Do you need an international driving permit in Bali?

Short answer: yes, and you have to sort it out before you fly. An international driving permit cannot be issued to you in Bali, and the version you need is not the one most people bring.

What the law asks for

Riding a scooter in Indonesia requires a licence valid for motorcycles. For a foreign visitor that means two documents carried together: your home driving licence, and an international driving permit that carries the A category. The permit on its own is not valid, and neither is a home licence that only covers cars.

That A category is where most people come unstuck. A permit issued on the back of a car-only licence will not carry it, and a checkpoint officer who knows what to look for will see that immediately.

What actually happens at a checkpoint

Checks are routine rather than aggressive, and concentrated on the main roads of the busier areas. You will be asked for the documents, and for your helmet to be on and fastened. With the right papers it takes a minute. Without them, it becomes a fine.

We have not published a fine schedule here, because the amounts we could find were inconsistent and we would rather say nothing than quote a figure you might plan around.

The part that costs more than the fine

A fine is an annoyance. The real exposure is your travel insurance. Most policies exclude a claim if you were riding without the licence the country requires, and that exclusion applies to medical costs after an accident, not just to the scooter. The same logic runs through the damage protection on a rental: cover is conditional on holding a valid motorcycle licence.

Getting one before you go

An international driving permit is issued by the authority that issued your home licence, usually in a few minutes and for a small fee. Ask explicitly for the motorcycle category. Bring the paper permit with you — a photo of it on your phone is not the document.