Indonesian driver license

[all4ywh]

Through the forum search tool, surprisingly I did not see any thread dedicated to the process of obtaining an Indonesian driver license so if a thread does exist and I missed it, please transfer my message to that thread.


A neighbor who is a Singapore citizen told me that a few days ago he obtained both a first time SIM A & first time SIM C through a local agent (biro jasa) in our city. To complete his application for both SIM A & SIM C, that neighbor only needed to go to the POLRES office in city of Tangerang, Banten province to have his photo taken and sign his "application", then within a few minutes he received his new SIM A & SIM C : each valid until the expiration date of his ITAS. This neighbor paid Rp 700.000 to the agent who handled that transaction. Personal details of my neighbor :

1) Singapore citizen not married to an Indonesian citizen.

2) Holds an employer-sponsored ITAS valid for 1 year.

3) Possesses a valid driver license from Singapore and valid international driving permit issued in Singapore.


I am curious to know based on the above details and current laws / regulations of this nation, did that neighbor legally obtain a first time SIM A & first time SIM C without doing the written driving exam or practical driving exam at the POLRES office?

At the official website of POLRI (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia), I found no statements which reflect the above scenario of my neighbor and how he was able to obtain a first time SIM A & first time SIM C without doing the written driving exam or practical driving exam : https://polri.go.id/layanan-sim.php

 

[Jaime C]

Through the forum search tool, surprisingly I did not see any thread dedicated to the process of obtaining an Indonesian driver license so if a thread does exist and I missed it, please transfer my message to that thread.


A neighbor who is a Singapore citizen told me that a few days ago he obtained both a first time SIM A & first time SIM C through a local agent (biro jasa) in our city. To complete his application for both SIM A & SIM C, that neighbor only needed to go to the POLRES office in city of Tangerang, Banten province to have his photo taken and sign his "application", then within a few minutes he received his new SIM A & SIM C : each valid until the expiration date of his ITAS. This neighbor paid Rp 700.000 to the agent who handled that transaction. Personal details of my neighbor :

1) Singapore citizen not married to an Indonesian citizen.

2) Holds an employer-sponsored ITAS valid for 1 year.

3) Possesses a valid driver license from Singapore and valid international driving permit issued in Singapore.


I am curious to know based on the above details and current laws / regulations of this nation, did that neighbor legally obtain a first time SIM A & first time SIM C without doing the written driving exam or practical driving exam at the POLRES office?

At the official website of POLRI (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia), I found no statements which reflect the above scenario of my neighbor and how he was able to obtain a first time SIM A & first time SIM C without doing the written driving exam or practical driving exam : https://polri.go.id/layanan-sim.php

Of course it wasn't legal. It's not surprising, though. Lots of folks, in the past, have gotten their licenses in such a way.

 

[William King]

Darn.

 

[jstar]

.
There is already for thirty years an agreement between the ASEAN members that they should recognize each others' driver license. So that person could drive in RI with his Singaporean license. But if you stay longer than a year, you need to obtain the local license. As far as I know, (also the ASEAN citizen) conversion process does require the full tests. So then it means even in this case it was 'arranged'.

I don't know many people over here who have gone through the complete process incl. tests btw.

 

[all4ywh]

.
There is already for thirty years an agreement between the ASEAN members that they should recognize each others' driver license. So that person could drive in RI with his Singaporean license. But if you stay longer than a year, you need to obtain the local license. As far as I know, (also the ASEAN citizen) conversion process does require the full tests. So then it means even in this case it was 'arranged'.

Yes, my neighbor already has resided in Indonesia for almost 2 years. Before he applied for both of his SIM's, he had asked what I knew about the application process and I told him that it was mandatory to do the written driving exam and practical driving exam to obtain a first time SIM : so now he is proud that he did not have to do those exams. I asked if he asked the agent about the requirement to do a written driving exam and practical driving exam : my neighbor did not inquire because the agent did not say anything about those exams, only informed my neighbor that he needed to visit the POLRES office to to have his photo taken and sign his application. By the way, my neighbor's ITAS will expire in 4 months (yes, four months!) : when a ITAS holder who already possesses a valid SIM goes to renew the SIM, is it true that the ITAS holder does not need to do a written driving exam and practical driving exam for the renewal (just like citizens & ITAP holders) ?

.I don't know many people over here who have gone through the complete process incl. tests btw.

Are you referring to only ASEAN citizens?

 

[jstar]

Nope, all. WNI and WNA.

