Foreigners are allowed to obtain an Indonesian driver's license or SIM (Surat Izin Mengemudi). Most employers are willing to assist you by obtaining the services of an agent. This agent may be employed by your company or work for an independent service bureau 'Biro Jasa'. In the latter case, they add an additional fee onto the actual cost of making the license to cover their services. An additional fee of 100++% is not uncommon. This agent knows the procedures and can help you complete the paperwork quickly. The applicant is only required to meet the agent at the Department of Motor Vehicles for their photograph, fingerprints and signature.

If an expat wants to apply for a driver's license in person, without the assistance of an agent, it is not a very difficult procedure and relatively efficient. Assuming that the applicant is in possession of all the necessary documents, the entire procedure should not take more than one or two hours, depending on the number of applicants that day.

The best time to apply for a driver's license is as early in the morning as possible, Monday through Thursday. The office tends to be busier at the beginning of the month, as opposed to the middle or the end of the month. The worst times to go are on Fridays just before noon, when all the employees take a longer lunch break to go to Friday prayers at the mosque, as well as right before closing time on any day.

Procedure to Make a Driver's License in Jakarta

1. Go to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is responsible for issuing driver's licenses for residents of Jakarta, Tangerang, Depok and Bekasi:

Satuan Pernibitan Administrasi SIM (SAT) - PAS Polda Metro Jaya
Jl. Daan Mogot Km. 11
Jakarta Barat
Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, 8:00-12:00 on Saturdays

Note: If your application is received before 12:00, it will be completed that day. Applications submitted between 12:00 and 1:00 will be accepted and processing will begin, but the license will have to be picked up the following day. The office stops accepting new applications after 1:00 pm, but continues to process the applications submitted earlier that day - until 4:00 pm.

You will need to bring:

• Original passport
• Original KITAS (Temporary Stay Permit) card
• Valid Indonesian driver's license, foreign driver's license or international driver's license (as applicable)
• Photocopies of the identity and valid visa pages in your passport
• Photocopy of your KITAS card
• Photocopy of your current driver's license
• Doctors note of good health

2. Go to the front of the building and purchase 'Tanda Pembayaran Permohonan Pembuatan Surat Ijin Mengemudi' slip from either of the two bank offices on the premises, Bank Rakyat Indonesia or Bank International Indonesia, for Rp 180,000. This slip represents the payment of the official fee.

3. Present this 'bank slip' at the adjoining booth and you will receive a copy of the application form (Surat Permohonan SIM).

4. Complete this form, which is only available in Bahasa Indonesia, and proceed to the foreigners window, No. 17 (Loket Orang Asing). You will be required to give:

• photocopies of your passport
• photocopy of your KITAS card
• photocopy of your valid driver's license
• bank slip
• completed application form

The fees concerning the issuance of a SIM A , SIM A Umum, SIM B1, SIM B2, SIM C or SIM D are defined by the Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 31 tahun 2004 and are as follows:

• Making a new drivers license IDR 180.000 (10/09)
• Driver’s license extension: IDR 60.000
• Driving Test / Doctor visit (if needed): IDR 50.000

5. At windows 23-26, your picture will be taken with a digital camera, your fingerprints will be taken with a digital scanner and you will be asked to sign a slip of paper, from which your signature is then scanned. There is a cardboard 'donation' box near the camera where you will be expected to donate approximately Rp 3,000. The attendant may say to you, 'Donations go there'.

6. You will then be asked to wait in the waiting area. The length of the wait depends on the number of people ahead of you, but is usually from 30 to 45 minutes. When your name is called, you can pick up your license at window 26 or 28, depending on the class of license that you are making. Again you will be expected to make a 'donation' of approximately Rp 3,000.

Foreigners are issued driver's licenses valid for one year from the date of issuance. Foreigners are only permitted to obtain Class A licenses (private cars) or Class C licenses (motorcycles).

Although it is fairly easy to obtain a driver's license, it may be somewhat difficult to adjust to the driving conditions that exist in most major Indonesian cities. Streets are very congested, traffic rules are ignored and streets are often in less than desirable condition - all of which results in a very stressful situation. Because of this most foreigners elect to employ a driver. Refer to our section on hiring household staff for information on hiring a driver. Even if you do have a driver, it is wise to have an Indonesian driver's license for those occasions when your driver is of for an emergency occurs after your driver has gone home for the day.

If you are on a sosbud visa or any visa kunjungan, you may be entitled to have a 3 month SIM issued under your name (not all POLDA will issue it).If you are a KITAS holder you will have a one year SIM A or C issued.

If you are a KITAP holder, holding a KTP Asing (not hard to get), you will have a five years SIM A or C issued.

Renewing your Driver's License

Extending/renewing your driver's license is an easy fast process. Go to the Department Motor Vehicles on Jl Daan Mogot in Jakarta. Take a very brief eye test in the building on the edge of the parking lot. Then you go into the main building with your expired driver's licence and other ID (best to bring Passport or KIMS and a photocopy of both). If you've got all the required documents, you should be able to finish the process in 30-60 minutes. Total cost - Rp. 155.000 renewal fee - Rp. 20.000 eye test fee. (3/09)

International Drivers' Licenses

Alternatively, you can drive in Indonesia (as a resident) on an international driver's license.

In the US, there are only two agencies that can issue valid US IDPs. Other organizations issuing them are not issuing official US State Department sanctioned permits. Now, that is not to say that Indonesian officials will know this or won't accept the other permits. For International Drivers' Licenses issued in the US, consult the following information source - AATA.

You can obtain an international driver's license in Indonesia which is supposedly valid in other countries around the world. However, many countries do not honor the license as the driving is (and therefore drivers) are so bad in Indonesia that international licenses have to be backed up by a driving tests from their country as well.

One Day License for Tourists

The Indonesian government is starting a new process of "1 day licensing" for foreign visitors. You have to pay somewhere around Rp 100,000 and they'll take your photo and issue your temporary license in one day. The cost of the license varies according to the length of validity (months, year, etc).

This info applies to Denpasar, Bali and it may NOT be the same elsewhere.

Samsat

Samsat, which stands for Sistem Administrasi Manunggal di bawah Satu Atap is the name of the governmental agency in charge for deliverance of STNK, Tanda Nomor Kendaraan Bermotor, Buku Pemilik Kendaraan Bermotor and to receive the annual payment of the Pajak Kendaraan Bermotor (PKB), Bea Balik Nama Kendaraan Bermotor and SWDKLJJ. In fact it is the agency which is responsible for most of the administrative side of vehicle ownership. . It integrates functions and services which normally belongs to POLRI, PT Jasa Raharja (insurance system for road traffic accident) and Dinas Pendapatan Propinsi. SAMSAT has national authority for vehicule matters and has offices ine every city/bupati.

Here are the relevant documents that govern the issuance of Drivers Licenses in Indonesia:

About fees for driving license, issuance of STNK and TNKB
Peraturan pemerintah nomor 31 tahun 2004

About regulation concerning vehicules, administrative papers for vehicules, drivers and driver's license
Peraturan Pemerintah nomor 44 tahun 1993

General law concerning traffic
Undang Undang nomor 14 tahun 1992

Interesting thread giving details on obtaining a drivers license in Bali

Our thanks to Olivier Rula for all his help in updating much of information (October 2008).

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