Disclaimer
This blog is just stating our experience and what we read from other sites/blogs. In the end it is up to you whether to take the risk or not. If you have never rode a scooter or motorbike before I would not even consider renting one.
To the point
- Check your insurance cover!
- You can rent pretty much anywhere.
- Cheapest for us was via accomodation. 60k Rupiah per day plus 20k petrol.
- Renting cost can apparently range from 50k to 120k per day.
- We did not find one for 50k.
- Always get an helmet and one that fits. (Tiny heads, like Rachael’s, may struggle!)
- Check the bike over for marks/damages.
- Have an international licence before you go – ensure section A is stamped. (UK Edition)
- Take driving license out along with the international one.
- Check you are also given vehicle documentation in case you are stopped by the police.
- It is not like driving at home, be careful and take your time. Other drivers are always unpredictable!
- Police are known to stop foreigners especially if they are not driving safely.
- Police are known to issue fines on the spot for no apparent reason – they make it up on the spot.
Read below for more infomation.
Insurance
Always check your insurance policy to ensure you will be covered if there is an accident whilst on a scooter or bike. Our policy supported our medical bills but would not payout for public liability.
Accidents are common in Bali. Here is a link to one of the many horror stories –
Renting
In short renting via accomodation was the cheapest for us at 60k Rupiah. The other places we asked cost between 80k to 100k. I over heard someone else trying to rent one and they got told 120k.
The pricing can also be determined by the quality. Newer or bigger is often going to be more expensive.
Police and Fake Police 👮🚔
The Real Polisi
Let’s start with the real police. A lot of the research we read stated that police have a tendency to pull foreigners over. There are a few scenarios that we read could happen in this situation.
- The police ask for your license and international license, check and as long as everything is okay and stamped correctly. They will let you get on your merry way.
- Ask for licences etc. You show. They state they’re incorrect and you get a fine.
- Ask for licences. You don’t have them so you get a fine.
- Licences etc. You show. They fine you for another reason such as not wearing your helmet or driving down the wrong side of the road.
The Fake Polisi
The fake police are going to fine you no matter what to get money out of you. At least that is what we got from our research.
The fake police will often have stickers rather than looking like ‘official’ police officers. Their vehicles will be non high tech and look like other local vehicles with a few extra mods. It’s honestly hard to judge who are the real police but never handover your passport. Apparently, this is another way to get money out of you – they take your passport and then require a ‘fee’ to give it back to you.
You will also notice that local people mod their cars in Indonesia with extra lights. I have seen cars with blue flashing lights in the car grill, which can be confusing.
The Cost of the Fine
Again, we can only go on what we read in other blogs and websites but fines ranged from 10k to 500k Rupiah. One blogger stated that it depends what is in your wallet at the time. So maybe carry less or a second wallet with less money in it.
Our Experience
Honestly, nothing happened. We did not get pulled over and we did not get fined. Rachael and I had it for a whole morning and some of the afternoon. Then rode it for a short while in the evening. We did not travel considerable far and roughly drove for 20-30 minutes at a time.
We’re not saying being pulled over does not happen but driving like a dick or unsafely is going to bring attention.
The traffic can be busy, overwhelming and at times dangerous. The locals know the roads and laws better than you, which can make them unpredictable. There was a time when a car just kept on reversing onto a main road and still did so until I pressed my horn.
When on a bike you need to be far more aware of your surroundings and situations therefore you also need quicker reaction times.
Travel to the Point 