Traffic rulesIndonesia

Only the Indonesian National Police (Polri) is legally authorised to issue a Surat Izin Mengemudi or SIM.

The Traffic Corps of the Indonesian National Police, commonly called Korlantas Polri, manages national standards, systems and services.

First applications and practical testing are handled through authorised SATPAS driver-licensing units. Renewal services may also be available through mobile units, service outlets and approved online channels.

It is legal evidence that the holder has the identity, health, psychological fitness, knowledge and driving competence required for the recorded vehicle class.

Yes. A valid SIM issued through the national Polri system is recognised throughout Indonesia.

SIM Nasional Presisi is the licence service within the Digital Korlantas Polri application, supporting online registration, theory testing and eligible renewals.

It is the Audio Video Integrated System used for the official SIM theory examination and preparation material.

Yes. Korlantas launched a digital SIM service in 2026 through the Digital Korlantas application, with implementation and roadside verification being introduced progressively.

Yes. During the phased digital rollout, Korlantas has advised drivers to keep the physical card available as a backup.

National legal requirements apply, but SATPAS appointments, operating hours, facilities and implementation of digital services can differ.

The minimum age is 17 years.

The minimum age is 17 years.

The minimum age is 18 for SIM C I and 19 for SIM C II.

The minimum age for SIM D and SIM D I is 17 years.

The minimum age is 20 years.

The minimum age is 21 years.

The minimum is 20 for SIM A Umum, 21 for SIM B I Umum and 23 for SIM B II Umum.

Yes. The statutory competence and administrative process require the applicant to be able to read and write.

A valid electronic identity card or e-KTP and the identity data required by the national SIM system.

Yes. A foreign national can apply with the immigration and identity documents required for the person’s lawful stay or residence.

Yes. Identity verification includes the applicant’s photograph, fingerprints, signature and other personal data.

No. A current revocation, court prohibition or other legal disqualification must be resolved before lawful issue.

Yes. The applicant must pass the prescribed physical-health examination, commonly called RIKKES Jasmani.

Yes. First applications and renewals require a valid psychological-assessment result.

It can assess vision, hearing, mobility, general health and other physical conditions relevant to safe driving.

It evaluates psychological suitability such as cognitive ability, concentration, emotional control and behaviour relevant to driving.

Yes. A driver may be licensed subject to the corrective equipment needed to meet the health standard.

No. An eligible person with a disability may qualify for SIM D or SIM D I after medical, psychological and practical assessment.

Yes. An applicant for a disability class may be examined using a suitable vehicle that reflects the person’s safe driving needs.

Current SATPAS guidance includes verification of active JKN or BPJS Kesehatan participation under the national administrative implementation.

The amended licensing regulation requires a certificate from an accredited driving-training institution, or verification by such an institution for an eligible self-taught private applicant.

Yes. Public-service SIM applicants must provide the recognised education and training evidence required for professional driving.

The current framework requires recognised training evidence. A self-taught private applicant may use the verification route provided through an accredited driving-training institution.

It should cover traffic law, road signs, safe and defensive driving, vehicle control, emergencies and practical competence for the requested class.

No. A person without the appropriate SIM must not independently drive the vehicle on a public road.

It can take place through an accredited driving institution and in lawful training areas or other settings permitted by the applicable rules.

Many SATPAS units provide or coordinate coaching clinics and practice opportunities, but availability and conditions differ locally.

No. It supports the application but does not replace the health, psychological, theory and practical requirements.

Yes. The applicant must demonstrate competence using the type and size of vehicle covered by the requested SIM.

Yes. Korlantas provides e-AVIS learning material covering knowledge, insight and hazard perception.

No. The official examination tests understanding of traffic rules, safe judgement and hazard response.

Yes. Police units and accredited schools may offer further preparation before a repeat examination.

Yes. SIM B classes follow a staged system requiring the specified lower class to have been held for at least 12 months.

Yes. SIM C I requires at least 12 months with SIM C, and SIM C II requires at least 12 months with SIM C I.

