Travel insurance for Bali, including scooter cover
You need travel insurance for Bali. If you plan to ride a scooter, you need to meet two sets of rules: Indonesia's, which Smartraveller says means an Indonesian licence or an International Driving Permit with your Australian licence for that vehicle type, and your policy's, which can include a motorcycle add-on, a helmet and an engine-size limit. Indonesia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, hospitals generally want a deposit and proof of insurance before treating you, and serious cases can mean an expensive evacuation, so the policy to buy is comprehensive cover with a high overseas medical limit and scooter cover that matches how you'll ride.
Most Bali claims that go wrong do so on the same few points: riding without the correct licence or a helmet, drinking, and events that were already known when the policy was bought. This page goes through each, using the Australian Government's current advice for Indonesia. Our guide to compare travel insurance covers the rest of the policy.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team · Last reviewed
General advice only. It doesn't consider your circumstances. Read the PDS and TMD before you decide.
Smartraveller's current advice for Bali
As at 2 October 2026, Smartraveller's advice for Indonesia (page updated 11 September 2026) is to exercise a high degree of caution overall because of security risks. Bali has no separate level, so the overall level applies there. Smartraveller advises reconsidering your need to travel to the provinces of Papua Pegunungan (Highland Papua) and Papua Tengah (Central Papua).
Level 2 still lets you get cover. It is a reason to read the policy's terrorism, civil unrest and known-event exclusions. If you are combining Bali with travel elsewhere in Indonesia, check the level for each region you will visit, as a policy may exclude a region rated higher than the rest of the country.
Hospitals, deposits and who pays
There is no free health care agreement between Australia and Indonesia, so tourists pay for all medical care, including hospital stays and evacuation. Smartraveller says hospitals generally need confirmation of medical insurance, a deposit, and a written guarantee of payment from family or friends before treatment. Facilities, including critical care, are generally below Australian standards, including in Bali.
Evacuation is where the bills get large. Southern Cross Travel Insurance's list of its most expensive claims from 2024 included four from Indonesia that ended in an air ambulance home, among them $198,349 for an 18-year-old who had a seizure after severe gastro and $166,858 for an 84-year-old who broke her neck. That is why the insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance line matters as much as the medical limit: it confirms cover to the hospital, arranges payment guarantees and decides whether you need to be moved. Save the number in your phone before you fly.
Scooters and motorbikes: the licence rule
Riding a scooter is the most common way Australians void their Bali cover. Smartraveller is direct: you need an Indonesian licence, or an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to your Australian licence, and the licence must suit the vehicle type. If you are unlicensed or hold the wrong type of licence, your travel insurer will deny any claims.
In practice an Australian car licence plus an IDP is the wrong class for a scooter under Indonesia's rules as Smartraveller describes them, even though some PDSs accept a car licence for small bikes. The safe position is a motorcycle licence at home and an IDP that shows the motorcycle class. On top of the licence, 16 of the 17 PDSs in the table below require a helmet, several cap the engine size, and 9 cover riding only if you add the policy's motorcycle option. Smartraveller notes Australians have been seriously injured and killed in motorcycle and moped accidents, particularly in Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands. The same licence trap applies in Thailand and Vietnam.
| Your situation | Likely outcome | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Car licence only, no IDP | Unlicensed to ride; claims arising from riding will be denied | Do not ride. Use a driver or ride-share |
| Car licence plus IDP | Still the wrong licence class for a motorbike | Do not ride unless you hold a motorcycle licence |
| Australian motorcycle licence plus IDP (motorcycle class) | Licensed, but only covered if the policy's conditions are met | Add the motorcycle option, wear a helmet, stay within any engine-size limit |
| Riding after drinking | Commonly excluded, whatever licence you hold | Do not ride after drinking |
Which policies cover scooters in Bali: licence, engine size and helmet rules
We read the current PDS of each of the 17 brands in our travel insurance issuer table on 10 October 2026. Eight include scooter riding within their conditions and nine cover it only with an add-on, but every one sets conditions, and the licence each asks for isn't always the licence Indonesian law requires. The table is alphabetical, not a ranking.
