Renting a scooter in Lombok: everything you need to know

1. What a scooter costs in Lombok

Scooter rental on Lombok is cheap by any standard. A small automatic scooter costs around IDR 75.000 to IDR 100.000 per day, which is less than a single return taxi ride from Kuta to Selong Belanak. Bigger and more comfortable bikes cost more, and renting by the week or month always lowers the daily rate.

Budget an extra IDR 50.000 or so per week for petrol if you stay around Kuta. Add more if you plan long trips north towards Senggigi, Bangsal or Rinjani.

2. Licence, papers and police checks

Legally you need an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle category, carried together with your national driving licence. You get an IDP from the automobile association in your home country before you travel – it cannot be issued in Lombok.

You should also always carry the vehicle registration papers, the STNK, which the rental shop gives you with the scooter. Keep it in the under-seat compartment in a plastic sleeve, because it will get wet otherwise.

Police checkpoints appear now and then on the main road between Kuta and Praya, especially around holidays. Stop, take your helmet off, be friendly and hand over your papers. If something is missing you may receive a fine – ask for an official ticket, called a tilang, rather than settling informally.

Wearing a helmet is compulsory in Indonesia for both rider and passenger. It is also the single thing that most reliably turns a bad day into a scare rather than a hospital visit.

3. Insurance – what is and is not covered

Do not assume Indonesian rentals include the comprehensive cover you may know from Europe. Basic third-party cover comes with the vehicle registration, but damage to the scooter itself is normally the renter's responsibility.

The bigger issue is your own travel insurance. Most policies only pay out for a scooter accident if you hold a valid motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit, and some exclude engines above 125cc entirely. Read that clause before you choose between a Vario 125 and an NMAX 155.

We check and service every scooter before it goes out, and if something breaks through normal use we repair or replace it at no cost to you. Damage from an accident is settled fairly and openly – we tell you the repair price before any work starts.

4. Roads and riding conditions around Kuta

Compared with Bali, riding in Lombok is calm. The Mandalika road east to Tanjung Aan and the main road north to Praya are smooth and wide. The coastal road west towards Mawun and Selong Belanak is scenic and mostly in good condition, with a few broken sections and blind bends through the hills.

Things to watch for: loose sand on beach access tracks, potholes after rain, dogs and chickens, water buffalo on the coastal road, and local riders overtaking on either side. Ride on the left, use the horn as a friendly "I am here" signal like everyone else does, and keep your speed low enough to stop for what comes around the corner.

In the rainy season, roughly November to March, roads flood quickly and the dirt tracks east of Gerupuk turn to mud. That is when a bike with more ground clearance such as the Honda ADV 160 or the Honda CRF 150L earns its price.

5. Fuel, parking and practicalities

• Fuel: Pertamina stations in Kuta and on the Praya road sell Pertalite and Pertamax. A full scooter tank costs around IDR 50.000. Roadside stalls sell petrol in bottles when you are far from a station.
• Parking: free almost everywhere. At popular beaches such as Tanjung Aan and Mawun a local attendant collects a small fee, usually IDR 5.000 – keep coins handy.
• Luggage: the under-seat compartment fits a rain jacket and documents. Bring a dry bag in the rainy season.
• Surfboards: a side surf rack is standard practice in Kuta and we fit one free of charge. Ride slower with a board on and give yourself extra room.
• Phone mount: Google Maps works well across south Lombok, but signal drops in the hills. Screenshot your route before a long ride.

6. Mistakes we see every season

• Renting the biggest bike available on day one instead of learning on a 110cc.
• Riding in flip flops and shorts – the most common injury here is gravel rash.
• Not taking photos of existing scratches before riding off.
• Leaving the papers in the hotel and getting stopped without them.
• Planning Selong Belanak or the waterfalls as an afternoon trip and riding home in the dark.
• Handing over a passport as a deposit – a photocopy or photo is enough with a shop you trust.

7. How renting with us works

We are a family business on Jl. Raya Kuta No. 5C in central Kuta Lombok, next to Kenza Cafe, open daily from 8am to 8pm. There is no booking system to fight with: you message us on WhatsApp, we confirm, and we bring the scooter to your accommodation for free.

Every rental includes a helmet, the registration papers and a surf rack on request. Extending is one message. If anything goes wrong on the road anywhere in south Lombok, we come to you.