Do I need a licence or an International Driving Permit in Bali?
Yes. To ride legally you need a motorcycle licence from your own country, the physical card, plus an International Driving Permit endorsed for motorcycles. A car licence does not cover a scooter, and neither does an IDP that lists only cars.
By Ade Lanang Prices and rules on this page last checked July 2026.
Arrange the permit at home before you fly: it cannot be issued in Bali. Police run checkpoints on the main roads around Canggu, Kuta and Ubud and stop foreign riders routinely. They will also ask for the STNK, the bike's registration document, so make sure it is with the bike before you leave the shop.
The fine at a checkpoint is the small problem. The bigger one is insurance: riding without the right licence voids most travel policies, which turns a hospital bill after a crash into your own. Carry a passport and a copy of your visa too, and a helmet that fastens for you and for anyone riding behind you.
What you legally need to ride
To ride legally in Bali you need a motorcycle licence from home plus an International Driving Permit carrying the motorcycle category. A car licence is not enough, and neither is a car-only IDP. The fine is the small problem. The large one is that riding unlicensed voids most travel insurance, so a hospital bill after a crash becomes yours in full.
- A motorcycle licence from home, the physical card.
- An International Driving Permit endorsed for motorcycles. Arrange it at home before you fly; it cannot be issued here.
- A passport, plus a copy of the visa currently in it.
- A helmet for you and a helmet for anyone riding behind you. Both are required, and both are checked.
- You must be 18 or over to rent.
More questions about renting a scooter in Bali
- How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Bali?
- How much deposit is normal in Bali?
- How do I avoid the pre-existing damage scam?
- Is renting a scooter in Bali safe?
- Can I rent a scooter for a month in Bali?
- Should I rent from my villa or from a rental shop?
- Do Bali rental shops deliver the scooter?
- What happens if a shop photographs my ID?