Two things stand out. Damage to the hired scooter itself is outside most policies: eight of the 17 exclude hired bikes from rental vehicle excess cover, seven cover them only with a motorcycle add-on, and two are unclear. And check when an add-on can be bought: Freely sells its option by the day and lets you add it during the trip, but not back-date it.
| Brand (PDS date) | Riding cover | Licence the PDS asks for | Engine size | Helmet | Pillion passenger | Damage to the hired bike |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Cover (4 March 2026) | Included on all plans | Up to 125cc: an Australian driver's licence. Over 125cc: an Australian motorcycle licence for that class | No cap; dirt bikes excluded | Required, rider and passenger | Covered unless the rider has no valid licence for that vehicle and country | Not covered: rental vehicle excess excludes mopeds, motorcycles and scooters |
| Allianz (19 December 2025) | Only with the Adventure Pack, sold with Comprehensive, Multi-Trip and Domestic plans to people under 75 | The right Australian licence class (not a learner's), or one valid where you ride if your Australian licence isn't recognised there | No cap | Required at all times | Covered with the pack if the rider holds a licence valid for that vehicle and country | Not covered: rental vehicle cover is for cars, SUVs, 4WDs, campervans and minibuses |
| Australia Post (22 October 2025) | Only with the motorcycle/moped riding option | An Australian motorcycle rider's licence or Australian driver's licence | 250cc or less | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With the option: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (Comprehensive and Domestic); none on Basic |
| Budget Direct (25 March 2026) | Only with the Motorcycle/Moped Riding or Riding + add-on, on all plans | Riding: an Australian motorcycle rider's or driver's licence. Riding +: an Australian motorcycle licence held for 5 years, and you own an Australian motorcycle as large or larger | 250cc or less; no cap on Riding + | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With an add-on: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (Comprehensive, Domestic) or $4,000 (Essential); none on Basic |
| Bupa (11 March 2026) | Only with the Motorcycle/Moped Riding or Riding+ add-on | As for Budget Direct | 250cc or less; no cap on Riding+ | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With an add-on: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (International Plus, Domestic); none on International Essentials |
| Cover-More (15 October 2025) | Only with the Motorcycle/Moped Riding or Riding+ add-on | As for Budget Direct; Riding+ also needs the bike to be hired | 250cc or less; no cap on Riding+ | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With an add-on, for a bike from a licensed rental company: up to $5,000 (Comprehensive) or $10,000 (Comprehensive+); none on Basic |
| Fast Cover (16 July 2026) | Only with the Motorcycle Pack, not on Domestic Plus, for people 74 or under at purchase | Up to 125cc: an Australian driver's licence plus a licence valid where you ride. Over 125cc: an Australian motorcycle licence for the class plus a local licence | No cap | Required, whatever local law says | Covered with the pack if the rider holds a licence valid for the class and country | Not covered: no rental vehicle excess cover for motorcycles, mopeds or scooters |
| Freely (25 May 2026) | Only with the Motorcycle/Moped Riding Trip Extra, paid by the day | Up to 250cc: an Australian motorcycle rider's or driver's licence. Over 250cc: the bike must be hired, with an Australian motorcycle licence held for 5 years, and you own an Australian motorcycle as large or larger | Rules change above 250cc | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With the Trip Extra: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (Explorer Pro overseas) or $5,000 (Explorer); none on Essentials |
| InsureandGo (7 October 2026) | Included under 500cc; larger bikes need the Activities Plus upgrade | A licence valid where you are, and an Australian licence for an equivalent motorcycle | Under 500cc without the upgrade | Crash helmet, rider and pillion, whatever local law says | Covered if wearing a helmet | Unclear: the rental car benefit (Silver and Gold) lists motorcycles and mopeds, but an exclusion removes vehicles with fewer than four wheels. Confirm with InsureandGo |
| Medibank (22 April 2026) | Only with the motorcycle/moped riding option | An Australian motorcycle licence or Australian driver licence | 250cc or less | Required | Covered if the rider holds a valid licence | With the option: rental vehicle excess up to $10,000 (Comprehensive, Domestic); none on Medical Only |
| nib (1 September 2026) | Included, within its conditions | A full motorcycle licence valid in the country of travel and in your country of residence | 250cc or less | Required | Covered on the same terms | Not covered: rental vehicle cover is for 4-wheeled vehicles |
| Qantas (1 July 2026) | Included on International Comprehensive, within its conditions | Up to 125cc: a motorcycle licence valid where you ride. 126cc or more: valid in Australia and where you ride | No cap | Helmet and appropriate safety gear | Covered if the rider holds the required licence | Not covered: rental vehicle cover excludes motorcycles |
