Rode a Scooter in Thailand or Vietnam? What's Different When You Rent One in Bali
By the siappergi.com team · Published · 7 min read
If you've ridden around Chiang Mai, Koh Phangan or the Ha Giang loop, Bali will feel familiar: lots of scooters, small shops selling fuel in bottles, the same Honda and Yamaha models. But a few things work differently in Bali, and the habits that served you well elsewhere in South-East Asia aren't always right here. This guide is for experienced backpackers and travellers — what carries over, what doesn't, and how renting a scooter in Bali actually works.
Side of the road: left, like Thailand
Indonesia drives on the left, like Thailand and Malaysia. Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos drive on the right. If you arrive straight from Vietnam, your instincts at junctions and roundabouts will be wrong for the first day or two — turning right across traffic and looking the right way when you pull out are the classic mistakes. Take a slow first ride around your hotel. More: riding on the left in Bali.
Licence and IDP
Travellers often ride elsewhere in the region with little attention to licences. In Bali, police checks for tourists on scooters are common, and riders are expected to carry their home motorcycle licence plus an International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers motorcycles. Insurers also tend to ask whether you were properly licensed when something goes wrong. Bali's local government has also discussed tighter rules for tourists renting scooters — rules can change, so check the latest before you travel: Bali scooter rental rules 2026 and how to get an IDP.
Your passport stays with you
Many travellers in South-East Asia have been asked to leave a passport at a rental shop. With SiapPergi you don't: your passport is shown at handover together with your licence, and you keep it. There's no deposit and nothing to pay in advance — you pay the catalogue price in Indonesian Rupiah when the scooter is delivered. More: scooter rental without leaving your passport.
Scooters you'll recognise
| If you rode… | In Bali, rent… | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Click 125 | Honda Vario 125 | IDR 100,000 |
| Honda Click 160 | Honda Vario 160 | IDR 130,000 |
| Honda Scoopy (Thailand) | Honda Scoopy (Gen 4) | IDR 90,000 |
| Yamaha NMAX | Yamaha NMAX 155 (Gen 2) | IDR 150,000 |
| Honda PCX | Honda PCX 160 (Gen 2) | IDR 150,000 |
| Honda ADV | Honda ADV 160 ABS | IDR 180,000 |
The cheapest scooter in our catalogue is the Honda BeAT (Gen 2–3) at IDR 70,000 per day. Full line-up and area pages: scooter rental in Bali.
Fuel works much the same
Bali has Pertamina petrol stations on the main roads and roadside sellers with fuel in bottles in the villages — just like you're used to. Fill up at stations when you can, and before heading into the mountains or the far east. Pay attention at the pump: attendants fill the tank for you; check the meter starts at zero.
Things that are different in Bali
- Ceremonies and processions. Roads close for temple ceremonies, especially in Ubud and the villages. Pull over, wait, and never ride through a procession. See ceremonies & road closures.
- Offerings on the ground. Small palm-leaf offerings (canang) sit on pavements and in front of shops. Try not to ride or step on them.
- A toll road for scooters. The Bali Mandara toll road over the sea between the airport, Nusa Dua and Benoa has a lane for motorbikes — unusual in the region. See riding the Bali Mandara toll road.
- Traffic density. The Canggu–Seminyak–Kuta area is busier and narrower than most Thai islands. Expect slow afternoons and plan rides around them: Bali traffic hotspots & rush hours.
- No scooters on the Gilis, and none on fast boats. You can't take a Bali rental to Nusa Penida or the Gilis by fast boat — rent again at your destination.
Booking is done by message, not in a shop
Instead of walking along the street comparing bikes, most travellers in Bali book on WhatsApp and have the scooter delivered to their hotel, villa or the airport. You get a fixed total before delivery, check the bike together on arrival and pay then. If you prefer the shop experience, here's the comparison: street rental shop or delivery?.
- Delivered to you — hotel, villa, home or Ngurah Rai Airport, anywhere in mainland Bali, with pick-up at the end. No delivery fee.
- Pay in Indonesian Rupiah when the scooter arrives (bank transfer or e-wallet). Nothing is paid in advance.
- No deposit, and your passport is not held — you only show it with your licence at handover.
- 2 helmets with every scooter. Minimum rental 2 days.
- Tap the WhatsApp button and fill in the blanks: scooter, dates, hotel or villa pin.
- The admin replies with what's free, the exact total and a delivery time — you see the full price before you commit.
- The scooter arrives with 2 helmets. Check it together, show your passport and licence + IDP, then pay.
Your experience is valuable — but Bali punishes overconfidence on gravel bends and wet roads like anywhere else. Ride your first day on the scooter you rented, not the one you rode last month.
Ready to rent a scooter or car?
Fixed catalogue prices, delivered to your hotel or villa. Book on WhatsApp and pay when the vehicle arrives.
All areas & scooter models
Frequently asked questions
Does Bali drive on the left like Thailand?
Yes. Indonesia drives on the left, like Thailand. Vietnam drives on the right, so riders coming from Vietnam should take an easy first day.
Do I need an IDP to ride a scooter in Bali?
Riders are expected to carry their home motorcycle licence plus an International Driving Permit with the motorcycle category. Check the latest rules before you travel.
Will a Bali rental keep my passport?
Not with SiapPergi. You show your passport at handover and keep it; there's no deposit and you pay when the scooter is delivered.
Is the Honda Vario the same as the Click?
The Honda Vario sold in Indonesia is the sibling of the Honda Click sold in Thailand, so it will feel familiar.
Can I take my Bali scooter to Nusa Penida or the Gili Islands?
No — fast boats don't carry scooters, and the Gilis don't allow them. Rent again at your destination.
This guide follows the SiapPergi editorial policy: facts are checked, market prices are given as ranges and mistakes are corrected. Spotted something wrong? Report a correction.
