Renting a scooter in Bali is often portrayed as easy, cheap, and fun. In reality, it is one of the most dangerous things tourists regularly do on the island. Every year, many foreigners are seriously injured or killed in scooter accidents in Bali. Most of these accidents are not freak events — they are predictable and preventable.
Before you decide to ride, it’s important to understand what you’re actually dealing with.
Why driving a scooter in Bali is dangerous
Bali does not have a Western-style traffic system. Roads are chaotic, rules are loosely followed, and traffic behavior changes from village to village. Even experienced riders often underestimate how quickly situations can turn dangerous.
Key dangers include:
Unpredictable traffic
Cars, trucks, buses, scooters, dogs, chickens, and pedestrians all share the same space. Vehicles often pull out without looking, overtake blindly, or stop suddenly.
Poor road conditions
Potholes, loose gravel, sand, oil spills, and broken asphalt are common — even on main roads. At night or after rain, these hazards are extremely hard to see.
Lack of enforcement
While police checks exist, everyday traffic rules are rarely enforced. This leads to risky behavior becoming “normal,” which tourists are not prepared for.
Inexperience of tourists
Many visitors have never ridden a scooter before or have only driven under safe Western conditions. Bali is not the place to learn.
Alcohol and fatigue
Scooters are frequently ridden after drinking or late at night. This is one of the biggest contributors to fatal accidents involving foreigners and even locals.
Weather conditions
During the rainy season (roughly November to March), roads become slippery within minutes. Rain mixed with oil residue makes braking distances dangerously long.
The reality: people do die riding scooters in Bali
This is not an exaggeration.
Foreign embassies, hospitals, and insurance companies consistently report serious injuries and deaths involving tourists on scooters. Head trauma is the most common cause of death, often because riders were:
- Not wearing helmets
- Wearing low-quality helmets
- Riding too fast
- Riding without experience
Many of these incidents result in no insurance payout, leaving families with massive medical bills or repatriation costs.
If you choose to ride, this is how to reduce risk as much as possible
There is no such thing as “safe” scooter riding in Bali — only safer riding.
Only ride if you already have experience
If you’ve never ridden a scooter or motorbike before, do not start in Bali. No exceptions.
Have the correct license
You legally need an International Driving Permit (IDP) with a motorbike endorsement. Without it:
- You are not insured
- You will be fined at police checks
- Any accident becomes your full financial responsibility
Always wear a proper helmet
Not the thin plastic ones often provided by rentals. A full, solid helmet can be the difference between a concussion and death.
Ride defensively at all times
Assume:
- No one sees you
- No one will give way
- Anyone can stop or turn at any moment
Never assume priority, even if you “have the right of way.”
Avoid riding at night
Poor lighting, drunk drivers, animals, and potholes make night riding extremely dangerous. Many fatal accidents happen after dark.
Slow down — always
Speed is the main factor in serious injuries. Even a minor crash at low speed can be survivable. At higher speeds, it often isn’t.
Inspect the scooter carefully
Before riding:
- Test brakes
- Check tire condition
- Test lights and indicators
- Photograph existing damage
Do not ride in heavy rain
If rain starts, slow down immediately or stop. Wet roads in Bali are one of the biggest accident triggers.
Insurance: what many travelers get wrong
Most scooter rentals offer no real insurance. Even travel insurance often excludes:
- Riding without a proper license
- Riding without a helmet
- Riding under the influence
This means one accident can cost tens of thousands of dollars, paid out of pocket.
Safer alternatives to scooters
If safety is a priority, these options are far better:
Grab or Gojek
Affordable, widely available, and the driver carries the risk.
Private driver
Ideal for longer distances and day trips. More expensive, but far safer.
Blue Bird Taxi
Reliable, regulated, and suitable for families or groups.
Final word: be honest with yourself
Yes, scooters are convenient in Bali. But they are also the single biggest risk factor for tourists on the island.
If you are not experienced, properly licensed, fully insured, and disciplined enough to ride defensively at all times, a scooter is not worth the risk.
Bali is beautiful — but it is not forgiving on the road.
