gilbert de jong wroteit's like driving without a license - no problems, till you get stopped and the cop asks to see your drivers-license/registration/insurance...car impounded-hefty fine-at least couple of hours at the police station.
no problem not having an IMB, till some government official asks to see it (plate should be visible from the gate/street)...no applying for an IMB after this government official hands in his paperwork/rapport.
Agree, that's why we pointed it out to our neighbour. Note: they ran out of plates and said make your own in the meantime, he said he wanted one in a week, he went back 1 week later and they had obviously bought more metal. 25,000IDR for the plate. Just pointing out that is can be done after the fact as this was debated a while back.