Driving at 17?

[mjn00]

Hey I'm new in Indonesia living in Medan, Sumatra. I would like to drive a motor bike here but not sure if I meet the requirements... Do you need a KITAP/KITAS? Do you need a IDP to be eligible? Is it even possible to drive here as a 17 year old foreigner?

Would appreciate any feedback or advice.
Thanks.

 

[atlantis]

Hey I'm new in Indonesia living in Medan, Sumatra. I would like to drive a motor bike here but not sure if I meet the requirements... Do you need a KITAP/KITAS? Do you need a IDP to be eligible? Is it even possible to drive here as a 17 year old foreigner?

Would appreciate any feedback or advice.
Thanks.

You need to have a KITAS or KITAP to be eligible to get an Indonesian SIM (driving license).
You need an IDP only if you intend to ride while having a driving license issued by a foreign country.
You can ride or drive at 17 here, assuming you have either a SIM or a foreign driving license.

 

[Jaime C]

I see 12 year olds driving pretty frequently.

 

[Bob]

I see 12 year olds driving pretty frequently.

You left off the rest: at night with no headlight or taillight going the wrong way on a one way street far too fast with no helmet and two riding pillion. Did I forget anything?

 

[Hawk256]

You left off the rest: at night with no headlight or taillight going the wrong way on a one way street far too fast with no helmet and two riding pillion. Did I forget anything?

Only two? My area has at least three on there at a time.

 

[nardo]

You will be alright without one. Just carry 200 ribu on you... And it would help to stay of main roads where they have 'operations'. If your on the main road and see people' starting to pullover and small groups pulled over but still traveling... Have a break and ask them...

 

[harryopal1]

You will be alright without one. Just carry 200 ribu on you... And it would help to stay of main roads where they have 'operations'. If your on the main road and see people' starting to pullover and small groups pulled over but still traveling... Have a break and ask them...

Not good advice. Because a lot of people break the law does not mean it is okay for you to also break the law. Age restrictions are based on assumptions about a certain level of maturity not just to do with capability but making decisions that may be life and death decisions. Perhaps you have an adequate level of maturity but should you have an accident you will have no insurance coverage and I suspect a court would deal with you much more severely having deliberately ignored local laws. There seems to be an increasing tendency of resentment towards those bule who do not respect Indonesian laws and customs

 

[atlantis]

Not good advice.

I fully agree with you on all point.
"Carrying Rp 200K" beside implying that one is willing to bribe its way, it just perpetuates the idea that bule are just walking ATMs, stupid enough to pay each time they get caught 200K for something which would cost them only about 100K for a SIM C if they would be willing to follow the law as they should.

 

[nardo]

Traffic offenses are normally settled by direct compensation payments to whoever has their hand out. Get a grip... Its a teenager riding a scooter. There is a tacit agreement that the police don't come into the Kampong and start busting people for not wearing helmets and no STNK etc... They do operations on the main roads and intersections near and in big towns and cities. So many bules in Bali ride scooters without really having a bike certification on the usual C class car license. Do you have both your car and bike sim, I doubt it. It's good advice you're giving but is it realistic. I went through the rigmarole of getting my Indonesian license back in the 90's, it has made no difference showing my Australian license or my Indonesian license I still had to pay either the police or Samsat when I was given an infringement note. But yes be warned young teenager, driving a scooter in Indonesia is like throwing a dice and at some stage your number will come up and the most serious consequences could occur

 

[fastpitch17]

Traffic offenses are normally settled by direct compensation payments to whoever has their hand out. Get a grip... Its a teenager riding a scooter. There is a tacit agreement that the police don't come into the Kampong and start busting people for not wearing helmets and no STNK etc... They do operations on the main roads and intersections near and in big towns and cities. So many bules in Bali ride scooters without really having a bike certification on the usual C class car license. Do you have both your car and bike sim, I doubt it. It's good advice you're giving but is it realistic. I went through the rigmarole of getting my Indonesian license back in the 90's, it has made no difference showing my Australian license or my Indonesian license I still had to pay either the police or Samsat when I was given an infringement note. But yes be warned young teenager, driving a scooter in Indonesia is like throwing a dice and at some stage your number will come up and the most serious consequences could occur

I have both A and C. No hassles to get. Been stopped on main roads in the mass checkem operations. Showed SIM, STNK, and KTP. Told to have a nice day. More than once too. Never had a hand out to me. Maybe they could tell they wouldn't get anything.

Same goes for the government offices. The only time I had ever paid for anything was my idea to always give the RT some cash since he really gets so little and that cash goes a long way. I also will pay whoever types a form I need at the lurah. I mean ine computer to go around. 50 thousand get things done with these lower offices and they appreciate it. Anyone above has government budgets and gets nothing from us. No problems.

