Ireland licence 
IndonesiaCan you drive in Indonesia with an Ireland license?
Short answer: to drive in Indonesia with an Ireland license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format, carried together with your Ireland license.
Yes — to drive in Indonesia on an Ireland licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your Ireland licence. Indonesia expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.
Irish drivers should carry an International Driving Permit with their licence when driving outside the EU and EEA. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva format and carried alongside your national licence.
What driving in Indonesia is like
The Kintamani-Bedugul mountain loop in Bali, climbing past Lake Batur and the volcanic caldera, is the country's most-searched scenic drive. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 100 km/h toll roads. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your Ireland licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Indonesia can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to Ireland licence holders in Indonesia
| Ireland licence in Indonesia | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Yes — carry one alongside your licence |
| IDP format required | 1949 Geneva |
| Your Ireland licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| Ireland is party to | 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna |
| Drives on the | Left-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 112 or 110 (police) |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h toll roads |
| Currency | IDR |
Driving rules in Indonesia you should know
- Drive/ride on the left.
- Helmets mandatory and strictly checked.
- International + home licence carried together.
- 0.00% practical alcohol tolerance.
Local driving facts in Indonesia
Emergency number: 112 or 110 (police) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 100 km/h toll roads. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Indonesia
Indonesia's intercity toll roads (jalan tol) are cashless and require an e-money tap card (e-Toll, Mandiri e-Money, Flazz, BRIZZI) held against the gate reader; physical cash is no longer accepted, so buy and top up a card at a minimart before driving.
Parking in Indonesia
Most urban parking is informal, attended by 'juru parkir' wardens who charge a few thousand rupiah in cash and help you reverse out; malls and offices use ticketed barrier parking, and illegally parked cars in Jakarta can be wheel-clamped or towed.
Penalties & enforcement in Indonesia
Speeding, no-seatbelt and phone-use fines are issued on the spot, and unofficial cash 'damai' settlements with traffic police are common but technically bribery; rental firms pass any e-toll or camera charges to your card. Always insist on an official tilang ticket.
If you have an accident in Indonesia
Call police on 110 (or the 112 emergency line); for any injury or dispute a police report is needed for insurance. Do not move vehicles before documenting the scene, and phone your rental company's helpline immediately as cover can be voided without correct paperwork.
City driving in Indonesia
In Jakarta the 'ganjil-genap' odd-even licence-plate scheme restricts main arteries (e.g. Sudirman-Thamrin) on weekdays during peak hours - your plate's last digit must match the date's parity or you risk a fine.
Winter driving in Indonesia
No winter-tyre rules - tropical climate.
Fuel in Indonesia
Pertamina stations are attendant-served; petrol grades are sold by octane name (Pertalite 90, Pertamax 92, Pertamax Turbo 98) and diesel as Solar/Dexlite, at roughly IDR 12,000-15,000 (about USD 0.75-0.95) per litre. Cards are accepted at most city stations but carry cash for rural ones.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com, remitly.com, tyremap.com