Get the paperwork before you get the motorbike

But many are not aware of the risks involved in riding without the appropriate licence.

Indonesia and Thailand require travellers to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) to ride motorcycles in those countries.

And you need to know that your IDP only covers you for the classes of vehicle you are licensed to drive in Australia.

To legally ride a motorcycle overseas you must be licenced to drive one in Australia.

This has serious implications for when you deal with police and insurers.

Don’t risk it

Often the local police don’t check for IDPs, but there are intermittent crackdowns. For example, in 2023, Indonesian authorities issued a warning to tourists that IDPs are legally required when riding motorcycles in Bali.

But the biggest risks aren’t fines for riding without the right licence – they are the financial and legal consequences that can follow a crash, Australian Automobile Association Managing Director Michael Bradley warned.

“If you hire a motorcycle in Southeast Asia, but don’t have an Australian motorbike licence and an IDP you may or may not fool the traffic cop who pulls you over,” he said.

“But you won’t convince your travel insurer to pay out on any claims – and that can include claims not just for property damage but also for medical expenses.

“Many countries don’t make it clear that these rules apply, and it’s only when travellers have an accident or are stopped by the police that they realise the consequences of driving without an IDP.”

The Australian Government recommends that travellers obtain a valid IDP before leaving Australia.