Visitors to Bali have been warned to think twice before engaging in one of the destination’s most ubiquitous transport options as police crack down on scooter use.

For many tourists hiring a scooter is not only an exhilarating experience, but the best way to beat the island’s ever-congested traffic.

Most tourists are allowed to rent vehicles from local providers, but Bali police have warned that it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure they are following the rules once they are out on the road, including having the correct licensing.

Last week, Bali Police conducted a three-day operation to identify road users driving illegally modified vehicles, driving without the correct paperwork, and breaking Indonesian traffic laws.

The areas targeted included the tourism hot spots of Canggu, Uluwatu, Kuta and Seminyak. 

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From May 1 to 3, police seized 56 vehicles and cited 81 drivers, including 30 tourists.

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In a media statement, Badung Police Chief AKBP M Arif Batubara said the 30 foreigners who were pulled over were not carrying complete vehicle documents and that most of them used motorcycles with non-standard exhaust modifications.

“Most of the foreigners who are [pulled over] do not wear helmets, do not have a driver’s license, and carry motorcycles with the noise of the brong (non-standard) exhaust,” Batubara said.

“They disturb the comfort and order of traffic, so we immediately take action,” he added.

Indonesian law states that visitors to Bali must have a motorbike licence in Australia, a full international driving license, and travel insurance to use the roads.

Indonesian traffic laws stipulate that helmets are mandatory for both riders and passengers, and tourists renting motorcycles on the island are advised to check the condition of their vehicle before driving off.

While many vendors have a relaxed approach to hiring out scooters, customers must check that their provider can issue them with all the correct paperwork for the motorcycle, including insurance, licensing, and roadworthiness papers. 

Renting a scoter is relatively simple in Bali, but there are rules. Photo: Facebook

As well as legally problematic, scooter use last month emerged as one of the biggest sources of insurance claims for Bali travellers.

Data from Southern Cross Travel Insurance released in March revealed that it received 21 claims related to scooter or moped incidents from Australians, including two that resulted in hospitalisation.

In Indonesia, more than 70 per cent of road deaths involve a motorbike or motor scooter, according to data from the World Health Organisation.

Failure to ride while obeying the rules can invalidate an insurance claim.

Visitors to Bali who still want to rent their own set of wheels are advised to:

• Wear a helmet. Not only is it the law, but like anywhere, it’s an essential safety measure.

• Get an international driver’s license before you travel. While many vendors will rent you a scooter without one, you are liable to be fined if caught.

• Thoroughly check the scooter before hiring. As the hirer you will be responsible for riding a defective bike. Be sure to check the indicators, lights and brakes. Also, by checking for any damage beforehand, you don’t get blamed for it afterwards.

• Ride on the left-hand side. Not such a problem for Australian visitors, but unlike much of the world, Indonesians drive on the left-hand side, which can be confusing for some riders.

• Have health insurance. Scooter accidents do happen, and hospital care in Bali can be extremely expensive for tourists.

• Don’t drive with your bag on your shoulder. Sadly, there are a lot of recorded cases of bag snatching in Bali.