Yes. A first application and a class upgrade require the official theory examination applicable to the requested SIM.

It is delivered through the e-AVIS audiovisual examination system or another authorised integrated testing arrangement.

SINAR supports online theory testing for eligible applications, while local SATPAS arrangements remain available.

The current material assesses legal knowledge, practical traffic insight and hazard perception.

They include road signs, markings, priority, speed, vehicle obligations, driver conduct and collision responsibilities.

It assesses whether the candidate can identify developing traffic threats and respond safely.

Yes. A theory pass is required before the practical examination stage.

The applicant must obtain the minimum score prescribed by Polri, commonly applied as at least 70.

The testing system records the result, and the applicant can obtain information needed to prepare for another attempt.

Yes. A failed applicant can take a repeat examination under the scheduling rules.

No. The applicant must also pass the required practical or simulator-based competence examination and complete issue.

Yes. Impersonation, false documents, manipulated results or bribery can invalidate the application and lead to legal action.

Yes. The applicant must demonstrate the skills and behaviour required for the requested class.

It is taken at an authorised SATPAS testing facility and, where required, through the approved road or simulator components.

It assesses safe car preparation, control, manoeuvring, braking, reversing, parking and compliance with the prescribed course.

Current Korlantas guidance includes braking and balance, a U-turn, an S-shaped course and an emergency avoidance or braking reaction.

Yes. The test vehicle must correspond to the SIM category requested.

Yes. Loss of control, collision, leaving the prescribed course or another major safety failure can cause the test to be failed.

The practical assessment commonly begins from 100, with a minimum passing score of 70 under the official scoring procedure.

Yes. The applicant can return for a repeat test under the stated SATPAS schedule.

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to use lawful practice or coaching facilities before another attempt.

The applicant completes the remaining verification and issue stages and receives the SIM card or collection instructions.

It authorises private passenger or goods vehicles with a permitted total weight not exceeding 3,500 kg.

It authorises private passenger or goods vehicles with a permitted total weight above 3,500 kg.

It authorises heavy equipment, towing vehicles and private vehicle combinations with a trailer or semi-trailer meeting the statutory weight definition.

It authorises motorcycles with an engine capacity up to 250 cm³, including the corresponding electric-power class.

It authorises motorcycles above 250 cm³ and up to 500 cm³, including the corresponding electric-power class.

It authorises motorcycles above 500 cm³ and the corresponding high-power electric motorcycle class.

It authorises an adapted or suitable vehicle equivalent to the SIM A class for an eligible driver with a disability.

It authorises a suitable vehicle equivalent to the motorcycle class for an eligible driver with a disability.

No. The appropriate SIM C class must also be held.

No. A SIM A or other appropriate four-wheel class is required.

Yes. A person can hold the different SIM categories for which all age, experience, health and examination requirements are satisfied.

The legal classes exist nationally, but operational availability and transition arrangements should be confirmed with the selected SATPAS.

It authorises public-service passenger or goods vehicles with a permitted total weight not exceeding 3,500 kg.

It authorises public-service passenger or goods vehicles with a permitted total weight above 3,500 kg.

It authorises public-service heavy equipment, towing vehicles and qualifying vehicle combinations.

Yes. The applicant must normally have held SIM A for at least 12 months.

The applicant must normally have held SIM A or SIM A Umum for at least 12 months.

The applicant must normally have held SIM B I or SIM B I Umum for at least 12 months.

The applicant must satisfy the staged experience requirement using the qualifying lower class specified by the regulation.

The applicant must satisfy the staged experience requirement using SIM B I Umum or another qualifying class specified by law.

Yes. They must provide a certificate from an accredited professional driving-training institution.

Yes. The applicant must pass the health, psychological, theory and practical or simulator tests for the higher class.

No. Employment, operator, vehicle, route, transport-company and sector-specific requirements can also apply.

The recorded higher or public-service class generally includes the corresponding vehicle entitlement, subject to the exact class definition and restrictions.

