Car travel to Bali: tips for foreign drivers – rights, rules, fines

CAR TRAVEL TO BALI: RIGHTS, RULES, FINES — tips for foreign drivers

The content of the article:

• IDUs and ASEAN Rights
• The "day off" certificate
• Registration of local rights in the presence of a residence permit
• Fines and a contract with a traffic police officer
• "To take or not to take?" — registration of an insurance policy

Recently, in one of our articles, we told you how to get a driver's license in Thailand, and today we will touch on the topic of driving in a country close "in spirit" to Thailand — Indonesia, or rather the island of Bali, which is gaining momentum in popularity more and more.
The rights of ASEAN states apply in Bali, so if you are lucky enough to get a driver's license in one of the countries of the Association of Southeast Asia, you can safely drive on the roads of Bali. If you are just planning your car trip around the island, this information is for you.
Unsurprisingly, in Bali, as in Thailand, landlords absolutely do not care if you have rights or not. They do not bear any responsibility for who they provide their vehicle to. However, in any accident, regardless of whether you are to blame or not, if your rights do not meet Indonesian requirements, consider all the blame will be on you. 
Despite the fact that Indonesia has also signed the Vienna Convention, unfortunately, it has no force for the police. In any case, the staff will require you to have a certificate of either an international standard, a local one, or the countries of the ASEAN association. Therefore, before the trip, you need to take care of this in advance. 
An international driver's license can be obtained fairly quickly on the basis of your national license without taking additional exams. To do this, you just need to contact the traffic police of your city, bring the necessary papers, photos and pay the tax fee. The validity period of international rights is usually 3 years (sometimes they are given for a year) and they operate on the territory of 130 countries that have signed the UN Convention on Road Traffic. Pay attention to the category: for driving a moped, motorcycle and even a scooter, category A is required, for a car — B. 
In case you did not have time to apply for international visas, the "weekend" rights are very popular among foreigners in Bali. Have you heard about these?
You can get them at the Politabes police station and only in Denpasar by providing a copy of your passport, a copy of the visa page and necessarily the address of your residence (find out the address of the hotel or rented accommodation in advance). This address will be indicated in your rights. Such a driver's license will cost from $30 to $50, and the price can be negotiated. Some foreigners are able to negotiate and can pay below this cost. 
The "weekend" (tourist) rights are valid for 1 month and are suitable only for driving motor vehicles and those who are not in the country for a long time. For those who plan to live longer in Bali, or even stay for permanent residence, it is better to take care of obtaining local rights. 

It is interesting here that the categories A and B that we are familiar with in Bali are defined differently:
SIM A - driving a passenger car;
SIM C is a motorcycle license.
Indonesian driver's licenses are issued for a period of 5 years and can be obtained at the age of 17. Foreigners who have a residence permit in Indonesia (KITAS) can obtain local rights on an equal basis with citizens of the country, and they can be obtained without passing a practical exam and without confirming their qualifications. 
Indonesia has its own structure, like the traffic police, which issues driver's licenses. Pay attention to the fact that a separate certificate is issued for each category, that is, you can have two types of rights: to drive a motorcycle and to drive a car. Payment for each certificate is charged separately (about 2,500,000 IDR for one), however, you can get a discount when registering two categories at once. The registration procedure is simple:

Make a photocopy of KITAS
Take a psychological test: the test consists of 20 simple questions in English. The cost is about 100,000 IDR for a motorbike and the same for a car
Color blindness and pressure test: The office is located next to the psychological test verification center. There is usually a queue here, but you are given a ticket and everything goes pretty quickly. Your blood pressure and color discrimination will be checked. The price of the test is 25,000 IDR.
Submission of all documents for the rights. The traffic police building is also located near the vision check center. This step is the longest in terms of waiting time (1-2 hours), again due to the queue. You will be called on a ticket, a photo will be taken and fingerprints will be taken.
The theoretical exam consists of 30 video questions in Indonesian. The questions are simple: you need to answer whether the driver did the right thing or not. Many people, even without knowledge of the language, respond logically and get to the point. However, if you are not sure, then you are allowed to bring an interpreter to the exam. You need to answer 21 out of 30 questions correctly. The results are given immediately. In case of a failed exam, you will be allowed to retake any day except Sunday.
If you are getting your license for the first time or you do not have any driving documents with you to confirm your practice, you may be asked to take a practical exam (each category has its own requirements). For category SIM A (for passenger car): moving forward and backward along a narrow lane of cones; zigzagging back and forth; parking, parallel parking; moving uphill, turning on and off the handbrake, then exiting; moving downhill with a stop and exit. For category SIM C (motorcycle): driving on a narrow road with cones standing close together; zigzagging around the cones (knocking down several cones, the exam does not count); figure eight; reaction test and U-turn. 
To obtain the rights, you must pay a state fee of 100,000 IDR
Issuance of a certificate. After completing all the stages, you will receive the rights on the same day.

