Transport is one of the most-asked questions before arriving in Bali. Here's what you actually need to know.
Most interns arrive in Bali wondering whether they need a scooter. The short answer: not immediately, and not necessarily ever. The longer answer is worth understanding before you arrive.
For the first one to two weeks, you don't need a scooter. Gojek and Grab are available everywhere in Bali, they're cheap, and they let you get around while you're still learning the roads and figuring out the layout of your neighbourhood.
After a few weeks, most interns do rent one. The freedom is real — Bali's roads are dense with things to find, and having your own transport changes how you experience the island. But it's a decision that's better made once you've settled in than one you need to make before you fly.
Some interns do their entire placement without ever renting a scooter. They use Grab daily, have no problems, and don't feel like they missed out. Both approaches work. The question is what suits you.
Grab and Gojek are ride-hailing apps — similar to Uber but built for Southeast Asia. Both operate across Bali and are the default transport for most interns in their first weeks.
A 10-minute ride costs approximately €0.50–€1.50 depending on time of day and distance. A cross-town trip from Canggu to Seminyak costs around €2–3. These prices are genuinely low — far cheaper than any equivalent at home.
The apps work immediately on a local SIM. Download both before you arrive; one occasionally has surge pricing when the other doesn't. Both are reliable and both drivers know Bali well.
Use Grab and Gojek for at least your first week. This isn't overcaution — it's the practical move. You're adjusting to the heat, the jet lag, the traffic patterns, and a new job simultaneously. Add scooter riding on top of that and you're taking on more than you need to.
When you're ready, renting a scooter is easy and inexpensive.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Basic automatic scooter (monthly rental) | €40 – €80 / month |
| Petrol | €8 – €15 / month |
| Private riding lesson (1 hour) | €10 – €15 one-off |
| Helmet (if you buy your own) | €15 – €35 |
Rental shops are common in Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud, and near most intern neighbourhoods. Prices are negotiable, especially for longer-term rentals. Shops closer to tourist strips charge more — ask your fellow interns where they got their scooter from and you'll often find better rates a few streets away.
You don't need to provide a license to rent — shops will rent to you without one. But see the section below on licensing, because there's a legal dimension worth knowing.
If you've never ridden a scooter or motorbike before, take a lesson. One hour with a patient local instructor costs around €10–15 and will teach you controls, balance, and basic road awareness. It's the best €10–15 you'll spend. Rental shops often know instructors, or ask in the intern WhatsApp group.
Traffic in Bali drives on the left side of the road. This catches out a lot of European students in the first few days — the instinct is to drift right. Being conscious of this is the single most important adjustment for new riders from the Netherlands, Germany, or France.
Always wear a helmet. This should not need to be said, but it does: helmets are the difference between a minor incident and a serious injury. Helmets are provided with most rentals. If the provided helmet is flimsy, buy your own — €15–35 for a decent one.
For the first few weeks, avoid riding at night. The roads are less well-lit than you're used to, potholes are harder to see, and your spatial memory of the roads is still forming. There's no reason you need to ride at night in your first weeks — use Grab for evening trips instead.
This section exists because it needs to.
Scooter accidents are the leading cause of intern injury in Bali. This is consistently true year after year. The risk is real and it deserves honest attention — not to scare you off scooters, but so you make informed decisions.
The good news is that the risk is dramatically reducible with a small number of consistent habits:
The interns who have accidents are almost always in situations that fit a recognisable pattern: riding at night, riding after drinking, or riding in conditions they weren't yet ready for. These are avoidable.
See also: Bali Safety Guide for Interns — covers medical care, emergency contacts, and general safety beyond transport.
Technically, to ride legally in Indonesia you need either a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers motorcycles, or an Indonesian SIM (Surat Izin Mengemudi). If you're stopped by traffic police without one, you can be asked to pay a fine — typically a small amount, negotiated on the spot.
In practice, most interns on short placements (under two months) ride without sorting this and never have a problem. For longer placements, getting an Indonesian SIM is the more sensible route. The process is straightforward and takes a morning at a local licensing office — other interns who've done it can walk you through it.
More importantly: your travel insurance may require a valid license to cover scooter accidents. This is a more urgent reason to sort it than the traffic-police scenario.
Check your travel insurance policy before you ride a scooter. Some policies exclude motor vehicles entirely. Others cover motorbikes up to a certain engine size. Many have a clause requiring a valid license for the country of travel.
Read the motor vehicle section of your policy before you arrive. If your current policy excludes scooters, upgrade it or get a supplemental policy. This is not optional — a hospital stay in Bali without insurance coverage is expensive.
To be completely clear: you do not need to ride a scooter to participate in your Island Internship placement. Gojek and Grab are sufficient to get you to your workplace and back every day. Many students complete their entire placement using only ride-hailing apps and have a full, rich experience of Bali.
The scooter question is entirely about your own comfort, budget, and readiness. We cover it during orientation so you can make an informed decision — not because it's required.
Do I need a license to ride a scooter in Bali?
Technically yes — you need either a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers motorcycles, or an Indonesian SIM (Surat Izin Mengemudi). Rental shops will rent to you without one, but if you're stopped by police you can be fined. More importantly, your travel insurance may require a valid license to cover scooter accidents. For short stays, an IDP from your home country is the practical route. For longer placements, an Indonesian SIM is worth arranging.
Is it safe to ride a scooter in Bali?
Scooter accidents are the most common cause of intern injury in Bali. The risk is real but significantly reducible: don't ride at night until you know the roads, avoid riding in heavy rain, never ride after drinking, wear a helmet and proper shoes, and stay alert at intersections. Many interns use Gojek and Grab exclusively and have a perfectly good experience without ever renting a scooter.
How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Bali?
A basic automatic scooter rents for approximately €40–80 per month. Petrol adds around €8–15 per month. Rental shops are common in Canggu, Seminyak, and near most intern neighbourhoods. Prices vary — shops closer to tourist areas charge more. Ask other interns in your building or neighbourhood where they rented from.
Related reading: Your First 48 Hours in Bali · Full Bali Internship Cost Breakdown