We spent more than four months on Bali. During this time, we gained some (sometimes painful) experiences with scooter riding. To save you some of these experiences, we’ve summarized all the information and tips on renting a scooter in Bali for you at a glance.

To get from A to B on the island, renting a scooter is a good idea. A scooter in Bali is the most important means of transport – that’s why there are what feels like 10 million scooters across the entire island. With a scooter, you are free, flexible, and always mobile. You can also discover the many Bali highlights, such as volcanoes, mountains, rice fields, beautiful jungle-like backroads, sleepy villages, or even explore the coast and the sea by scooter.

The good thing is, it doesn’t even cost much – you can do it for just a few euros a day! However, you do have to be prepared for the chaotic traffic and allow enough time, especially during rush hour. It’s best to drive passively, not too fast, and be extra careful. Riding a scooter isn’t for everyone. We only recommend this means of transport if you are confident and experienced at riding a scooter!

  • 1. Rent a scooter in Bali, but where?
  • 2. What kind of scooter can I rent in Bali?
  • 3. How much does a scooter cost in Bali?
  • 4. Where can I fill up my Bali scooter?
  • 5. What should you pay attention to when renting a scooter in Bali?
    • 5.1 Left-hand traffic
    • 5.2 Indonesian traffic
    • 5.3 Honking
    • 5.4 Repairs
    • 5.5 Roads (stones, sand, gravel, etc.)
    • 5.6 Sun protection & respiratory protection
    • 5.7 Helmets
    • 5.8 Valuables
    • 5.9 Taking a map with you
    • 5.10 Driver’s license
    • 5.11 Police checks
    • 5.12 Accident insurance
    • 5.13 Scooter check
    • 5.14 Animals on the streets
    • 5.15 Rain
  • 6. Conclusion: Renting a scooter in Bali

1. Rent a scooter in Bali, but where?

You don’t really have to look for scooter rental companies; you’ll find them practically on every street corner, in every alley and side street. You can also ask at your accommodation if you want a scooter; many have partner rental companies and can quickly organize one for you or at least help with recommendations and directions. Especially with street rental companies, you’ll have to negotiate the price yourself. If you book for a longer period, you often get a discount; negotiate here too!

2. What kind of scooter can I rent in Bali?

The standard scooters are automatic scooters. Apart from braking and accelerating, you don’t really have to pay much attention to. There are no gears, so you don’t have to shift gears. Like on a bicycle, you brake on the left and right of the steering wheel, and you accelerate on the right side. We think the automatic scooter is ideal for beginners and newbies. But it’s also very comfortable. But be careful, the scooters usually have more than 50cc and therefore cannot be driven with a car license. At least “officially.”

3. How much does a scooter cost in Bali?

We rented our scooter for just 3 days and paid 60,000 IDR per day (approximately €3.70). However, if you rent a scooter for a week or a month, you definitely have to negotiate. It also depends on where you are. It can often be more expensive in tourist areas because demand is high, and locals and rental companies raise their prices.

But on average, a scooter costs around 50,000 IDR per day in many areas. Very often you have to leave some kind of deposit, so do yourself a favor and never give out your passport! Bring an ID and say you don’t have anything else with you.

4. Where can I fill up my Bali scooter?

You can also get gas on every corner. The main streets are filled with small shops, kiosks, souvenir stores, and other knick-knacks. Usually, the vendors have the gas bottled in 1.5L plastic and glass bottles and place them on a shelf in front of their shop. Just stop and buy it! The vendors will then get their funnel and fill it into your tank. It’s all super easy!

However, gas directly from a gas station is usually cheaper and of higher quality. So, if possible, fill up at a gas station. It’s not uncommon for the gas to last twice as long as gas from the street. We paid 18,000 IDR (€1.10) for 2 liters and 10,100 IDR (€0.63) for 1 liter. It can be even cheaper. Overall, the whole “scooter rental in Bali” thing is a super affordable affair.

5. What should you keep in mind when renting a scooter in Bali?

Test yourself and your skills beforehand in a square, on an empty street, etc., and only drive off when you feel confident. We first tried it on side roads before we really got going.

5.1 Left-hand traffic

Remember – Indonesia drives on the left! But it’s all easy – it’s not that difficult. Turning takes a bit of getting used to, but otherwise, it’s not a big deal. You’ll almost always be flowing with the traffic or have someone in front of you. It wouldn’t even occur to you to drive on the wrong side of the road…

5.2 Indonesia Traffic

The streets are often overcrowded, people push and shove, and everyone drives as they please. Scooters squeeze in everywhere, with the occasional car, minibus, or bicycle. There are virtually no real traffic rules in Indonesia—at least, almost no one follows them. But if you drive carefully, everything will be fine. As I said, just “go with the flow” of traffic.

