Hey,
Doing a quick Bali trip in a coupla weeks and was just wondering if anyone knows whether you can still hire motorbikes using just your car drivers license? Always have in the past, but it's been a few years...
Cheers,
Steve.
I'm not entirely sure what the deal is, but last year I got an international drivers licence from RACV. The cops accepted that but my mate who didn't have one had to pay "fines" a couple of times.
Was there in July and don't recall having to even produce a licence to rent a bike but if you get stopped by the cops you will have to pay the "on the spot fine" if you don't have one and they do have regular bliztes from time-to-time.
International licence is fine, the cops will moan a bit that it doesn't have a motorbike stamp but they won't do anything else.
If you don't have one and get pinged it'll be the usual bartering process. Good to have some bills in one pocket to give them if need be, don't want to pull out a wad of cash or the bartering goes on forever.
Travel insurance will only cover bike accident if you have a proper motorbike license in Australia and the international license.Have heard horror stories about B.I.M.C. costs after bike stacks and remember even if you have all the proper documents, you are still in the wrong! Use a bike around Kuta and hire a driver when heading elsewhere.
go and hire a bike as per usual and put 20,000 rupiah under ur seat so when they ask for documents just give them that or u can pretend u dont hear them and speeed offf!
Cheers everyone! Sounds just like it ever was - especially the speeding off bit OK! The cops always used to run out from their little shack on the road to Ulu's etc and every day we just rode around them
They get you at traffic lights though, so swings and roundabouts... Might just get the international anyway.
motorbikes in indo.......
are an exceptionally bad idea especially if you don't have an Oz license anyway
if you dont ride at home why go to no road rules indo and get one
you are effectively a non entity on indo roads on a motorbike, it is OK to pullout in front of a bike at anytime
even hiring a car now is a joke with the amount of traffic and lord help you if you run over someone or thing, you can consider yourself at fault regardless and anything you may have saved by not hiring a driver will go in "rectifying the situation"
save yourself a massive amount of stress and hire a bemo with a driver
any accidents/problems you pay him for the day step over to the nearest taxi and you are away
notice most of the expats that live there have drivers
quite a big difference now to when you could load the 2/stroke DT100 with 2 boards and a girl from the sari club, remove the helmet once past the airport and ride with impunity to the start of the track at ulu's
boards and kites are a nightmare to carry on a bike anyway
you can also have a few cleansing ales on the way home maybe even stop off at the "bowling ally"
dont put your nomination in for the darwin awards!!
the money you spend is nothing compared to the drama you have if there is an incident
other wise stay at the warungs on the bukit/ balian or where ever you want to surf
(rant finished!!!)
Prawn head SHHHHHHHHHHHH get a scooter in bali and almost dying is the best thing ever go sit in the corner and be safe
yeah your right OK
i used to "love the smell of Mercurochrome(bettadine for you young fellas) in the morning"
well maybe u should take it a bit easier on ur boyfrends behind in the evening haha
Hello everyone,
yes motorbike are quite dangerous in Bali but with traffic getting worst and worst is about the only way to get around.
If you don't want to get ticket from Police you need to have an International Driving license.
Good idea is to use a t-shirt when you are driving a motorbike and shoes...
I see too many tourist riding just in board shorts and not even shoes!! That is a secure way to get stopped by police and in case you fell down to hurt yourself seriously.
Regarding hospitals and doctors..
YES BIMC and SOS are a scam.. They only want your money!
Just to make you an example... BIMC will charge 3 to 5 times more for any kind of treatment and if things goes wrong will transfer you to a Balinese hospital.....
They are only god to work with insurance!
Best is to go to a private Balinese hospital like Prima Medica in Denpasar...
OR even at the public hospital "Sangla" also in denpasar that since the the bombing in 2002 got a new International wing that was donated by other countries.
Drive safe and be careful.
Bye Jankie
I just got back and never got pulled over once. Got lost in the middle of Denpasar by myself surrounded by cops and no trouble. Get the International licence to cover your ass and hide the big bills from them. I keep my big notes in a roll seperate from the small crap i leave in my wallet. Just hide behind any truck or car that you can at the intersections. I have heard about the cops at Ulu but I never saw them. Just don't ride like a nugget and you'll have more coin for Bintang
Flicked through the above posts but didn't really see a lot of info.
Just go to RAC with a few passport photos and for ~$30 you will have an international drivers license valid for 1 year(I think).
You don't need one to rent a bike, but it will save a heap of hassle if the cops pull you over.
P.S. the manual/semi-automatics 125 are the go, in way better nick than most of the autos.
Enjoy
Matt
^ Yep and keep your thumb ready on the horn button, your hands/foot ready for the brakes and don't bother trying to keep up with Vishy
My bro and I once did a motorbike trip to Sumbawa and back from Kuta so I'm pretty aware of the dangers, but cheers for the advise everyone Sounds like nothings changed too much out there.
