Buying a Car, Driver's License

Buying a Car, Driver's License
The process of buying a car in Indonesia is not much different from that in other countries. Either you buy a secondhand vehicle directly from the owner or through a dealer or you buy a new car. Cars in Indonesia are relatively expensive as they are heavily taxed.
The price difference between a new car and a second hand is not too significant.

Buying the car is the easy part, the ensuing paperwork of renewing licenses, and paying taxes will cost you many unhappy hours.
By far the best alternative is to use the services of the car dealer who will do the dirty work, known as balik nama (changing the owner's name) for you with a small surcharge.
When you happen to move from one city to another the license plates of your car will need to be changed. In other words, your car needs to be re-registered in the new location and carry the local license plates. This process is known as mutasi (mutation) and is not very cheap.
But, as always in Indonesia there are services available to do the work for you, such as standing in line and filling out forms.

An important preparation before renting or buying a car is to ensure that you have a valid International Driver's License. When the license expires you need to renew it abroad or obtain an Indonesian driver's license.
The common procedure for the Indonesian license is to have an agency, or your office take care of the formalities. If you have time, you may do so yourself by contacting a police officer at the police station and to express that you would like to have a driver's license.
Depending on who you have contacted the process may be cumbersome and long or quick and neat. In some cases you only need to show up to have your photo and fingerprint taken. Other essential documents to complete the process are your passport, visa and work permit.
Driver's licenses for foreigners are valid for one year only and the price starts at Rp 100,000.