If you plan to ride in Bali, the licence question comes up before anything else. The short answer: you need an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle category, and it has to be issued in your home country before you travel. Here is how it works in practice, what the police check, and what happens if you get it wrong.
What documents you actually need
To ride legally in Bali you need three things: your national driving licence with a motorcycle category, an International Driving Permit (IDP) that matches it, and your passport. The IDP is only a translation of your national licence — it does not work on its own. If your home licence covers cars but not motorcycles, the IDP will not cover motorcycles either, and you are riding without a valid licence.
Engine size matters. A licence category that allows a 125cc scooter at home does not automatically allow a 650cc motorcycle in Bali. If you plan to rent a big bike, check that your category covers it.
Getting an IDP before you travel
An IDP is issued by the automobile association of the country where your licence was issued, usually within a day and for a small fee. It is valid for one year. You cannot get a proper IDP once you are already in Indonesia — websites offering instant online permits sell documents the police do not recognise.
If you arrive without one
You can apply for a temporary Indonesian licence (SIM) at the Denpasar police station. It requires a visit in person, a medical check and a written test, and takes most of a day. It is worth it if you are staying for several weeks. For a short holiday, sorting the IDP out at home is far simpler.
What police checks look like
Checkpoints are common on the main roads around Canggu, Seminyak and Ubud, especially in high season. Officers ask for your licence, IDP and the bike’s registration document (STNK), which we hand over with every rental. Riding without a helmet is the other thing they stop people for — helmets are included with all our rentals and are not optional.
Why it matters for insurance
This is the part travellers underestimate. If you ride without a valid licence, your travel insurance will almost certainly refuse to cover a medical claim after an accident. Hospital bills in Bali for a serious injury run into thousands of dollars, and the licence is the first thing an insurer checks. The IDP is not bureaucracy — it is what stands between you and a very expensive problem.
Renting with us
We ask for your passport and licence when you pick up the bike, hand over the registration document and a helmet, and can deliver the bike anywhere in Bali — Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud and beyond. If you are unsure whether your licence category covers the bike you want, send us a photo of it on WhatsApp and we will tell you before you book.