Thread: Drivers License

Natasha - Thankyou! Your post has made me feel so much better. My plan is to arrive in Bali a few weeks before I start work and so I think what you did would suit my situation too. I have already had offers from local friends who have said that they will teach me but I feel that the course in Australia is something that I should also do...

BKT - I have ridden a scooter a handful of times but not in Bali. Might take me a while before I am "whizzing in and out of traffic" but I get what you are saying.. Thanks again for your input.

Johnny - yep, I hear you. I want to be as prepared as I can be (if that is possible). Have heard about/read waaayyy too many stories about fatal accidents so I am not taking this lightly.

I will report back next week after I have completed the course.

Most company's that employs you, will get a license for you by using there agent. you will only need your photo & finger prints & the agent will do the rest. My friend had his license done this way & he was a new rider.
Riding is easy stay to the left & learn how to use the horn.
If you come to Bali early on a VOA you will need to leave Bali & come back in on your work visa.

Thanks Fred2, I'll add getting a license to my list of queries to ask them. Will still go ahead with the course here in Adelaide to get some tips and help with my confidence.

Hmm, I had a feeling that there might have been a problem with converting a VOA to a work visa from what I have read on here. Thanks for confirming. I still plan on arriving a few weeks early so I might get a cheap Air Asia flight to Darwin and then fly back to Bali..

The more practise you get, the better! So if you have time & money to do course in Australia, why not!! I don't know what area you'll be staying, but we used to go practising near airport, there are a few long streets with no hardly any cars, so it was a good place to get comfortable with the bike, practising turning, etc..

For myself it took some time to get used to, especially because I am from Canada and everyone drives on the opposite side of the road! I have to say there are areas in Bali that are quite dangerous to drive, so in those cases I feel more comfortable getting taxi or someone else to drive me- better to be safe than sorry and know your limits!

Originally Posted by matsaleh

I agree with Pollyanna. If you don't have Kitas, you will have to apply for a Tourist License and it must be renewed every month. Easier to get an International Driver's Permit.

Seems like it is cheaper to get an international license than a local one?? I asked about Indo licenses and you have to have 1 for car, 1 for bike and they cost Rp.400,000 each... per year??

Sorry, that's with a KITAS I can get local license but pay over $100 a year to have car and bike. Tourist per month must cost more

You've been here a while is my bet Gilbert, you seem to know all the local info :)

I will move to Lombok in a few months. I will eventually get a spouse sponsored visa I hope. I assume I won't be able to get a license until my visa is completed. I have an intl. license but it is not for a motor bike. Only a car. In order to get stamp on my intl license I need to be licensed for motorcycle operation here in the U.S. I don't have access to a bike here for the test and am really not too interested in going to all the trouble. So...my question is; Do you think the police are aware that the intl. license requires a stamp for motorbike operation? Think I can get away with the auto license only?