5.3 Honking

Honks are usually only used to draw attention to oneself. A short honk is used, especially when overtaking. So if you want to pass someone, give a short honk and drive carefully.

5.4 Repairs

Something wrong with your scooter? No problem! In most villages or towns, you’ll always find someone who can help you. You’ll often recognize the small workshops, where you can get oil changes, tire repairs, or other services. But don’t get ripped off. We always paid between 50,000 and 70,000 IDR (€5) for a new tire.

5.5 Roads (stones, sand, gravel, etc.)

Drive carefully on uneven, wet, rocky, or sandy roads. The risk of skidding is particularly high when braking and steering! Take your time and ride relaxed. After all, you’re on vacation and don’t want to end up in the hospital, do you?

5.6 Sun Protection & Respiratory Protection

If you’re going to be on your scooter for a while, feeling the wind whizzing past your ears in bright sunshine, you should apply plenty of sunscreen beforehand. You can get a pretty bad sunburn on your shoulders, face, and legs. We speak from experience.

Especially during rush hour, respiratory protection is sometimes very useful. 30 scooters playing with the gas at a red light is not uncommon… By then, you’ll definitely notice how harmful the exhaust fumes and smoke are for your lungs.

5.7 Helmets

Riding without a helmet is irresponsible! Anything can happen, so you should protect yourself. You do that at home too, right? Especially because you always have to reckon with other people’s stupidity. So never ride without a helmet!

Another tip: Don’t just hang your scooter on the mirror or handlebars after your ride. Clamp the strap and helmet fastener in the compartment at home and leave the helmet dangling outside. Or just take your helmet with you – that way you won’t make it so easy for thieves to steal your bike.

5.8 Valuables

You can usually fold up the seat. As usual, your vehicle documents are also located here. You’ll also find some storage space for small items. However, we would still advise against leaving such items (mobile phone, money, camera, etc.) in the scooter when you park it.

5.9 Take a map with you

You can also save maps offline in Google Maps. You should definitely do this if you plan to travel further afield. At least having a map of Bali with you is never a bad idea. There you’ll see the major roads and be able to orient yourself much better (if you don’t have internet/GPS with you).

5.10 Driver’s License

You should have both a driver’s license and an international driver’s license with you. Often, however, neither is required. However, you might get stopped by the police at some point, and you should have both with you.

5.11 Police Check

If you’re unlucky, you might even be stopped by a police patrol. Keep in mind: Indonesia is a very corrupt country. Police officers often invent reasons why you should pay something. For example, friends were asked to pay a fine for driving with their lights on – at night, mind you. How much does that cost? Generally, always as much as you have in your wallet!

For this reason, you should never carry a lot of money in your wallet. Put most of your money in another wallet or in your backpack. So, I always only carry my driver’s license and “some” change in my wallet. Better safe than sorry. Friends have even evaded arbitrary fines by simply refusing to understand what the police officer wanted from them. That’s another possibility.

5.12 Accident Insurance

Often there is no insurance at all. You just drive off and are liable for everything that happens. That’s absolutely normal there. Every now and then, however, there’s something like “insurance.” But that costs a lot of money. Will this money actually be used to purchase insurance? Be sure to inquire about this topic when renting a scooter. We would like to urge you to drive carefully again at this point.

5.13 Scooter Check

Before you set off, you should check the scooter, its functions, and any defects. Do the lights, horn, brake, gas, etc. work? Is there any damage you should point out beforehand? You should definitely take photos of the entire scooter and note all damage (scratches, dents, etc.) on the contract.

5.14 Animals on the Streets

The many street dogs are typical throughout Indonesia. So be careful when riding your scooter. Every now and then, a four-legged friend will wander into the middle of the road.

5.15 Rain

If it rains, take your foot off the gas. It can get slippery, especially around bends and when braking hard. And to avoid getting completely soaked right away, buy a simple rain poncho for a few rupees.

6. Conclusion: Renting a Scooter in Bali

We never had any problems riding a scooter in Bali. We always enjoy exploring a region this way. However, you should be very experienced. The traffic is very chaotic, and dangerous situations can arise from time to time. You should also not hold anything in your hands while driving. It’s common to get robbed while driving!

You should also consider what insurance you have for traveling abroad. If something happens to you while driving, you should know exactly how covered you are. You don’t end up having to pay expensive hospital bills out of your own pocket or causing damage to other people or property. Check out our article on travel insurance.