 

[Jamu]

Further to jstar's post #4, since 1985 citizens of Asean countries (as of that date) can drive on their local licenses in other Asean countries without converting to a local license OR having an IDP. Even now, an Indonesian coming to Singapore can drive for 12 months on his/her local license before needing to convert to a Singapore one via passing a brief written exam (25 questions). So I'm not shocked that a Singaporean in Indonesia doesn't need to move heaven and earth to get an Indonesian license. Should have taken the theory test though but as we know, biro jasa (usually) = boleh.

 

[Wisnu]

I can't say about converting other asean country license to Indonesian. However, I converted my Indonesian SIM to Brunei driving license without any examination more than 10 years ago. I followed all official process, no agent, no bribe,
à recall, according to the officer, I don't need test or examination since I'd hold my Indonesian SIM more than a years. Could be similar case.

 

[DzulnSiti]

I have gone thru the theory pass and practical and fail x3 and last resort to calo. But they give me 1 year pass instead a 5 year for kitap. You do need to go thru the medical check ,theory and practical test before getting the sim. I was inform that the circuit was made difficult so people are not easy to pass and go thru calo. But with current situation Kalpolri want to stop this problem of calo.

 

[fastpitch17]

I have gone thru the theory pass and practical and fail x3 and last resort to calo. But they give me 1 year pass instead a 5 year for kitap. You do need to go thru the medical check ,theory and practical test before getting the sim. I was inform that the circuit was made difficult so people are not easy to pass and go thru calo. But with current situation Kalpolri want to stop this problem of calo.

Perhaps the first step should be to go and get unlicenced drivers off the road. If you don't want the hassle of getting a SIM a local will just go drive and taking their chance of being stopped once in a while.

 

[dafluff]

If I had to guess, 99% of the people on the road either do not have SIM or have SIM without passing any sort of test.

 

[Anglian]

When we were first married I said to my wife learn to drive, so she sorted out the local driving school and off she went to the SIM office, that evening when I come home she proudly shows me her full driving license, I said you don't know how to drive, Doesn't matter, she said, being a bit green I thought they issued provisional licenses like the U.K. And then pass a test for a full licence, mind she stuck with the driving school,

 

[jstar]

......I said you don't know how to drive, Doesn't matter, she said......

Many years ago we mutually agreed my wife would only use a (certified) driver. And get a taxi or so when it's late and/or when the drivers are not available. The reason was discovering damage to the roof of one of the cars. And the security guy told us he spotted a car being hit at the top by the automatic barrier system late at night. She still denies having anything to do with that.

 

[Smallworld]

Perhaps the first step should be to go and get unlicenced drivers off the road. If you don't want the hassle of getting a SIM a local will just go drive and taking their chance of being stopped once in a while.

That would help with the traffic in Indonesia.

 

[Exile]

I was inform that the circuit was made difficult so people are not easy to pass and go thru calo. But with current situation Kalpolri want to stop this problem of calo.

They have a 'legit' calo now. It is called SIM Kolektif. So the organiser will gather a bunch of SIM Applicants and lodge the application in a bulk. For SIM A, you pay approx 600K. You still have to do the written & driving test but all just for formality. You'll get your SIM C by around midday.

 

[einahpets]

I got information from my office that it is no longer possible to use an agent to obtain/renew the SIM (at least not in the Ditlantas in Daan Mogot, Jakarta) due to a new policy where persons not related to the process are not allowed to enter. Is that true? Can anyone confirm this information?

 

[dafluff]

I got information from my office that it is no longer possible to use an agent to obtain/renew the SIM (at least not in the Ditlantas in Daan Mogot, Jakarta) due to a new policy where persons not related to the process are not allowed to enter. Is that true? Can anyone confirm this information?

It is probably true for now. There is currently a nationwide anti-graft campaign going on targeting government services at the consumer level (ie. Driver licensing, permits, KTP etc). Whether this will be a lasting change or more of a temporary thing (more likely) remains to be seen.

 

[einahpets]

Would it be of interest for the forum to make a HOW TO extend a driving license post? Or does it already exist but I didn't see it?
Just renewed my license today, so I have up-to-date first hand experience that I could share...but if it already exists I'll spare myself the hassle to write it down ;-)

 

[jstar]

Just write it down. Always useful.

 

[fastpitch17]

My license is good another 4.5 years. I will wait and see what the procedures are when it's time to renew because I am really, really confident they will be different then today.