Bali trip practicalities
Do You Need an International Driving Permit for Bali?
Yes — to legally ride a scooter or drive a car in Bali as a foreign visitor you need an International Driving Permit obtained in your home country before travel, since Indonesia does not issue one to visitors on arrival.
An International Driving Permit, or IDP, is the document that makes your home-country driving licence legally recognised in Indonesia, and it needs to be obtained before you travel — it’s not something issued locally in Bali or at the airport. To ride a scooter you need an IDP with the correct motorcycle category; to drive a car you need the equivalent car category. Having only a home-country licence, without the IDP, is not sufficient for legal driving in Indonesia. (as of 2026, verify)
This matters more than it might seem on paper, because Bali has frequent police checkpoints in tourist areas, and because travel insurance policies often require a valid, correctly categorised licence to pay out on a driving-related claim. Sorting the IDP before you travel is a small task that removes a real risk from the trip.
How to get an International Driving Permit before you travel
An IDP is issued in your home country, typically through your national motoring or automobile association, and requires a valid home driving licence to apply. Processing time and cost vary by country, so check your own country’s process well before departure — this is not something that can be arranged once you’ve landed in Bali. Make sure the permit you apply for includes the vehicle category you actually plan to use (motorcycle/scooter, car, or both), since some permits are issued by category. (as of 2026, verify)
Bring both the physical IDP and your original home licence with you; the IDP is generally only valid alongside the underlying licence it translates, not as a standalone document.
What the IDP does and doesn’t cover
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does an IDP replace my home licence? | No, you need both — the IDP translates and validates your home licence for local recognition |
| Can I get an IDP after arriving in Bali? | No, it must be obtained in your home country before travel |
| Does a car IDP let me ride a scooter? | No, scooter/motorcycle and car categories are separate; check your permit covers the vehicle you’ll use |
| Is an IDP required even for short trips? | Yes, the requirement isn’t based on trip length |
| Does having an IDP guarantee insurance coverage? | No, check your specific travel insurance policy’s own terms separately |
Why this matters at checkpoints and after an accident
Police checkpoints in and around tourist areas do check for licences, particularly for scooter riders, and riding or driving without the correct permit can mean a fine and, in some cases, the vehicle being impounded until the situation is resolved. More significantly, if you’re involved in an accident without the correct licence, it can complicate both any local liability process and whether your travel insurance covers medical costs or damage — many policies specifically exclude claims where the driver lacked a valid, appropriate licence. (as of 2026, verify)
Travel insurance and driving: check this specifically
Don’t assume a standard travel insurance policy automatically covers you for riding a scooter or driving a car in Indonesia — many policies either exclude motorbike use entirely or require the correct IDP category to be valid for any driving-related claim. Read your policy’s specific wording on this before you travel, or call your insurer to confirm, rather than discovering a gap after an incident. This is worth doing alongside reading our guide on Bali travel insurance generally.
A short checklist before you travel
- Confirm your home country’s process and timeline for issuing an IDP.
- Apply early enough that it arrives with time to spare before departure.
- Check the permit covers the correct category — motorcycle, car, or both.
- Bring the physical IDP and your original home licence together.
- Confirm your travel insurance’s specific terms on driving and licence requirements.
If you’d rather not drive or ride yourself
Plenty of visitors skip the IDP question entirely by relying on app-based rides through Grab or Gojek for short trips, or a private driver for longer days out. This removes both the licence requirement and the traffic-risk question that comes with renting a scooter yourself, which is a genuinely reasonable choice for a shorter trip or if you’re not confident navigating Bali’s roads.
What to do next
If you plan to ride or drive yourself in Bali, apply for the correct IDP in your home country well before you travel and check your travel insurance’s specific terms on driving. If that feels like more than you want to deal with, app-based rides and private drivers cover almost every practical need without it.
- Read our guide on renting a scooter in Bali for what else to check before riding.
- See our guide on private driver costs as an alternative to driving yourself.
- Check our guide on Bali travel insurance for what a policy should actually cover.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use just my home country driving licence in Bali without an IDP?
Generally no — Indonesia requires an International Driving Permit alongside your home licence for it to be legally recognised, and using only a home licence leaves you without valid documentation if stopped or involved in an accident. (as of 2026, verify)
Can I get an International Driving Permit once I arrive in Bali?
No, an IDP has to be obtained in your home country before you travel; it is not issued to foreign visitors locally in Indonesia. Plan this well ahead of your trip.
Does an IDP for a car also cover riding a scooter in Bali?
No, motorcycle and car categories are generally separate on an IDP, so check the specific permit you apply for actually covers the vehicle type you intend to use in Bali. (as of 2026, verify)
Will my travel insurance cover a scooter accident if I don't have the correct licence?
Often not — many travel insurance policies specifically exclude claims where the rider or driver lacked a valid, correctly categorised licence, so check your policy's exact wording before you travel rather than assuming standard cover applies.
Is it worth renting a scooter in Bali if I don't have an IDP?
It's legally risky and not something we'd recommend; app-based rides and private drivers cover most practical transport needs without requiring a licence you don't have, and remove the legal and insurance exposure that comes with riding without the correct permit.
Written by The Host Bali team, who manage villas in Sanur, Canggu, Umalas and Ungasan. Prices, rules and visa details change; we date every guide and update it when something moves. Nothing here is legal or tax advice — for a purchase or a licence, check the specifics with a licensed notary or adviser in Bali.