Car rental in Bali

Many visitors to Bali don't drive themselves. The south coast is congested, roads are narrow and full of scooters, and hiring a car with a driver for the day is a common and often easier choice. For a beach stay around Seminyak or Canggu you can skip the car and take short taxi rides. In November 2026, listings started from about US$16 a day, so check whether a driver, fuel and insurance are included.

When a car is worth it

Ubud and the rice terraces. Tegallalang is close to Ubud, and Jatiluwih in the west is larger and quieter. Traffic between the south coast and Ubud can take well over an hour, so start early and group your stops by area.

Kintamani and Mount Batur. A car is handy for a stop at the Kintamani rim, north of Ubud, with views of the volcano and its lake. Sunrise hikes usually include a pick-up in the small hours, so you don't need your own car for that part.

Sidemen and the east. A quiet valley of rice fields with far fewer visitors than Ubud. Public transport is very limited in Bali, so a driver is the easiest way to get there and to stop at viewpoints along the way.

Lovina and the north. It's a long drive, so treat it as a full day or a stop on a tour of the north rather than a quick trip. Dolphin boats leave early in the morning.

Before you book

Your licence. Visitors are generally expected to carry an International Driving Permit together with their home licence, and the UK government says a UK licence alone isn't valid in Indonesia. Rules can change, so confirm with the rental company or an official source before you travel.

Driver or self-drive. A driver is usually hired per day for a set number of hours and area. Ask what's included, such as fuel, parking fees and overtime, and agree the plan beforehand. Drive yourself only if you're confident in busy, mixed traffic.

Where to collect the car. Ask whether you can collect at the airport or have the car brought to your hotel. Check parking at your accommodation too, as lanes in Ubud are narrow.

Insurance. Check what the basic cover excludes and what excess you'd pay after damage. Photograph the car before you leave and agree the fuel policy.

Driving in Indonesia

The basics. Traffic drives on the left. Scooters weave between cars and overtake on both sides, so leave space. Road discipline is poor and motorbike accidents have risen sharply in Bali. UK government advice notes that a private driver may be safer, because foreigners in even minor incidents can face demands for money.

Tolls and roads. Tolls matter little in Bali. The problem is slow, narrow roads, so allow more time than the map suggests.

Traffic and parking. Avoid the Canggu and Seminyak area at rush hour and the drive back from Ubud late in the afternoon. Parking is limited in central Ubud and at popular sites, and it's often paid.

Weather and ceremonies. April to October is drier. In the wet season, heavy rain slows traffic further. Nyepi, Bali's day of silence, usually falls in March, and the whole island shuts down, so plan around it.