Driving around Bali can be very different from driving in a familiar city or in your home country. Tourist areas can have busy roads filled with cars, scooters, pedestrians, and other road users, while routes outside the main resort areas may become narrower, winding, or less familiar.
Road safety is also a practical concern for visitors. Bali recorded 8,498 road accidents in 2025, according to BPS Bali, based on data from the Bali Regional Police. Bali Police has also repeatedly urged foreign visitors and vehicle rental operators to pay closer attention to local traffic rules, particularly around motorcycle use and common high risk violations.
Avoiding an accident starts with understanding the road environment, following traffic rules, and knowing when driving yourself may not be the most practical option. Here are the most important tips to reduce your risk of a vehicle accident while traveling around Bali.
10 Tips to Avoid Vehicle Accidents in Bali
Bali’s road conditions can change significantly during the same journey. You may move from a busy tourist road into a narrow local street, encounter a large number of scooters, or reach a winding route with limited visibility. Here’s what to keep in mind before and during your journey.
1. Drive on the Left Side of the Road
Indonesia uses left hand traffic, so visitors from countries where vehicles drive on the right need to adjust as soon as they begin driving in Bali.
The difference becomes particularly important when turning at intersections, changing lanes, entering roundabouts, or making a U turn. It is easy to instinctively position the vehicle according to the driving system you are familiar with, especially during the first few hours behind the wheel.
Take extra care when leaving an airport, hotel, parking area, or unfamiliar road where the correct direction may not feel automatic yet.
2. Always Wear a Helmet or Seat Belt
Safety equipment should be used on every journey, regardless of how short the trip may be.
If you are riding a motorcycle, wear a properly fastened helmet. If you are traveling by car, use the seat belt and make sure passengers do the same.
Bali Police has specifically identified failure to wear helmets or seat belts among the traffic violations being targeted in road safety operations.
A short trip from a hotel to a nearby restaurant is still a road journey, so there is little reason to treat safety equipment as optional.
3. Do Not Use Your Phone While Driving
Using a phone while driving can take your attention away from traffic at exactly the moment you need to react.
Avoid:
- Texting while driving
- Holding your phone while riding
- Checking messages at intersections
- Changing navigation while the vehicle is moving
- Looking at notifications while driving
If you need navigation, set your destination before starting the journey. If you need to change the route, stop somewhere appropriate before using your phone.
Bali Police has specifically highlighted mobile phone use while driving as a violation that can interfere with concentration and contribute to road safety risks.
4. Slow Down on Unfamiliar Roads
A road that looks easy on a map can feel very different once you are actually driving it.
Bali has narrow local roads, sharp turns, changing road surfaces, busy intersections, construction areas, and roads where visibility can be limited. You may also encounter pedestrians, parked vehicles, motorcycles, or other road users with little warning.
Adjust your speed to the road rather than trying to maintain the same speed throughout the entire journey.
This is particularly important when traveling outside the main tourist areas or taking routes you have never driven before. Bali Police has also warned that visitors who are not sufficiently skilled at riding motorcycles should avoid riding independently.
5. Give Extra Attention to Scooters and Motorcycles
Motorcycles are a major part of everyday traffic in Bali, so drivers need to constantly account for them.
When driving a car, watch carefully for motorcycles approaching from behind, moving through traffic, changing position, or passing your vehicle. Be particularly attentive at intersections and when changing lanes.
If you are riding a scooter yourself, remember that other road users may have different speeds, positions, and intentions. Do not assume that another vehicle will always react the way you expect.
The safest approach is to maintain awareness of the space around your vehicle rather than focusing only on the road directly ahead.
6. Never Drive After Drinking Alcohol
If you drink, do not drive.
Alcohol can affect concentration, reaction time, judgment, and coordination. The same applies whether you are driving a car or riding a motorcycle.
For an evening itinerary involving dinner or drinks, arrange alternative transportation before you start drinking. A taxi, ride hailing service, or private driver allows you to leave the driving responsibility to someone else.
7. Check the Vehicle Before You Start
If you rent a car or motorcycle, take a few minutes to check the vehicle before leaving.
At minimum, pay attention to:
- Brakes
- Tyres
- Lights
- Mirrors
- Turn signals
- Horn
- Helmet condition for motorcycle rentals
You do not need to perform a technical inspection yourself, but obvious problems should not be ignored.
Bali Police has previously urged vehicle rental providers to make sure tourists understand traffic rules and safety requirements before using rented vehicles.
If something appears to be wrong with the vehicle, raise the issue with the rental provider before starting the journey.
8. Carry the Correct Driving Documents
If you decide to drive yourself in Bali, make sure you have the driving documents required for the vehicle you are using.
