Informational only, not legal advice. Verify with official sources before relying on this.

Know Abroad

IndonesiaIndonesia

Driving Abroad

Last verified August 15, 2026

Written for U.S. passport holders

License Requirements

  • As a short-term visitor, you need both your valid U.S. license and an International Driving Permit; a U.S. license alone isn't sufficient.
  • Your IDP must specifically cover the vehicle category you plan to drive: a car-only IDP doesn't authorize a motorbike, and vice versa, which matters a lot given how common motorbike rental is for tourists in Indonesia.
  • The IDP has to be arranged before you travel; it can't be issued once you're in Indonesia.

If You Stay Longer

  • An IDP only covers short-term visitors. If you're staying on a longer-term permit like a KITAS (temporary residence permit), you're required to get a local Indonesian driving license (SIM) instead.

Road Basics for Americans

  • Indonesia drives on the left side of the road, the opposite of the U.S., with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle. Roundabouts flow clockwise, and it's worth consciously looking right first when crossing a street on foot, since that instinct doesn't come naturally.
  • Speed limits and distances are posted in kilometers (km/h), not miles. A 100 km/h limit is about 62 mph; a 50 km/h limit, common in towns, is about 31 mph.

The Gotcha

The vehicle-category mismatch is a real, common trap: tourists routinely rent a motorbike in Bali or elsewhere assuming a car-category IDP (or their U.S. car license) covers it. It doesn't. If you're planning to ride a scooter or motorbike, you specifically need an IDP endorsed for motorcycles, not just any IDP.

Sources

This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.