Malaysia Indonesia
Malaysia 
IndonesiaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Malaysia and Indonesia share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.
Driving rules in Indonesia
- Drive/ride on the left.
- Helmets mandatory and strictly checked.
- International + home licence carried together.
- 0.00% practical alcohol tolerance.
What to see when you arrive in Indonesia
- the temples and rice terraces of Bali
- Borobudur Temple
- the Komodo National Park
- Mount Bromo
- the Gili Islands
Once you're driving in Indonesia
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
Foreign visitors may drive on a valid home licence accompanied by an International Driving Permit (1968 Convention) for up to three months. The IDP is mandatory, not optional: police checks in Bali and tourist areas routinely require both documents together.
Tolls & road charges
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 the cities
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.
Fines & camera enforcement
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
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.
Driving in the capital
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.
Sources: internationaldriversassociation.com · remitly.com · tyremap.com