 

[nardo]

Well done... I overtook over an unbroken line where they had set up an operation especially to get people who where overtaking over the line but the thing that irked the most was that they weren't stopping and fining the bus drivers, who I actually was following. I don't know if you find the bus drivers as dangerous and homicidal as I do but imo they need to reign them in... I drobe through a yellow light, as one does , of course there was an operation set up and they where only busting out of town plates... When your number comes up, there is no escape.

 

[Ruserious]

I don't know if you find the bus drivers as dangerous and homicidal as I do but imo they need to reign them in

Yes. Bus drivers in Indonesia need to be fined and controlled. This happened yesterday:

15 People Died in Deadly Bus Accident on Surabaya-Mojokerto Toll Road - Jakarta Daily

A bus had a single accident while crossing KM 712+400 line A of the Surabaya-Mojokerto toll road on Monday, May 16, 2022 this morning

www.jakartadaily.id

 

[atlantis]

Do you have both your car and bike sim, I doubt it.

I am unsure to who your question was directed to. If it was to me, yes, I have both my SIM A and SIM C and this for at least the past 20 years. I think FP17 also answered if the question was directed to him.
My wife also has both and so do two of my kids. I also make sure that all the company drivers have both. They drive like s#*t but at least they do so legally.
Never had problems to have had them issued albeit I reckon I know quite well the Law and the cops of my city and am fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and the local way we speak it, which probably helps. Both of my SIM are due for renewal in August this year and it won't cost me more than 250K to renew both and get them valid for another 5 years.

 

[Jaime C]

I am unsure to who your question was directed to. If it was to me, yes, I have both my SIM A and SIM C and this for at least the past 20 years. I think FP17 also answered if the question was directed to him.
My wife also has both and so do two of my kids. I also make sure that all the company drivers have both. They drive like s#*t but at least they do so legally.
Never had problems to have had them issued albeit I reckon I know quite well the Law and the cops of my city and am fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and the local way we speak it, which probably helps. Both of my SIM are due for renewal in August this year and it won't cost me more than 250K to renew both and get them valid for another 5 years.

Do any of your under 18 kids drive motor bikes?

 

[Nicho]

I live in S/East Java , Banyuwangi region . It's Raferties rules everywhere here , both motorbikes and cars . Been here 7 years and met one local with a SIM which had expired 5 years earlier . Kids get a motorbike like kids in other countries get a pushbike , no intructions /supervision from parents , 99% of which have no idea of road rules themselves . Nothing to see parents and 2-3-4 kids on a bike . mum and dad with all the gear ,helmuts , long pants, jackets etc and the kids with shorts and t/shirts. If we have a week without a death here it's rare . The majority of kids that attend secondary school SMA have to travel . No public transport so they all ride motorbikes , 2-3-4 on a bike . Common to see them SMSing or talking on phones while going flat out . Neice had a head on with a truck while she was smsing , luckily she survived only to do it again a few weeks later . They'll pull out of side streets into heavy traffic without looking then abuse you if you blow your horn at them . Common for most of them to pull over to the wrong side of the road 100meters before making a right turn , no indicator then expect oncoming traffic to stop or avoid them . I've got Sims for both , been pulled over several times . Showed them sim, stnk , kitap etc so they ping you for anything they can find or deem defective whether it is or not to make a $$ . And don't argue the point or the fine doubles/triples . Do the right thing , get your sims , have your wits about you whenever on the road and don't second guess anyone else on the road . There the only ones on the road as far as there concerned and your in the wrong if there's an accident whether you were or not !!

 

[Nicho]

Do any of your under 18 kids drive motor bikes?

Most kids are riding motorbikes before they can ride a pushbike , my sons been riding since he was 7, now 16 but he's been taught the road rules and warned that if he's seen riding like an idiot like the rest of them the motorbike goes and he's grounded for 6 months.

 

[nardo]

My son and daughter both ride bikes ro and from school and town for shopping, visiting friends, They are sensible enough and don't really want to go to hospital or the kuburan so I guess that is a good caution boost. One, good, lucky to be alive near miss is also a good caution booster!

 

[harryopal1]

My son and daughter both ride bikes ro and from school and town for shopping, visiting friends, They are sensible enough and don't really want to go to hospital or the kuburan so I guess that is a good caution boost. One, good, lucky to be alive near miss is also a good caution booster!

Nardoo, I do wish your son and daughter an accident free future but no matter how careful they are life on the roads is unpredictable and one never knows if a totally irresponsible driver or a car truck or motor bike might cause an accident. What then are the implications for your son and daughter regarding insurance and legal liability if they are under age and such an unfortunate event were to occur.

 

[atlantis]

For your

Do any of your under 18 kids drive motor bikes?

For your information SIM A and SIM C are legally issued in Indonesia at the age of 17, so yes my two boys who are respectivelly 26 and 19 have their SIM since they are 17 and a few months, time for them to learn before having it issued. My elder has both an A and a C since he is mostly a rider. My 19 y.o only drives but holds both A and C too. Lisa my youngest who is 15 will wait but in the meantime she is happy to have twp chauffeur/bodyguard to give her a ride whenever needed.