| Southern Cross Travel Insurance (12 July 2025) | Only with the Moped and motorbike cover add-on | The right licence for the class, as required by the country you're in | 200cc (or 15kW electric) | Required, even where local law doesn't | Only with the add-on, including motorbike taxis and rideshares | With the add-on: up to $10,000 for a hired bike up to 200cc, if you took the rental company's insurance and stayed on formed or paved roads |
| Tick (1 April 2026) | Included on all single-trip plans, with a $250 excess under 125cc and $500 over | A licence valid where you are, and an Australian licence for an equivalent motorcycle | No cap | Crash helmet, rider and pillion, whatever local law says | Covered if wearing a helmet | Unclear: the rental car section lists motorcycles but an exclusion removes them. Confirm with Tick |
| Travel Insurance Saver (31 December 2025) | Included as an automatically covered activity | Motorcycle: an Australian motorcycle licence. Moped or scooter: an Australian motorcycle or driver's licence | Not defined | Not mentioned in the PDS | Covered unless the rider has no licence valid for the country | Not covered: claims from hiring a motorcycle or scooter are excluded from rental vehicle cover |
| World Nomads (30 September 2026) | Included: moped, scooter and on-road motorbiking; off-road needs the Level 3 upgrade | A licence for the same class in Australia and as required where you're travelling | No cap | Required wherever one would be required in Australia | Covered with a licensed rider | Not covered: rental vehicle cover (Explorer only) excludes motorbikes and scooters |
| Zoom (4 March 2026) | Included on all plans | As for 1Cover | No cap; dirt bikes excluded | Required, rider and passenger | As for 1Cover | Not covered: rental vehicle excess excludes mopeds, motorcycles and scooters |
Drinks, methanol and the alcohol exclusion
Smartraveller warns about methanol poisoning in Indonesia, including in Bali and Lombok, from contaminated drinks. Separately, almost every policy excludes claims arising while you are affected by alcohol or drugs, and Smartraveller's general advice is that even a low blood alcohol level can see a claim denied. The combination is what catches people: an injury after a big night can be excluded before anyone asks what happened.
Bali belly, dengue and rabies
Gastro illness is common among visitors, and Smartraveller lists waterborne and foodborne diseases including typhoid, hepatitis and cholera, and advises seeking medical care for fever or diarrhoea. An illness that needs a doctor or a hospital is a medical claim like any other; a trip to the pharmacy may cost less than your excess.
Dengue and Japanese encephalitis have been reported in people returning from Indonesia, including Bali. Rabies is present, and Smartraveller notes that treatment may be limited and you may need to return to Australia for it, which is where the evacuation and additional expenses benefits come in.
Volcanoes, flights and the known-event rule
Indonesia has 76 active volcanoes, including Mount Agung and Mount Batur in Bali, and eruptions can delay or cancel flights and close the airport. Smartraveller also flags earthquakes, tsunamis and wet-season flooding from October to April, including in Bali.
Cover for disruption depends on timing. If an eruption or ash cloud is already public knowledge when you buy the policy, losses it causes are generally excluded. Buy the policy when you book, and check the travel delay and additional expenses benefits, which are what pay for extra nights if flights stop.
Beyond Bali: Lombok, the Gilis, Nusa Penida and the rest of Indonesia
Most Bali trips include a boat. Smartraveller's Indonesia page lists a run of recent incidents: a boat from Gili Trawangan to Padang Bai sank in March 2026 and 117 people were rescued; a fast boat to Nusa Penida capsized in Sanur Harbour in August 2025, killing two passengers and a crew member; and boats have sunk, capsized or exploded on the Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Gili routes. Check that your policy covers the boat trips and activities you plan, and use operators with safety equipment on board.
Lombok brings its own risks. Smartraveller names it for methanol poisoning, drownings and motorbike accidents, and for treks on Mount Rinjani, which may need cover for hiking at altitude. Further afield, the 'Reconsider your need to travel' advice for Highland Papua and Central Papua can affect cover, so check how your policy treats a region rated above the rest of Indonesia before you book.
Making a claim from Bali
Claims from Bali fail on paperwork as often as on exclusions. Collect the evidence as you go.
- Call the insurer's emergency assistance line before you are admitted to hospital where you can, so it can confirm cover and arrange a payment guarantee.
- Theft: report it to the local police and get a written report. Smartraveller's advice is to always get a police report when you report a crime.
- Medical: keep the doctor's or hospital's report and itemised bills and receipts for everything you pay.
- Riding claims: keep copies of your Australian motorcycle licence and your International Driving Permit showing the motorcycle class.
- Delays: get written confirmation from the airline of the delay or cancellation and its cause.
