Indonesia’s authority to start ticketing violators of ride-hailing app rules

1 min readUpdated May 20, 2025Mar 19, 20182:20 AM

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The Transportation Ministry in April will start ticketing ride-hailing drivers who violate the rules as stated in Transportation Ministerial Regulation No. 108/2018 on non-route public transportation.

The ministry will pay particular attention to drivers who do not have a driver’s license for public transportation (SIM A general) and the document that demonstrates the vehicle has passed a roadworthy test, said Transportation Ministry land road transportation director general Budi Setiyadi in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He said there was no reason for drivers to violate the rules as the government had helped them and the vehicle owners by providing cheap driver’s licenses and free roadworthy tests.

“Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi instructed me to complete the issuing [of driver’s licenses and vehicle roadworthiness documents] in March so that in April we can start ticketing [violators],” said Budi.

The ministry has started deploying officers on roads to advise ride-hailing drivers who do not have the two documents. The officers currently only issue warning tickets to the drivers.

Budi said the ministry had recorded a high demand for the two documents as the deadline was approaching. He said in Jakarta alone, 18,000 roadworthy documents for ride-hailing vehicles had been issued and about 1,000 drivers had also obtained their new driver’s licenses.

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What this means

The Indonesian Transport Ministry's move to enforce ride-hailing regulations, starting with ticketing in April, will likely pressure major platforms. While the government offered cheap licences and free roadworthy tests, the sudden shift from warnings to fines could disrupt driver fleets and increase operational complexity. This contrasts with broader Asian market expansion seen by companies like Miniso or Tiffany & Co. In Indonesia and Singapore respectively, which typically focus on market penetration rather than regulatory hurdles. This enforcement also creates a competitive disadvantage for non-compliant drivers. The immediate impact will be felt in service consistency; watch for a sharp decline in reported driver availability in major Indonesian cities after April 1.

Rajiv Menon · Retail News Asia newsroom

Questions & Answers

What specific violations will the Transportation Ministry be ticketing drivers for from April?

The ministry will primarily target drivers lacking a public transportation driver's license (SIM A general) and those whose vehicles do not possess the necessary roadworthy document. These are the main requirements highlighted in the new regulations.

What measures has the government taken to support drivers in meeting these new regulations?

The government has assisted drivers by offering cheap driver's licenses for public transportation and providing free roadworthy tests for their vehicles. This support aims to remove barriers to compliance before ticketing begins.

Have any documents been issued to ride-hailing drivers in Jakarta so far, and if so, how many?

Yes, in Jakarta alone, 18,000 roadworthy documents have been issued for ride-hailing vehicles. Also, approximately 1,000 drivers in the city have obtained their new public transportation driver’s licenses.

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