There are agencies in Bali that will help you get your license without problems and queues for an additional fee. The question in this case is only the competence and responsibility of this agency.  
There is an opinion on the Internet that it is possible to negotiate with the Indonesian police immediately and there are "unofficial fines". Yes, there are situations when foreigners try to solve all problems on the spot. But it doesn't always work out and not everyone does. Let's look at what penalties are relevant in Bali:

• Lack of a driver's license — up to 1 million IDR or imprisonment for up to 4 months
• Riding a motorbike or moped without a helmet concerns both the driver and the passenger. From 250,000 IDR or imprisonment for a period of 1 month
• Exceeding the speed limit is from 150,000 to 500,000 IDR, depending on the degree of excess
• Phone usage while driving is about 750,000 IDR. In general, we advise you to pay attention to this, even if you use a mobile navigator, it is better to keep the phone in a safe place and use headphones, since in addition to the fine, there are many “moto pickpockets” in Bali who deal with such violators in their own way - they can snatch the phone right out of their hands
• The absence of a seat belt is about 150,000 IDR 
• Parking in a prohibited place — up to 100,000 IDR
• Red light fare — from 250,000 to 500,000 IDR
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs — up to 8 million IDR or imprisonment for 1 year

If you are stopped (the Indonesian police have the right to stop you to check your documents) and a fine is issued, then you need
to pay the specified amount in any bank nearby (surat tilang biru), return to the police officers with a receipt and pick up the transport documents and driver's license.

Tips for foreign drivers on how to cope with difficulties on the road: 

• There is left-hand traffic in Bali. For those who are used to driving on the right, difficulties may arise at the intersection, where you need to be very careful and not drive into the oncoming lane.
• “movement without rules.” The locals are used to driving along the narrow roads of the island as they please. Often you may not even understand where the biker is going to turn or what maneuver he will make. Therefore, it is important for foreigners to “feel” other participants in the movement, to be extremely attentive and vigilant in any situation.
• local drivers like to honk their horns for any reason. You need to learn how to react to them calmly. Most often, the driver warns that he wants to overtake or wants to go to the main road and it doesn't matter to him where you are going at that moment. In any case, it is better to give in and skip than to deal with an emergency later.
• you are the only one responsible for the safety of your belongings, so it is not advisable to hang a backpack or bag from behind, they can simply be cut off. Most of the roads in Bali are very narrow, traffic is heavy, you may not even notice that someone has caught up with you, and the bag is no longer there. 
• many beginners decide to start driving a bike or scooter in Bali. This is not exactly the right decision. With the “Balinese chaos” on the roads, it is safer to take a car. But if you want to take a chance, then you should definitely start with a local instructor who will teach you not only how to drive, but also inform you about the specifics of Balinese driving.
• fill up your “iron horse” at official gas stations. Bottled gasoline along the road can be of poor quality, which can lead to a breakdown of the vehicle. 
• driving in the dark. Bali has a vibrant nightlife, so if you think that you can “ride” a bike at night, then this idea is so-so. Firstly, there are no fewer riders at night (in popular tourist spots) than during the day. Secondly, wandering through the narrow streets at night, you can get lost and go the wrong way, and this can be dangerous. Thirdly, not all roads on the island are in excellent condition: there are pits, gravel, which again can damage your bike.
• in case of an accident, the police are rarely called. Balinese people are sure that a tourist is guilty in any situation, since he does not know the "local rules". Therefore, in case of an emergency, it is better to first warn the owner of your vehicle: if it comes to the police, he will be able to help you resolve the conflict.
• be sure to write out insurance. Insurance is not a prerequisite in Bali, but it is better for foreigners to have it. In some rental locations, you may be offered the format of "oral" insurance, when a small amount is added to the rental price in case of an accident and damage to transport. Do not agree to such conditions without written confirmation: ask the employee of the rental company or the owner to write all this in the rental agreement. If they refuse, then you need to insure the transport yourself. It is even better to get medical insurance with an extension to motor vehicle management. Fractures in a fall are a common thing, and medicine on the island is quite expensive for foreigners, so it's better to insure against accidents. And do not forget that this insurance will be valid if you have a driver's license of the proper category. 

In conclusion, a couple more tips:

• Before leaving the rental point, be sure to take a photo of the rented vehicle from all angles. So that when you return, you will not be "hung up" to repair old scratches.   
• When planning a trip to Bali, join a community of like-minded people (bikers), where you can ask questions, read reviews, learn about the best insurance policy options, car rental points and much more.  
• Remember that Asian police officers have a "diamond eye", they quickly determine that a tourist is driving. It is better not to dress flashily or brightly, so you will attract less attention to yourself. Watch what the locals drive, so you will have more guarantees that you will not be stopped once again. 
• Do not forget about the weather conditions. You can burn out in a T-shirt and shorts in a few hours, and during a tropical torrential rain, it's better not to take risks and not get on a bike.
• If you plan to travel to Bali from north to south, it may be better to rent a car, since it will not be easy with a suitcase on a bike.
• When you are stopped by a policeman, turn off the engine and put the key in your pocket. Very often, the Balinese police, checking your documents, can pull out the key and force you to pay an "unofficial fine". And when there is no key, they can just let go.  
• Be careful, don't try to keep up with the locals. Remember, they are used to it, and you are responsible for your life.

The exotic island of Bali is beautiful and interesting, no wonder it is so popular. And studying it behind the wheel of a car or bike is even more attractive. Use our advice and safe roads for you!