Scooter Accident in Bali: What Should You Do?

Call 112 if anyone is hurt, get yourself out of the traffic, then ask for a police report from the traffic accident unit (Unit Laka Lantas) before dealing with insurance or the rental shop. Without a police report, a Jasa Raharja compensation claim cannot be processed, and travel insurers usually want one too. All rules and figures below were checked in October 2026.

Before it happens: five things to sort out

• A valid licence. Bali Governor Circular No. 7 of 2025 requires foreign tourists who drive or ride to hold a valid international or national licence, wear a helmet, and not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Make sure your International Driving Permit covers motorcycles. Details are in our Bali scooter rental and riding rules.
• Read the policy exclusions. Many travel insurance policies do not cover motorbike injuries if you are not licensed for that category, not wearing a helmet, or drunk. Check the wording before you fly; what to look for is listed in our Bali travel insurance article.
• Photograph the rental bike. Record all four sides, the mirrors and the odometer before you ride off, and keep the contract and the owner's WhatsApp number.
• Save the emergency numbers. 112 is the integrated emergency number; it is free and works even when your phone is locked. Others: 110 (police), 118 or 119 (ambulance).
• Do not hand over your original passport as a deposit. Offer a photocopy plus a cash deposit. You will need the passport at the hospital and the police station.

When it happens: step by step

• 1. Get safe. Move to the side if you can. Do not move anyone complaining of neck or back pain unless there is a bigger danger, such as fire or oncoming traffic.
• 2. Call 112 or 119. Share your location from a map app, because many Bali street names sound alike. Ask a local bystander to explain the location in Indonesian if needed.
• 3. Photograph everything. Vehicle positions before they are moved, the other party's number plate, damage, injuries, signs and road conditions.
• 4. Take details. Names and phone numbers of the other party and any witnesses.
• 5. Hold off on cash settlements. Offers to "settle peacefully" on the spot are fairly common. If anyone is injured, wait for the police so there is an official report, and do not sign anything you do not understand.
• 6. Report to the police. Accidents are handled by the Laka Lantas unit of the local police (Polres or Polresta Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and so on). Vehicles involved may be held temporarily as evidence.
• 7. Notify the rental owner and your insurer. Many policies require you to contact the insurer's 24-hour assistance line before admission or expensive treatment, so the hospital gets a payment guarantee.

Which hospital?

For serious injuries, Bali's main referral hospital is RSUP Prof. dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah (formerly Sanglah) in Denpasar, with a 24-hour emergency department (Google Maps). Private hospitals that regularly treat tourists include BIMC Hospital Kuta (Google Maps) and Siloam Hospitals Denpasar on Jalan Sunset Road (Google Maps). Private hospitals usually ask for an insurance guarantee letter or a deposit before admission. From Uluwatu or Ubud the drive to Denpasar can take 45-90 minutes depending on traffic, so do not delay the decision to transfer. Clinics by area are listed in our Bali health and emergency guide.

Does Jasa Raharja cover foreign tourists?

It can, with conditions. Jasa Raharja, the state road-accident insurer, says foreigners injured in traffic accidents in Indonesia are protected under the same procedure as Indonesian citizens, based on Laws No. 33 and 34 of 1964. In August 2023 it said it had paid compensation to 11 foreigners in Bali that year (detikBali, 8 August 2023). The limits:

• Single-vehicle accidents involving a private vehicle, such as falling off on a sandy road, are not covered.
• Covered parties include people hit by another vehicle, pedestrians and public transport passengers. Who qualifies in a collision follows the police report.
• Amounts still follow Finance Minister Regulations No. 15 and 16/PMK.010/2017: medical costs up to IDR 20 million, death IDR 50 million, permanent disability up to IDR 50 million, first aid up to IDR 1 million, ambulance up to IDR 500,000.
• A police report is mandatory. Also prepare your passport, medical summary and original receipts.

The IDR 20 million medical cap (roughly USD 1,200) runs out fast at a private hospital, so travel insurance remains your main cover.

Rental shop and bike damage

• Ask up front whether the bike is insured. If not, repair costs fall on you under the contract.
• Ask for the workshop invoice and compare it with your pre-rental photos so old scratches are not added to the bill.
• If the police hold the bike as evidence, the rental owner needs to come in, because the registration (STNK) is in their name.
• Do not return the keys or pay compensation before the amount is agreed in writing.

After you leave hospital

Keep the police report, medical summary, original receipts, accident photos and rental contract in one folder. Insurers often reject incomplete or copied receipts. If your documents were lost in the accident, get a loss report from the same police station.

The single habit that helps most at claim time: before you travel, put photos of your passport, International Driving Permit, rental contract and policy number in one phone album, and email yourself a copy.