Driving in Bali: Rules, Licences & Tips Before You Rent a Car

Renting a car is one of the best ways to experience Bali on your own schedule — but the island's roads work differently from home. Read this before you pick up the keys and your trip will be far smoother and safer.

Do you need an International Driving Permit?

Yes. To legally drive in Bali you need both your national driving licence and a valid International Driving Permit (IDP). Police regularly stop tourists at checkpoints and ask to see both documents. Just as importantly, most travel and rental insurance policies are void if you drive without the correct licence — meaning you pay for any damage out of pocket.

An IDP is cheap and quick to arrange in your home country, usually through your national automobile association. It is far harder to organise once you have already arrived, so sort it out before you fly.

The road rules that matter most

• Drive on the left. Bali follows left-hand traffic, like the UK, Australia and Japan.
• Seatbelts are mandatory for the driver and front passenger.
• Speed limits are low — typically 40–60 km/h in towns. Traffic is dense and rarely lets you go fast anyway.
• Use your horn lightly to signal "I'm here", especially on blind bends and when overtaking scooters. It is communication, not aggression.
• Never drink and drive. Penalties are serious and the roads are demanding enough sober.

Police checkpoints

Routine checkpoints are common, particularly in tourist areas. Stay calm, smile, and have your licence, IDP, passport and rental documents ready. If everything is in order you will usually be waved on within a minute.

Traffic, scooters and driving style

Bali traffic is busy and fluid. Scooters weave between cars, will pass on both sides, and appear from side roads quickly. Drive defensively, leave space, check mirrors constantly and accept that journeys take longer than the map suggests — a 20 km trip can take well over an hour in peak periods around Canggu, Seminyak and Kuta.

Parking

Most restaurants, beaches and attractions have attended parking for a small fee, and the attendant will often help you reverse out into traffic. In busy areas, parking can be tight, which is one reason a compact hatchback or sedan is easier to live with than a large SUV.

Fuel

Fuel is inexpensive by international standards. Official Pertamina stations are everywhere; in remote areas you will also see roadside vendors selling fuel by the bottle. Keep the tank topped up before long drives to the north or east of the island, where stations are sparser.

Our practical safety tips

• Avoid driving long distances after dark — roads are poorly lit and hazards are harder to see.
• Download offline maps; mobile signal drops in the highlands.
• Photograph the car from all angles at pickup so any existing marks are documented.
• Keep the rental company's number and your emergency contacts saved offline.

Every car we rent comes with insurance, 24/7 roadside support and free delivery across Bali, so help is one call away if you need it. Drive calmly, plan extra time, and Bali by car is hard to beat.