Vehicle Horns Have Minimum and Maximum Limits, Here Are the Rules

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Every motor vehicle marketed in Indonesia must undergo a series of type tests. This process aims to ensure that the vehicle meets aspects of safety, security, and roadworthiness before being used by the public. One of the components tested is the horn sound. Although it may seem trivial, the horn plays an important role as a warning device for other road users. “Horn noise limits. The limit level. Minimum 83 maximum 118 decibels. So within that range,” said Bowo to Kompas.com in Bekasi, West Java, on Tuesday (5/5/2026). This regulation is implemented to ensure the horn is loud enough as a warning, but not excessive to the point of causing noise pollution or startling other road users. “The rules for cars and motorcycles are the same,” said Bowo. The limit refers to the national regulation contained in Government Regulation No. 55 of 2012 on Vehicles, specifically Article 69. Although there is a maximum limit on sound intensity, the use of horns on the road is still regulated under a different rule. In Law No. 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation, drivers are prohibited from using horns excessively in a way that can disrupt the order and concentration of other road users.