Can You Carry a Child on a Motorbike in Bali?

Yes. Indonesia's Road Traffic and Transport Law No. 22 of 2009 (UU LLAJ) sets no minimum age for motorbike passengers. Three rules still apply to a child riding with you, though: the child must wear an SNI-certified helmet, the bike may carry only one passenger, and the rider must ride properly and with full concentration. Breaking either of the first two carries a fine of up to IDR 250,000 per article.

What exactly does the law say?

• Helmets for rider and passenger. Article 106(8) requires every rider and passenger of a motorcycle to wear a helmet meeting the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). There is no exemption for children.
• Helmet penalties. Article 291(1) sets a maximum of 1 month in detention or a fine of up to IDR 250,000 for a rider without an SNI helmet. Article 291(2) applies the same penalty to a rider who lets a passenger ride without one. In other words, if your child has no helmet, you get the ticket.
• One passenger only. Article 106(9) bans a motorcycle without a sidecar from carrying more than one passenger. The penalty in Article 292 is up to 1 month in detention or a fine of up to IDR 250,000.
• Rider concentration. Article 106(1) requires riders to ride properly and with full concentration. Article 283 sets up to 3 months in detention or a fine of up to IDR 750,000 for breaching it.

These figures are maximums. The amount actually paid is set at the hearing or through the electronic ticket system; see our article on getting a traffic ticket in Bali.

Dad, mum and a child on one bike: is that illegal?

Yes. Article 106(9) counts passengers without regard to age, so a child counts as one passenger. Some people argue small children don't count, but no article supports that. You will often see families of three on one bike on Bali village roads; that doesn't mean the rule is relaxed. Police can still ticket you, especially on main roads in tourist areas such as the Ngurah Rai Bypass, Canggu and Ubud.

Can a child sit in front of the rider?

No article explicitly regulates where a passenger sits. Riding-safety practitioners quoted by CNN Indonesia (January 2023) said the front is not a passenger seat: the child blocks the handlebars, and in hard braking the child hits the tank or bars first. If police judge the position distracts the rider, Article 106(1) together with Article 283 can be applied. The right place for a child is the rear seat.

When is a child ready to ride on the back?

The law gives no age, so go by the child's physical ability. Questions to ask:

• Can the child's feet rest firmly on the passenger footpegs?
• Can the child hold your waist or the grab rail for the whole ride without falling asleep?
• Is there a helmet that actually fits? An oversized adult helmet can come off in an impact.

If any answer is "no", take a four-wheeled vehicle.

Gear people forget

• An SNI child helmet with the chin strap fastened. Not every rental shop has child sizes, so ask when booking or buy one at a helmet shop.
• Closed shoes and long trousers. On automatic scooters the exhaust sits at the rear right, level with the passenger's leg, and exhaust burns are common among passengers in sandals.
• A jacket or long sleeves for long daytime rides and to reduce grazes in a fall.
• A child riding belt (a strap that ties the child to the rider's waist) can help a sleepy child, but it is no substitute for a helmet.

For visitors: licence and insurance matter more

For foreign and domestic visitors alike, the bigger problem is usually the licence, not the child. Riding in Indonesia requires an Indonesian SIM C or an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle category, and many travel insurance policies refuse accident claims when the rider is unlicensed. If your child is hurt in such a crash, the hospital bill may fall entirely on you. Rental and licence requirements are covered in our guide to renting and riding a motorbike in Bali, and what to do after a fall is in our motorbike accident guide.

Safer alternatives

• Four-wheel ride-hailing (GrabCar, GoCar) or Bluebird metered taxis for short trips. Child seats are generally not provided, so bring your own booster for a small child.
• A car with driver by the day for longer outings to Ubud or East Bali. You can ask for a child seat when booking.
• Walking or cycling in flat areas such as the Sanur beach path.

If you still choose a bike, keep rides with your child short and in daylight, avoid heavy rain, and never carry a child while holding a phone.