Bali Police has specifically reminded rental operators and tourists that drivers need to have the appropriate driving licence and comply with applicable traffic regulations.
This is especially important for international visitors who may be unfamiliar with Indonesia’s driving requirements. Confirm the applicable requirements before renting a car or motorcycle rather than assuming that a licence from your home country is automatically sufficient.
9. Do Not Drive When You Are Too Tired
Fatigue can become a problem during a busy Bali holiday.
A typical day might involve an early airport arrival, several sightseeing stops, a long drive between regions, dinner, and a late return to your hotel. Continuing to drive when you are already tired can make it harder to maintain concentration and react to changing road conditions.
If you are too tired to continue driving, stop and take a proper break or arrange another form of transportation.
This is particularly relevant for longer routes between South Bali and destinations such as North or East Bali, where the amount of time spent on the road can be significant.
10. Plan Your Route Before You Leave
Good route planning can reduce unnecessary decisions once you are behind the wheel.
Before starting, check your:
- Pickup and destination points
- Estimated travel time
- Planned route
- Traffic conditions
- Weather conditions
- Road closures or restrictions
- Parking arrangements
Avoid trying to work out the entire route while moving through traffic.
This becomes even more important when your itinerary includes several destinations. Knowing where you are going next allows you to focus on the road instead of repeatedly checking navigation.
A Private Driver Can Reduce the Driving Burden
Following traffic rules and staying alert are essential when you drive yourself. But there is another practical way to reduce the responsibilities that come with driving around an unfamiliar island: let a professional driver handle the journey.
You Do Not Have to Navigate Bali Roads Yourself
With a private driver, you do not need to manage the road, navigation, parking, or route decisions while traveling between destinations.
This can be useful when your itinerary covers several parts of Bali and you are unfamiliar with the roads connecting them.
You can focus on your trip while the driver handles the driving.
You Can Avoid Driving an Unfamiliar Vehicle
Self driving means adapting to both the road and the vehicle.
If you rent a car or motorcycle, you need to become familiar with its controls, handling, dimensions, braking response, and overall condition while also learning Bali’s traffic environment.
Private transportation removes that responsibility from you. You travel as a passenger while the driver operates the vehicle.
Private Transport Works Beyond Airport Transfers
A private driver is not limited to getting you from the airport to your hotel.
You can arrange private transportation for:
- Full day sightseeing
- Multiple destinations
- Family holidays
- Hotel to hotel transfers
- Long distance trips
- Airport departures
- Airport arrivals
- Custom Bali itineraries
For a multi stop day, keeping the same vehicle and driver throughout the itinerary can also be simpler than arranging separate rides between destinations.
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Choose the Vehicle Based on Your Trip
The right vehicle depends on your group size, luggage, destinations, and service duration.
A private MPV can work well for smaller groups, while an Alphard can provide a more premium passenger environment. For larger families or groups, a Hiace or bus can keep everyone traveling together.
The important point is to match the vehicle to the actual journey rather than choosing based only on the number of seats.
Avoid Vehicle Accidents in Bali With Gede Bali Transport
If you prefer not to drive yourself around Bali, Gede Bali Transport provides private transportation with professional local drivers for airport transfers, sightseeing, family trips, group travel, and custom itineraries.
You can travel in a private vehicle while our driver handles the road and navigation. This can be particularly useful when your itinerary involves multiple destinations, unfamiliar areas, longer driving distances, or busy tourist routes.
Our vehicle options can also be matched to your travel requirements, whether you are traveling as a couple, family, small group, or larger group.
Share your travel date, pickup location, number of passengers, destinations, luggage requirements, and preferred vehicle with us. We can help you check the appropriate vehicle, service duration, availability, and applicable rate for your Bali trip.
FAQ About Driving Safety in Bali
Is driving in Bali safe for tourists?
Driving in Bali requires attention to local traffic rules, road conditions, surrounding vehicles, and your own driving ability. Bali Police has specifically urged foreign visitors to follow local traffic regulations and has advised visitors who are not sufficiently skilled at riding motorcycles not to ride independently.
Do I need a driving licence to drive in Bali?
Yes. Drivers need the appropriate valid driving licence and must comply with Indonesian traffic regulations. Foreign visitors should confirm the applicable documentation requirements for the vehicle they intend to drive before renting one.
Is it safer to rent a scooter or hire a private driver in Bali?
These options involve different responsibilities. With a rented scooter, you are responsible for operating the vehicle, navigating the roads, and following traffic rules yourself. With a private driver, a professional driver handles the driving while you travel as a passenger.
What should I do if I am not confident driving in Bali?
You do not need to drive yourself. Taxi and ride hailing services can work for individual point to point journeys, while a private car and driver can be more practical for airport transfers, full day sightseeing, multiple destinations, families, and longer trips.
