Driver's License for Riding a Bike in Bali
To start with, riding a bike in Bali, as in any other country, comes with responsibilities and certain obligations. Operating a vehicle requires specific qualifications, so a driver's license is needed.
The penalty for riding a bike without a driver's license in Bali is imprisonment for up to 4 months or a fine of up to 1,000,000 rupiah.
It's unlikely you'll be jailed, but you'll have to pay the fine.
In rubles, this is about 4700 rubles - seemingly not a large amount, but if you're fined every day, it becomes costly.
You can also settle the matter with a bribe, unfortunately, this is a common issue in Indonesia, but choosing this path means you must be ready to pay at every police raid.
Additionally, in case of an accident, your insurance company will refuse to cover health costs if you operated a bike without an international driver's license.
For example, if you get into an accident on a bike, which we hope won't happen, the insurer will refuse to cover damages to the bike and other vehicles, as well as medical costs, if needed - you'll have to pay for everything yourself.
When renting our bike and buying damage insurance for the bike, even without a driver's license, the insurance will cover the scooter's damage: you won't have to pay for the damaged bike, but you will have to compensate the other party for damages.
Therefore, the best option is to have all the necessary documents and not fear the police raids, which are common in Bali.
What documents are needed for riding a bike in Bali?
Almost all bikes start with an engine displacement of 125 cc, and Russian citizens need an A1 license according to the Russian classification. For anything over 125 cc, a Category A license is required.
However, the police in Bali and generally in Indonesia and in almost the whole world require an International Driving Permit (IDP).
What is it?
In short, an IDP is a document required in many countries for driving a vehicle outside your own country, alongside a national license, without confirming qualifications (tests, exams, etc.) in all countries participating in the international UN conventions on road traffic. It contains an official translation of your national driver's license and ensures it will be understandable to authorities in other countries.
It should be understood that an IDP does not replace national licenses but only supplements them as an attachment.
Currently, vehicle operation is governed by the Geneva and Vienna Conventions adopted in 98% of the world's countries, and IDPs are issued according to these rules.
How to obtain an international driver's license in Russia:
Obtaining an IDP, while having a national (Russian) driver's license, is very simple: visit the MREO GIBDD office with an expected time of about an hour (possibly more as per norms), or an MFC - which takes longer, around three days, especially when applying outside of your place of residence, as time must be allowed for document delivery.
You can book an appointment through Gosuslugi in both cases, receive a 30% discount, and pay less than through a bank or on-site - 1130 rubles instead of 1600 rubles (as of 2020).
Documents needed:
Application for IDP (or fill out on Gosuslugi),
Passport or other identification document,
National driver's license,
Receipt of state duty payment (or pay directly on Gosuslugi).
A medical certificate is no longer required (as of 2020).
The international driver's license is valid for 3 years but no longer than the national driver's license.
All data for any country, where rules are applicable, information on how and where to obtain an IDP: https://internationaldrivingpermit.org/ - this is the only directory of IDP-issuing organizations recognized by AIT/FIA.
Belarus - the procedure is about the same: contact the traffic police, pay a state fee, and obtain an IDP.
Ukraine - can be done at any service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It's the same process.
The main thing is to have all necessary documents primarily so that your vacation isn't disrupted by unpleasant events, disputes with the police, fines, and so on. Good luck and see you on the roads in Bali!