It is valid for five years from the date of issue.

No. It is calculated from the issue date.

Domestic SIM classes are generally issued for five years, while an International Driving Permit has a different term.

New and renewed licences use the holder’s NIK from the e-KTP as the SIM number under the national integration programme.

No. The updated number and format are normally applied when the existing licence is renewed or replaced.

It includes the holder’s identity, SIM number, category, validity and a QR-based verification feature.

The holder registers in Digital Korlantas, selects the SIM service, enters the SIM data and completes identity verification.

Yes. The digital service can link more than one valid SIM category belonging to the same person.

Implementation is progressive and depends on regulatory and technical readiness.

No. A screenshot is not the live official credential; the SIM should be displayed through the authorised application and the physical card kept available during rollout.

It must be completed before the SIM expires. Korlantas recommends applying early rather than waiting until the final day.

Yes. Eligible SIM A and SIM C renewals can be completed through SINAR without visiting SATPAS.

The applicant uploads identity and licence documents, completes physical-health and psychological tests, pays the charges and selects collection or delivery.

Normally no. An expired SIM is treated as a new application, unless an official exceptional extension applies because services were unavailable.

Yes. The person normally follows the first-issue procedure again, including the required tests.

Mobile and outlet services generally handle eligible renewals, especially SIM A and SIM C, but do not conduct first issue.

The holder applies for a replacement and provides the police report, identity evidence and other documents required by SATPAS.

A duplicate normally follows the existing licence record rather than functioning as an early renewal, unless renewal is completed at the same time under the rules.

Yes. The previous card is no longer valid after the replacement or renewed card is issued.

No. A replacement card cannot override a court order, police revocation or other loss of entitlement.

Recognition depends on Indonesia’s international obligations, the licence format, immigration status and current police requirements. Visitors should confirm the position before driving.

Yes. A valid convention-format permit used with the underlying national licence is the safest document arrangement for a short-term visitor.

No. It must be accompanied by the valid domestic licence that supports it.

Yes. The person can apply using the required passport and immigration residence documents and must satisfy the ordinary health and examination standards.

Indonesia does not provide a general automatic exchange for every foreign licence. The applicant may need to complete the Indonesian licensing procedure.

It is issued by Polri through the official Korlantas international-SIM service.

It is valid for three years.

They include a valid passport, identity document, a valid domestic SIM of the corresponding class, photograph and the immigration document required for a foreign applicant.

No. It is intended for use abroad together with the valid domestic SIM.

No. Recognition depends on the destination country, applicable road-traffic convention and local law.

Yes. The traffic law provides a points framework under which violations and traffic collisions can be recorded against the driver.

Yes. Serious offences, court proceedings or accumulated legal consequences can lead to temporary suspension.

Yes. A court or competent authority can revoke the licence in circumstances provided by law.

Yes. Driving without ever holding the appropriate valid SIM can lead to imprisonment of up to four months or a fine of up to Rp1,000,000.

No. A person who holds a valid SIM but cannot show it faces the lower statutory penalty of up to one month or a fine of up to Rp250,000.

Indonesia’s road law prohibits driving when the person is unable to operate the vehicle properly because of alcohol or another condition, rather than relying only on one general published BAC limit.

Yes. Dangerous or negligent driving under the influence can lead to serious criminal consequences, especially after injury or death.

No. Drug-impaired driving and unlawful drug use can lead to traffic, criminal and licensing consequences.

Yes. A driver must comply with lawful traffic enforcement and examination procedures.

No. The national driver record determines the legal status, not possession of a plastic card.

This FAQ was prepared from the current Polri licensing regulation as amended, Korlantas official guidance, Digital Korlantas services and Indonesian road-traffic legislation.

Last reviewed: 4 August 2026.

This website is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with Polri, Korlantas, a SATPAS unit, a testing centre, BPJS Kesehatan or a driving school.

Official legislation and instructions from the competent police authority always take precedence.