Bali entry rules for Australians: e-VOA, arrival card and tourist levy
None of these is an insurance requirement, but each one can end a trip early if you get it wrong. These are the current requirements for travelling to Bali on an Australian passport.
| Requirement | What it involves |
|---|---|
| All Indonesia Arrival Card | Complete online within 72 hours before travel, only on websites ending in go.id |
| Visa | Apply for an e-Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) at least 48 hours before travel, or get a visa on arrival at designated ports. It costs IDR 500,000, allows a 30-day stay and can be extended once for 30 days |
| Bali tourist levy | IDR 150,000 per person, paid once per visit through the official Love Bali system, separate from the visa. In place since 14 February 2024 |
| Passport | At least 6 months' validity on entry, and ideally on exit; emergency passports need 12 months |
Diving, surfing and boat trips
Smartraveller lists diving, snorkelling, surfing, boat rides and adventure activities such as rafting and paragliding among the risks, and advises checking your insurance covers them. Decompression chambers exist in Bali and other dive areas, but diving cover often depends on your qualification and the depth you dive to. Check the policy's activities list before you book the day trip, not after.
General advice only. This information doesn't take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether the product is right for you and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) before you decide. We don't compare every product in the market, and we may earn a commission if you take up a product through our links.
What to watch for
- Riding a scooter without a motorcycle licence and an IDP is a common reason Bali claims are denied.
- Wear a helmet and add the policy's motorcycle option if you will ride at all.
- Claims arising while you are affected by alcohol are commonly excluded.
- Buy early: a volcanic eruption that is already news when you buy is a known event.
- Save the insurer's emergency assistance number; Bali hospitals often want a payment guarantee first.
Common questions
Do I need travel insurance for Bali?
You should, even though it isn't an entry requirement. Indonesia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, tourists pay for all medical care and evacuation, and hospitals generally want insurance confirmation and a deposit before treatment.
Which travel insurance covers scooters in Bali?
Of the 17 PDSs we read on 10 October 2026, eight include scooter riding within their conditions (1Cover, InsureandGo under 500cc, nib, Qantas, Tick, Travel Insurance Saver, World Nomads and Zoom) and nine cover it only with an add-on (Allianz, Australia Post, Budget Direct, Bupa, Cover-More, Fast Cover, Freely, Medibank and Southern Cross). All set conditions, such as a licence, a helmet and engine-size limits, and Indonesian law adds its own licence rule.
Does travel insurance cover damage to a hired scooter in Bali?
Usually not without an add-on. Of the 17 PDSs we read, eight exclude hired motorbikes and scooters from rental vehicle excess cover. Cover-More, Freely, Bupa, Medibank, Budget Direct and Australia Post cover a hired bike only if you bought their motorcycle add-on, and Southern Cross's add-on pays up to $10,000 for bikes up to 200cc. Tick's and InsureandGo's wording is unclear, so ask them.
How much does it cost to insure a scooter in Bali?
We don't publish prices. Where a policy needs a motorcycle add-on, it costs an extra premium on top of the travel policy, and Freely sells its option by the day. Where riding is included, it's in the base price, although Tick charges a higher excess on motorcycling claims: $250 under 125cc and $500 over. Damage to the hired scooter is often outside travel cover altogether.
Am I covered riding a scooter in Bali?
Only if you hold the right licence and meet the policy's conditions. Smartraveller says you need an Indonesian licence, or an IDP in addition to your Australian licence for that vehicle type, and your insurer will deny claims if you are unlicensed or hold the wrong type. Most policies also require a helmet and the motorcycle option.
Is Bali belly covered by travel insurance?
Gastro illness is generally covered as a sudden illness if you need a doctor or hospital, subject to the excess and the policy's exclusions. Minor pharmacy costs may be less than the excess. Illness connected to excessive alcohol or drug use can be excluded.
What pre-existing conditions are not covered by travel insurance?
It depends on the insurer: some conditions are covered automatically, some after assessment and some not at all, and undeclared conditions are excluded. Our guide to travel insurance for pre-existing conditions compares the definitions.
Does travel insurance cover volcanic eruptions in Bali?
It can cover delays, extra accommodation and cancellation caused by an eruption, but only if you bought the policy before the eruption or ash cloud became a known event. Policies bought afterwards generally exclude it.
How much is the Bali tourist levy?
IDR 150,000 per person, paid once per visit through the official Love Bali system, separate from the visa on arrival. It has applied since 14 February 2024.