Scooter Riding Guide in Bali
Part of the Bali travel guide — see every topic in All Bali Guides.
A scooter is how Bali works. It costs 70,000–150,000 rupiah a day, parks anywhere, halves every journey time and gets you down lanes no car fits. It is also the reason a predictable number of visitors go home with skin grafts, and occasionally do not go home at all. The risk is entirely manageable and almost entirely a function of four decisions: whether you are licensed, whether you wear a real helmet, whether you ride at night, and whether you ride within your actual ability.
The legal position
You need an international driving permit endorsed for motorcycles, plus your home motorcycle licence. A car-only IDP does not cover a scooter. Police checkpoints are routine, particularly around Canggu, Kuta and Ubud, and riding unlicensed costs an on-the-spot fine. Far more importantly, every mainstream travel insurance policy will decline a medical claim if you were riding without the correct licence — and a serious scooter injury on Bali means a private hospital bill and possibly a medical evacuation, which runs into tens of thousands of pounds.
The bike and the gear
Rent from a shop rather than a street tout, photograph the bike from every angle before you ride off, and check the brakes, tyres and lights yourself. A 110–125cc automatic is right for almost everyone; larger bikes are unnecessary and harder to handle in traffic. Reject the token helmet: buy your own for 200,000–400,000 rupiah, with a chin strap that works and a visor. Wear closed shoes and something over your arms and legs — the standard Bali injury is gravel rash from a low-speed spill, and shorts and flip-flops guarantee it.
Riding here
Traffic flows rather than follows rules: expect scooters to undertake, cars to pull out, and everyone to use the horn as a signal rather than a complaint. Ride predictably, look far ahead, and never assume anyone has seen you. Roads are potholed, unlit outside towns, frequently sandy at the edges and shared with dogs, chickens and trucks. Rain makes them genuinely slippery within seconds. Do not ride at night on unfamiliar roads. Do not ride after drinking — enforcement has tightened and it is the commonest factor in serious accidents.
Practical notes
Fuel is sold at petrol stations and from roadside racks of bottles; both are fine, and a fill is around 20,000 rupiah. Parking is 2,000–5,000 rupiah to an attendant. Ubud's centre and parts of Canggu are congested enough that walking is faster. If you have never ridden a motorbike, Bali is a bad place to learn: take a lesson in a car park, ride in Sanur or Ubud's back lanes first, and stay off the bypass and the Uluwatu road until you are comfortable. Or use ride-hail, which is cheap and removes the problem entirely.
Scooter Riding Guide at a glance
| Hire | IDR 70,000–150,000 per day; IDR 700k–1.2m per month |
|---|---|
| Licence | IDP with motorcycle endorsement plus home licence |
| Insurance | Void without it — and evacuation costs are enormous |
| Helmet | Buy your own, IDR 200,000–400,000 |
| Never | Ride at night on unfamiliar roads, or after drinking |
| Beginners | Learn in Sanur or Ubud's back lanes, not the bypass |