Rent a Scooter in Bali: How to Choose, Where to Rent, and What Tourists Need to Know
- Olga Kurak
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
Hi,
One of the most popular posts on my blog is “Bali Travel Itinerary: My 10-Day Guide for First-Time Visitors”, so after a long break from blogging, I decided to come back with something useful for those visiting Bali for the first time and wanting to understand whether it’s a good idea to rent a scooter in Bali without riding experience, where and how to rent one on the island, how to choose and check it properly before renting, how to choose a helmet, what you need to know about insurance, and even what to wear when riding a scooter.
Contents
No Riding Experience?
So, you’ve arrived in Bali for the first time and, of course, you already know that everyone here rides scooters. Naturally, you want to do the same, but you have no riding experience.
So my first piece of advice is:
Do not ride a scooter without experience, first of all for your own safety and the safety of other road users.
Some people still decide to take the risk, and many of these stories end with a “holiday” in hospital because of injuries. When I first came to Bali, I thought riding a scooter would be like riding a bicycle, but it’s really not 😊
Traffic in Bali is very intense: you need to know how to manoeuvre and react quickly to different situations — without experience, this is difficult. On top of that, in busy tourist areas there are many tourists with very little riding experience, which creates additional risks for everyone.
Locals don’t always follow traffic rules very strictly. I would describe their driving style as rather “intuitive” — you need to “feel” the other drivers on the road and anticipate what they are going to do. Add left-hand traffic to that, especially if you come from a country where people drive on the right, and all of this makes riding in Bali quite challenging.
Alternatives to Renting a Scooter
So what should you do instead?
If you don’t have riding experience, the easiest option is to use Gojek or Grab. With these apps, you can order a taxi by scooter or car, get food delivered from cafés and restaurants, or even order groceries from shops.
The interface is intuitive: once you download the app, enter your details, add a payment card — and that’s it, you’re ready to use it.
Another option is to take a few scooter riding lessons to see how comfortable you feel.
Driving Licence and Police
All foreign tourists who want to ride a scooter in Bali must have a valid national driving licence with a motorcycle category/entitlement, as well as an International Driving Permit (IDP) that also covers motorcycles.
A standard car licence, such as category B, is not enough to legally ride a scooter. Indonesian police also emphasise that foreigners renting motorcycles must have the appropriate licence category.
An International Driving Permit does not replace your national driving licence — you need to carry both. In Indonesia, international driving permits are regulated under the system of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
What happens in practice? What should you do to avoid problems with the police?
When you rent a scooter from a local rental service, they don’t always check whether you have the required motorcycle category and IDP. More often, they may simply ask whether you have a driving licence and whether you have experience riding a scooter or motorcycle. If you say yes, they will usually rent the scooter to you.
Many tourists ride scooters in Bali without the required documents, but they do so at their own risk. Apart from possible problems with the police, not having the appropriate licence may also affect your insurance in case of an accident.
Do people offer and accept bribes here? Personally, I’ve never had this experience. From what other people have told me, both happen 😊. My sincere advice is: if the police stop you, be polite. Very often simple human kindness and politeness help resolve a situation much better than being rude or trying to “make a deal”.
What can you do to avoid attracting unnecessary police attention?
ALWAYS wear a helmet and follow the traffic rules. Both the driver and passenger should wear a helmet. It can save you not only from problems with the police, but sometimes even save your life.
Where to Rent a Scooter in Bali and How to Choose One
Wherever you stay in Bali’s tourist areas, you will find plenty of scooter rental options. The quickest way is simply to ask at your hotel reception or the owner of the villa where you are staying. They usually work with local scooter rental companies or may even have their own rental service.
Don’t choose a scooter based only on price or appearance. Consider your riding experience, where you are planning to ride — all around Bali, where there are many mountainous areas and plenty of hills on the Bukit as well, or simply from your villa to cafés within the same resort area — your height and weight (yes, this is important too), and the technical condition of the scooter.
For beginners and short trips, lightweight models such as the Honda Scoopy or Honda Beat 110 cc are good options. They are easier to handle, park and manoeuvre through traffic.
I’ve been loyal to my Scoopy since 2020. At 158 cm tall and 50 kg, I can comfortably reach the ground with my feet and push the scooter when needed — especially when I need to get out of a parking spot after being blocked in from all sides.
But when my husband and I ride together, my Scoopy is already a little too weak. Santi calls it a bicycle 😊.
If you already have experience and plan to ride a lot, a good all-round option is the Honda Vario 125/160. It is also comfortable enough for two people.
For two people, for men, for longer journeys or for areas with lots of hills, such as Uluwatu, Bukit or central Bali, the Honda PCX 160 or Yamaha NMAX 155 may be more comfortable.
Keep in mind that the NMAX and PCX are significantly heavier, so they can be more difficult for beginners, especially at low speeds, when parking or making turns.
I said these models are comfortable for men, but women love them too 😊 If you’re a woman, a confident rider and of average height or taller — absolutely, this could be a good option for you as well.
What to Check Before Renting a Scooter
Before accepting a scooter from a rental company, always check:
The year of manufacture — generally, the newer the scooter, the better.
Inspect the scooter from the outside for any scratches or damage.
