Travel · Bali · Practical
Renting a Scooter in Bali: Our Tips, Licence and Riding in the Rain
In Bali we got around by scooter on both of our trips. On our first trip, in December 2022, my husband got an Indonesian licence through an agency in about an hour. On our second trip we rented a Yamaha NMAX 155 for $7 a day.
This is what we learned: which scooter to rent, what the licence cost us, how riding in Bali feels, what to do in the rain, and what petrol costs now.
Renting a scooter in Bali: what we did
On our trips to Bali we got around by scooter. We rented ours from rentscooterbali.com. This isn’t an ad, they are simply good guys and we were happy with them. The scooter came with two helmets, a raincoat, a phone holder and a refundable deposit, and they never asked for our passport. They also deliver and pick up.
When we rented a Yamaha NMAX 155 in 2025, it cost us $7 a day. Prices change, so check the current ones before you book.
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Not European riding: a bit slower, and balance comes with practice.
Which scooter to rent
Don’t take a small one like a Scoopy. It may not climb the steep hills: friends of ours fell on one in the mountains. A fairly new scooter of 150 to 200 cc is more than enough for two people. Our NMAX 155 was steady on the climbs and the narrow roads, even in very heavy rain, and I wasn’t scared at all.
When we parked, scooters stood in neat rows next to each other, so it helps to remember where you left yours.
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The licence: what we did and what we know
My husband got his Indonesian driving licence (SIM C) in December 2022, on our first trip, through an agency, legalindonesia.id (this isn’t an ad; if you want to get a licence, our experience may be useful). It took about an hour: he had a photo taken and then picked up the licence, and the whole thing cost about $150. This is only our experience from 2022, and rules and prices can change, so ask the rental company or an agency what is needed when you go.
Some travellers ride with an international driving permit and their home licence instead, so check the requirements for your own country too.
Without a licence you can be fined. Guides list IDR 300,000 to 500,000 (about $18 to $30) for each missing document, and IDR 250,000 for riding without a helmet. We can’t confirm those figures ourselves, because the police never stopped us on any of our trips.
Our SIM C, 2022 (1 hour)about $150
Fine per missing documentIDR 300,000–500,000
Fine, no helmetIDR 250,000
The licence price is what we paid in 2022. The fines are listed by travel guides, not by us, and can change.
Riding in Bali: our tips
Canggu was the hardest place to ride. There is a lot of traffic, and it moves in its own way.
It isn’t European riding: go a bit slower than you would at home. At slow speed, use your feet to balance. On the upside, at junctions nobody rushes through, so you can judge for yourself whether you can pass. Everyone honks, and it isn’t rude. It is a signal at junctions and when changing lanes, so don’t take it personally.
Practise alone first, because balance is harder with a passenger behind you. Give yourself a few days to get used to it. And in the end, riding together felt like part of the trip.
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Riding in the rain
Our two trips were very different. In December 2022 it should have been the rainy season, but rain was rare: at night or in the morning, and over in a couple of hours. On our second trip, in December 2024 and January 2025, it rained much more often, so be ready.
Buy a good raincoat at home, because local ones are often poor quality, and take a hoodie. In heavy rain on the NMAX I wasn’t afraid at all, but roads get slippery, so ride slowly. For a rainy day we also did Sangeh Monkey Forest and Nungnung Waterfall, and we wore shorts, tank tops, raincoats and slippers.
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Petrol and small things on the road
Petrol was small in our budget, and we filled up with Pertamax. The prices Pertamina listed on 18 October 2026 were IDR 10,000 a litre for Pertalite, IDR 15,950 for Pertamax and IDR 19,600 for Pertamax Turbo.
On the pavements and in the streets you will see small offerings of flowers and food. They are part of daily life in Bali, so just watch where you step and ride.
PertaliteIDR 10,000 / litre
PertamaxIDR 15,950 / litre
Pertamax TurboIDR 19,600 / litre
Pertamina prices listed on 18 October 2026. They change, so check at the pump.
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Should you rent a scooter in Bali?
For us, yes. A scooter let us reach Jatiluwih, Sangeh, Nungnung and cafes in town on our own timing. It is not for everyone, though: if you feel unsure, practise alone first, take the licence seriously and choose a calmer area than Canggu to start.
We were in several areas on two trips, and I wrote about where we stayed in Bali and what each area is like. For a day out, see Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.
