Riding a Motorcycle in Bali: Rules, Licences and Road Sense

Most problems tourists have on a rented bike in Bali come from three things: the wrong
paperwork, the left-hand traffic, and riding at night on roads they have not seen in daylight.
None of them are difficult to avoid.

The paperwork you actually need

Indonesia requires a motorcycle licence. For a visitor that means the licence from your own
country plus an International Driving Permit endorsed for motorcycles — category A.
A car-only permit does not cover you on a bike, and neither does a licence from home on its own.

This matters beyond the fine. Riding without the correct permit invalidates travel and medical
insurance in most policies, and it is the first thing an insurer asks about after an accident.
Police checks on the main roads through Kuta, Legian and Denpasar are routine, not occasional.

Traffic drives on the left

If you learned to ride on the right, the two moments that catch people out are pulling out of a
driveway and turning across traffic at a junction. Both are worth doing deliberately slowly for the
first day. Roundabouts run clockwise. Overtaking is done on the right.

Helmets

Compulsory for rider and passenger, and enforced. A helmet comes with every rental from us at no
extra charge; ask for a second one when you book if you are riding two-up and we will bring it.

Road conditions worth knowing

• Rain. Bali roads go slippery within seconds of a downpour, particularly the
  first rain after a dry spell, when oil lifts off the surface. If it starts hard, pull over.
• Gravel and sand. Common on corner exits after rain and near construction. It
  is the most frequent cause of low-speed drops.
• Dogs and chickens. Village stretches, any time of day. Expect them.
• Night. Many roads outside the south are unlit, and some vehicles run without
  lights. Distances take longer than the map suggests.
• Fuel. Use Pertamax (RON 92) rather than the cheapest grade, especially on
  larger engines. Stations thin out inland and on the Bukit peninsula.

If something goes wrong

Call us first — +62 812 2885 3301. If the bike fails we repair or replace it and you do not pay for the
lost time. After an accident, contact us before agreeing anything with the other party or a repair
shop: settling on the spot without a record usually costs more, and it can void the optional
insurance cover if you took it.

Before you ride away

Check the fuel level, the brakes and the tyre pressure with us at handover, and photograph any
existing damage. Save our WhatsApp number. Confirm the deposit — it starts at 2,000,000 IDR and
rises with the value of the bike — and whether you have added insurance, which is optional and not
part of the base rate. Note that the minimum rental is three days.

More on licences, deposits and cover on our FAQ page, and the whole fleet
with daily rates in the catalogue.