Check the tyres — they should have good tread, with no cracks or badly worn areas.
Check the headlights, brake light, indicators, horn and mirrors.
Ask if you can take it for a short test ride. During the test ride, check the BRAKES!!! — both the front and rear brakes should respond immediately. Pay attention to whether the handlebars pull to one side and whether you hear any strange noises or feel excessive vibration. If you notice anything wrong, even something small, ask to see another scooter. This is about your safety.
If you rent a scooter with surfboard racks, check those too: make sure everything is securely attached, there are no loose screws or unusual noises, and that the racks don’t restrict the movement of the scooter or get in the way of you or your passenger.
Once you have chosen your scooter:
Take photos or a video of all existing scratches and damage before the rental begins, as well as the fuel level and licence plate.
You should be given the scooter’s registration document, STNK. Check that the information in the document matches your scooter.
A raincoat is usually provided with the scooter as well. I would also recommend carrying a small first-aid kit. If one isn’t provided, you can easily buy one at a nearby pharmacy or shop.
And, of course, you should be given a helmet for every person riding the scooter — one or two, depending on how many of you there are.
How to Choose a Helmet
And now about the HELMET — what should you pay attention to?
Size. The helmet should fit snugly around your head without being painfully tight or uncomfortable. When you move your head from side to side, the helmet shouldn’t move around freely.
Fastening. Make sure the chin strap is secure and that the buckle doesn’t come undone by itself.
Certification. In Indonesia, look for the SNI (Standar Nasional Indonesia) mark. If the helmet also has an international certification such as ECE 22.06, even better. Police may pay attention to helmet certification if they stop you.
Condition. Don’t accept a helmet with cracks, heavy wear, damaged inner padding or a loose fastening system.
Visor. It should be clear, without major scratches, and should open and close properly.
Helmet type. The safest option is a full-face helmet, because it protects not only your head but also your chin and face. For short everyday trips, many people use open-face helmets, but they provide less protection.
If you rent a scooter from a typical local rental service, you will often be offered a cheap helmet that originally came with the scooter when it was purchased. I wouldn’t rely on this type of helmet for a high level of protection, so ask for a replacement or buy a good-quality helmet yourself.
Search Google Maps for the nearest helmet shop — there are plenty of them here. For affordable options, I would look at popular Indonesian brands such as NHK, KYT, INK or JPX, which offer SNI-certified models from around Rp 300,000–600,000 ($17–35).
If you plan to ride a lot, it’s worth spending more on a full-face helmet with ECE 22.06 certification. For example, the KYT TT Revo, which has ECE 22.06 certification, can be found on Tokopedia from an official seller starting at around Rp 1.2 million ($65).
HELMET KYT R10 HELMET INK CL MAX SOLID HELMET JPX FORCES X867
Insurance
Among local rental services, I haven’t often come across ones that provide comprehensive insurance. Sometimes you will see “insurance included” in online advertising, but always check exactly what this insurance covers.
Often, it only covers damage to or loss of the scooter itself, rather than your medical treatment in case of an accident.
That’s why it’s better to have your own travel insurance that covers medical expenses during your trip and specifically allows you to ride a scooter/motorcycle.
Always check the conditions of your policy, because standard travel insurance does not automatically cover scooter accidents.
What to Wear When Riding a Scooter
It may seem like such a simple question, but I often see tourists making the same mistakes. I made them myself in the beginning 😊. Here are a few things to pay attention to:
Comfortable closed shoes. If I’m going on a longer ride, I prefer trainers. Closed shoes make it easier to push the scooter, and you feel much more stable when standing on the ground. They also offer some protection if someone accidentally rides over your foot.
Apply sunscreen, especially to exposed areas: your arms, hands, lower legs, face and neck — particularly the back of your neck. Here, you can burn in just a few minutes during peak sun hours without protection. When you’re riding a scooter, you don’t really notice it because of the breeze, and then in the evening your skin is completely red.
Cover your shoulders and arms — for example, with a sarong or a lightweight linen long-sleeved shirt. For longer rides (and for me, honestly, even 10 minutes already counts as a long ride 😄), wear lightweight trousers made of linen or other natural fabrics to protect yourself from dust and dirt, the sun and small stones from the road.
Always carry a raincoat. In Bali, rain can start very suddenly, even if it was sunny just a few minutes earlier. This is especially important during the rainy season and when travelling to central Bali. It’s best to keep a lightweight raincoat under the scooter seat and simply carry it with you all the time. I prefer sets with a hooded jacket and trousers — they protect you not only from the rain but also from the cold. You simply put the whole set on over your clothes.
Afterword
To sum up everything above:
Don’t rent a scooter if you have no riding experience.
Always wear a helmet, whether you are the driver or passenger.
Follow the traffic rules, but always remember that people on the road have very different levels of experience, and you need to be extra careful because not everyone follows the rules.
Never ride a scooter under the influence of alcohol or any other substances or medications that may affect your reaction time, concentration or coordination.
Have an insurance policy that covers riding a scooter.
Be polite on the road.
I hope this post will be useful if you decide to rent a scooter in Bali for the first time. If you have your own experience, anything to add, or any questions — leave a comment, and I’ll be happy to reply.
Thank you for reading 💛
Yours,
Olya
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