In a nutshell
- Renting a scooter is hands-down the best way to get around Bali. You’re flexible, you weave through traffic faster than cars, and you save a lot of money.
- The best place for your Bali scooter rental is your accommodation — and you’ll typically pay just 4 to 6 euros per day.
- Traffic can be chaotic, so always wear a helmet, ride carefully, and make sure you have good international health insurance. Do that, and you’ll be just fine.
Renting a Scooter in Bali at a Glance
- Where to rent: at your accommodation or scooter rental shops
- What you need: your regular driver’s license and an international driver’s license
- Scooter cost: 4–6 euros per day
- Gas cost: about 1 euro per liter
- Tourist ban: none currently — anyone can rent a scooter
- Traffic direction: left-hand traffic
Where Do You Rent a Scooter in Bali?
You can rent a scooter either at your accommodation or at one of the many rental shops you’ll find on pretty much every corner.
Accommodations often rent scooters directly to their guests. Most of the time you’ll spot at least five scooters parked out front. If not, your hosts can usually arrange one quickly. We’ve had really great experiences renting from accommodations — much better than from official rental shops. Your hosts want you to be happy, so the scooters tend to be in better condition.
If you’re planning a road trip around Bali, your best bet is to rent a fresh scooter at each stop. You can easily get between stops by taxi.
We’d strongly recommend renting an automatic scooter — they’re easy to handle even if you don’t have much experience. And always rent a helmet and actually wear it!
Here’s a quick checklist of things to look out for before you ride off:
- Sufficient tread and tire pressure
- Working brakes
- Lights
- Two mirrors on the handlebars
- Working turn signals
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Scooter in Bali?
Bali scooter rental is still seriously affordable. You’ll typically pay around 75,000 IDR to 100,000 IDR per day. In more touristy areas it can cost a bit more, and in remote spots it can be even less.
Adding insurance would push the price up significantly — at least double. On top of that, you can never be totally sure you’re getting proper coverage. Most of the time you won’t even be offered insurance, since a lot of things in Bali run on trust. Always ride carefully and make sure you have solid international health insurance in place.
A deposit is rarely required in Bali — especially when you rent from your accommodation in Bali, but also not often at rental shops. If you ever are asked for one, never hand over your passport. It’s better to pay a cash deposit or leave your ID instead.
What Driver’s License Do You Need to Rent a Scooter in Bali?
To rent a scooter in Bali, you’ll need your regular driver’s license and an international driver’s license.
Your regular license officially needs to include Class A for motorcycles. The scooters in Bali technically don’t fall under the category you’d be allowed to ride with a standard Class B license. Unofficially, though, nobody really checks. Police officers usually see the checkmark next to scooters and accept it.
We’ve also never been stopped at a checkpoint. If you are pulled over, be aware that some police officers can be corrupt. Keep only a small amount of cash in your wallet so you can show them you don’t have much on you — you’ll usually end up paying only that amount.
How Do You Fill Up in Bali?
There are two options: a proper gas station or a roadside stand.
Gas stations offer cheaper, higher-quality fuel. An attendant fills up your tank and you pay them directly. The downside is they’re not always close by.
That said, you’ll pass plenty of roadside stands selling bottles of gasoline. The bottles are lined up on shelves along the road — you really can’t miss them. You stop, say how much you want, and the vendor pours the gas into your scooter using a funnel.
You’ll also sometimes come across small shops with mini fuel pumps along the road. Filling up there works the same way.
Tips for Riding a Scooter in Bali
- Left-hand traffic: You’ll get used to it faster than you’d expect.
- Traffic: chaotic in the cities — better to avoid riding there if you can. Out in the countryside, though, it’s totally fine.
- Road conditions: generally good. Only in more remote areas — and especially on Nusa Penida — are conditions really rough, with potholes, uneven concrete slabs, and unpaved paths.
- Honking: Balinese people honk mainly to signal their presence — for example when overtaking.
- Take a photo of your scooter: so you can find it again if it gets moved around in a parking lot.
- Police checkpoints: We never ran into one. If you are stopped, stay friendly. Some Balinese police officers can be corrupt — keep only a little cash in your wallet and stash the rest elsewhere. You’ll usually end up paying less.
- Gas tank: keep it at least half full, especially in more remote areas.
You should definitely have ridden a scooter before your trip to Bali. But here’s a quick reminder of how to ride one:
- Turn the key to start the ignition
- Press one of the brakes and simultaneously start the scooter
- Release the brake, slowly twist the right handle toward you, and ride off
The turn signal is on the left — it’s usually a switch you can push left or right.
Alternatives to Renting a Scooter in Bali
Of course, renting a scooter in Bali isn’t your only option. There are a few other ways to get around that may be less flexible or a bit pricier, but will still get you where you need to go.
First up: Grab or Gojek. These are apps that let you book drivers for specific routes. You enter your starting point and destination and get matched with a driver. You can identify them by the license plate and name shown in the app — and they usually show up within minutes.
The second option is a private driver. You can book one for a full day on GetYourGuide, or often arrange one through your hotel or boutique hotel in Bali. They’ll take you to all the places you want to visit.
