Renting a scooter in Bali: prices, licence, insurance (2026)

The scooter is Bali's default transport: traffic filters past jams, parking is everywhere, fuel costs pennies. Here's how to rent one without surprises — and when not to ride at all.

Prices

• Daily: roughly 70–120k rupiah for a fresh 110–160cc scooter
• Monthly: from about 1 million rupiah (~$60) for basic models; NMAX/PCX class costs more
• Fuel: about 10–13k rupiah per litre
• Two helmets — ask for them; wearing one is the law and common sense

The licence question

Legal riding requires a motorcycle licence (category A) plus an International Driving Permit. Without them you risk fines at police stops — and, far more importantly, a denied insurance claim after an accident. Medical evacuation and surgery cost thousands of dollars; the licence-insurance pair is what pays that bill.

Renting without surprises

• Rent from a shop with an office and reviews, not "a guy by the beach"
• Film the scooter from all sides before riding off: every scratch, the mirrors, the odometer — your defence against "you scratched it, pay up"
• Test brakes, lights, horn, tyres
• A cash deposit is normal; leaving your passport as deposit is not — offer a copy
• Ask what happens on a breakdown: good shops deliver a replacement

Honest safety talk

Scooter accidents are the number-one source of tourist injuries in Bali. Narrow roads, chaotic traffic, rain-slick surfaces. Ride slow the first days, always helmeted, never after drinking. If that's not your risk profile — no shame: Gojek and Grab cover daily trips, and housing in a walkable spot solves half the problem: the catalogue notes each villa's surroundings, and the area guide shows which areas walk well.