National Indonesian driver's licenses (SIM) are now valid in ASEAN countries: Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore. This is established by the 1985 ASEAN Agreement on the mutual recognition of driver's licenses.
Senior Commissioner Dafi, head of the road traffic sub-unit of the National Police of Indonesia, confirmed that this agreement is currently in force.
However, SIM A and C driver's licenses in ASEAN countries were still in the socialization stage. For the unconditional recognition of Indonesian driver's licenses, the police of each country must be familiar with their new format. The system integration was completed on June 1, 2025, and now the new format licenses can be used freely in ASEAN countries.
Preparations for the full recognition of SIM outside Indonesia have been conducted by the Road Corps of the Indonesian National Police since last year.
The change in the format of national driver's licenses officially took effect on July 1, 2024, but in some regions, old format licenses were issued due to the need to use previously purchased card blanks.
Due to the unification of documents, the SIM number on the old format license has been eliminated, and instead, the driver's NIK is indicated on the new format license. SIM A (for cars) and SIM C (for motorcycles) have corresponding pictograms: car and motorcycle. These innovations in the driver's license format have facilitated their use in ASEAN countries. If you are planning a trip to one of the ASEAN countries, make sure your driver's license meets the new standards. You can apply for it with the help of Legal Indonesia.
However, some countries have specific rules regarding the use of foreign driver's licenses. For instance, in Singapore, Indonesian licenses can be used for only 12 months from the date of entry into the country. After this period, drivers must obtain local Singaporean licenses.
As for Malaysia, since 2018, foreign drivers must have an international driver's license and a valid Indonesian driver's license.
It is still necessary to carry original documents: driver's license, passport, and vehicle registration certificate (STNK), and comply with the traffic rules of the country you are in.
Source: tirto
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