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Country driving guide · 2026

Driving in Indonesia

Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Indonesia: 8 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.

8

Required

2

Recommended

5

Good to know

Tick before you go

Pre-departure checklist for Indonesia

8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.

  • 1949 IDP required alongside national licence

    Indonesia recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, not the 1968 Vienna version: UK/EU drivers must carry both the IDP and their home licence at all times.

  • Passport and visa

    Carry passport with valid visa or Visa on Arrival (IDR 500,000, ~EUR 30); police checks at roadside are routine and a copy is not accepted.

  • Vehicle registration (STNK) and insurance

    Rental cars must carry the STNK registration document and valid third-party insurance; bringing your own vehicle requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane.

  • Drive on the LEFT

    Indonesia drives on the left like the UK: right-hand-drive vehicles are standard, so EU drivers face the bigger adjustment than Brits.

  • Speed limits in km/h

    Toll roads/motorways 80–100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, residential zones 30 km/h.

  • Zero-tolerance alcohol limit

    BAC limit is effectively 0.0 g/L: any detectable alcohol can mean fines, jail or deportation.

  • Daytime headlights for motorbikes

    Motorcycles must run headlights 24/7; cars must use dipped headlights in rain, fog and tunnels. Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.

  • Cashless e-toll card mandatory

    All toll roads (Jakarta, Bali Mandara, Trans-Java) require a prepaid e-toll card (Mandiri e-Money, BCA Flazz, BRI Brizzi). No cash lanes exist. Cards cost IDR 25,000 (~EUR 1.50) at minimarts plus top-up.

Documents

1949 IDP required alongside national licence

Required

Indonesia recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, not the 1968 Vienna version: UK/EU drivers must carry both the IDP and their home licence at all times.

Passport and visa

Required

Carry passport with valid visa or Visa on Arrival (IDR 500,000, ~EUR 30); police checks at roadside are routine and a copy is not accepted.

Vehicle registration (STNK) and insurance

Required

Rental cars must carry the STNK registration document and valid third-party insurance; bringing your own vehicle requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane.

Driving rules

Drive on the LEFT

Required

Indonesia drives on the left like the UK: right-hand-drive vehicles are standard, so EU drivers face the bigger adjustment than Brits.

Speed limits in km/h

Required

Toll roads/motorways 80–100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, residential zones 30 km/h.

Zero-tolerance alcohol limit

Required

BAC limit is effectively 0.0 g/L: any detectable alcohol can mean fines, jail or deportation.

Daytime headlights for motorbikes

Required

Motorcycles must run headlights 24/7; cars must use dipped headlights in rain, fog and tunnels. Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.

Jakarta odd-even plate scheme

Good to know

Central Jakarta enforces ganjil-genap: cars with odd plates only on odd dates, even on even, on listed corridors weekdays 06:00–10:00 and 16:00–21:00. Rentals usually exempt: confirm with the agency.

Chaotic traffic and motorbike swarms

Good to know

Lane discipline is loose, motorbikes filter from all sides, and informal traffic helpers (pak ogah) direct U-turns for a small tip; drive defensively and avoid night driving outside cities.

Tolls

Cashless e-toll card mandatory

Required

All toll roads (Jakarta, Bali Mandara, Trans-Java) require a prepaid e-toll card (Mandiri e-Money, BCA Flazz, BRI Brizzi). No cash lanes exist. Cards cost IDR 25,000 (~EUR 1.50) at minimarts plus top-up.

Toll cost roughly EUR 4–6 per 100 km

Good to know

Trans-Java toll runs about IDR 70,000–100,000 per 100 km (~EUR 4–6); Jakarta inner ring tolls are cheaper but congested.

Required equipment

Warning triangle and spare tyre

Recommended

Spare tyre, jack and warning triangle expected in every car; hi-vis vest and first-aid kit not legally required but sensible.

Environment

Wet-season hazards Nov–Mar

Recommended

Monsoon rains cause flash floods, landslides and washed-out mountain roads, especially in Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi; volcanic ash closures also occur near Merapi, Bromo and Agung.

Money

Indonesian Rupiah, mostly cash for fuel

Good to know

Currency is IDR; petrol (Pertalite/Pertamax) costs IDR 10,000–14,000/litre (~EUR 0.60–0.85). Pertamina stations take cards in cities but cash rules in rural areas: tipping pump attendants IDR 2,000–5,000 is normal.

Cash declaration above IDR 100 million

Good to know

Must declare cash equivalent to IDR 100 million (~EUR 5,800) or more at customs; emergency numbers are 110 (police), 118/119 (ambulance), 113 (fire).

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Popular destinations in Indonesia

Places to add to your Indonesia road trip.

Don't get caught out

Watch out for these

Drive on the LEFT

Required

Indonesia drives on the left like the UK: right-hand-drive vehicles are standard, so EU drivers face the bigger adjustment than Brits.

Speed limits in km/h

Required

Toll roads/motorways 80–100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h, residential zones 30 km/h.

Zero-tolerance alcohol limit

Required

BAC limit is effectively 0.0 g/L: any detectable alcohol can mean fines, jail or deportation.

Daytime headlights for motorbikes

Required

Motorcycles must run headlights 24/7; cars must use dipped headlights in rain, fog and tunnels. Seatbelts mandatory front and rear.