued under different international conventions (1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna). In 2026, one Indonesian legal-explainer site said Indonesia has not ratified the 1968 convention,[5] while a major Indonesian motoring outlet said, citing the UN, that Indonesia is a party.[6] We could not settle this from official Indonesian sources. Ask your IDP issuer which format they recommend for Indonesia, and check that the motorcycle category is included.
Indonesian motorcycle licence classes (SIM C)
If you live in Indonesia and hold a local licence, motorcycle licences are graded by engine size:[7]
| Licence | Engine size | Typical rental bikes |
|---|---|---|
| SIM C | Up to 250cc | Scoopy, Vario, NMAX, PCX, XMAX 250, MT-25, WR155 |
| SIM C I | Above 250cc up to 500cc | Mid-size road bikes |
| SIM C II | Above 500cc | Big bikes such as a Z650 |
We found no official source confirming that a special tourist licence is currently issued in Bali, nor one announcing that such a scheme ended. If someone offers you a quick local licence, check what it is with the police directly.
Police checks and enforcement
Bali police run regular traffic operations. In a May 2025 operation across Badung (including Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu), police reported 81 violations, 30 of them by foreigners, and seized 56 motorcycles, with missing licences and helmets among the problems found.[8]
In November 2025, during Operation Zebra, Bali's traffic directorate advised unskilled foreign riders not to ride motorcycles on their own. The national police portal reported 142 accidents involving foreigners in Bali in 2024, up 35% on 2023, with 21 deaths.[9] The portal's headline uses the word "banned", but the statement reported is advice; it cites no new regulation.
Is there a ban on tourists renting motorbikes?
In March 2023, Bali's governor said foreign tourists would no longer be allowed to borrow or rent motorbikes, and would be expected to use registered tourism transport instead.[10] The provincial tourism office pointed to an existing 2020 governor's regulation on tourist transport, but said it does not cover two-wheelers.[11] In May 2023, Bali's transport agency said the rule was still being drafted and not formally enforced.[1]
We found no evidence that a ban was enacted, and the shops in our directory still publicly offer rentals to visitors. Treat any new announcement with care and check the current position before you ride.
Licences and travel insurance
The UK government advises visitors to "check you are covered with your travel insurance company".[2] Bali media have reported that cover can be voided if local rules are broken, such as riding without a valid licence or helmet.[8] Read your policy's motorbike clause: many policies set conditions on licence type and helmet use.
Before you ride: checklist
- Your home licence includes motorcycles, and your IDP covers motorcycles. Carry both.
- Your IDP format: ask the issuer what they recommend for Indonesia.
- An SNI-standard helmet for you and any passenger.
- Travel insurance that covers riding a motorbike of that engine size, with your licence.
- Our tip: ask the shop for the bike's registration paper (STNK) and keep it with you while riding.
- A last check of current rules: enforcement and requirements in Bali change.
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