Travel insurance is not a condition of entering Bali, but government advice is to have it, and the biggest gap in many policies is scooter riding. This page explains what cover usually involves, what the official sources say about medical bills, and sets out what four insurers’ own published wording says about riding a scooter overseas. It explains; it does not recommend a policy or an insurer, and it carries no affiliate links. All wording was read on 7 October 2026.
Is travel insurance required for Bali?
No, not at the time of writing. A Singapore travel blog reported that Indonesia removed its mandatory travel insurance requirement effective 8 June 2022. That requirement had applied to foreign arrivals during the pandemic and had asked for a minimum of US$25,000 of cover for COVID-19 medical expenses. The same blog warns that proof of insurance may still be asked for at check-in.
A 2026 Bali guide says Indonesia does not always mandate comprehensive travel insurance for all travellers, while stating that insurance remains strongly recommended.
There is also a proposal. Kontan reported on 2 January 2026 that the Indonesian insurance industry is pushing for foreign tourists to carry travel insurance, in the way visitors to the Schengen area must. The head of insurance supervision at the financial regulator OJK said on 27 December 2025 that the idea could strengthen risk protection for tourists, but that it needs further study of readiness, how it would work and consumer protection. A proposal and a statement of support are not a rule. We found no source showing that it has been adopted, so treat insurance as optional for entry and check our visa page for the current entry requirements before you travel.
See our Bali airport guide for arrival.
What a hospital stay or evacuation can cost
Governments say plainly why people buy cover. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) health page for Indonesia, still current on 7 October 2026, says that good medical care can be expensive and that medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of pounds. Choice, an Australian consumer group, says the same for dollars and adds that hospitals expect families to support patients financially and may ask for confirmation of insurance before treatment.
Public health cover from home does not travel. Compare Club’s guide, updated on 24 July 2025, says Indonesia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, so you pay out of pocket for treatment in Bali. It gives a case of a traveller who broke a leg in a scooter crash, had an Australian licence and a helmet, but did not realise her policy excluded scooters, and was left with a $9,000 hospital bill. It is an illustration from a comparison site, not a typical bill.
If you need an ambulance, the FCDO says to call 118, and to contact your insurer quickly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.
The scooter catch
Riding a scooter is the most common way to turn a small mistake into a large bill. Choice says most insurers only cover you for riding scooters and mopeds if you have an Australian motorbike licence, and many require a helmet. Our scooter hire guide covers the Indonesian licence rules, hire costs and fines. This page covers the insurance side.
Here is what each insurer’s own page says. Each cell quotes that page; a note in brackets marks where it states nothing. The insurers are listed alphabetically, not ranked.
| Insurer | Is riding covered? | Licence condition | Engine size | Helmet | Alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cover-More | ”you’ll likely need to opt to include motorcycle or moped travel insurance cover and pay an extra premium to include it in your policy" | "while in control of a motorcycle or moped, you hold a valid Australian motorcycle rider’s licence or Australian motor vehicle driver’s licence" | "the engine capacity of your motorcycle/moped is 250cc or less" | "you’re wearing a helmet" | "cover won’t apply if you are injured in a motorcycle or moped accident because you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs” |
| Fast Cover | ”Fast Cover’s Motorcycle Pack is an optional extra for travellers planning to ride or be a passenger on a motorcycle, moped or scooter." | "125cc or less”: “You must hold both a current Australian Drivers Licence (Provisional or higher) (regardless of the local laws) and a licence valid for the country that you are riding in.” Greater than 125cc: “You must hold both a current Australian Motorcycle Licence (Provisional or higher) valid for the same class of motorcycle, moped or scooter (regardless of the local laws) and a licence valid for the country that you are riding in." | "125cc or less” and “Greater than 125cc" | "If You were not wearing a crash helmet” (listed under “There is no cover available in the following circumstances”) | “If You were under the influence of drugs or alcohol” (same list) |
| 1Cover | ”we offer cover for medical expenses related to mopeds and scooters" | "If you are driving a scooter or motorcycle greater than 125cc, you need to hold a current Australian motorcycle licence and to be riding legally in the country you are travelling in." | "with an engine size no greater than 125cc" | "1Cover advises you to wear a compliant motorbike helmet whenever you are a rider or passenger on a scooter or motorbike." | "if you’ve been drinking alcohol, you’re putting yourself in danger and your travel insurance will be invalid” |
| RACV | ”Riding a scooter, moped or motorcycle overseas is covered under RACV International Travel Insurance plans at no extra cost, provided you meet the criteria below." | "If you’re driving: you hold a current Australian motorcycle licence, even if the country you’re visiting doesn’t require one." | "engine capacity 50cc or above” and “engine capacity below 50cc” have separate conditions (no upper limit stated) | “Everyone on board is wearing a helmet and complying with local road rules and riding laws." | "you won’t be covered if you’re competing in a race or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs” |
From each insurer’s own published wording, checked on 7 October 2026. Wording changes and differs between policy levels; read your own policy before you ride.
Two things stand out from reading the four pages side by side. First, the engine size matters, and the four pages draw the line in different places: Cover-More caps at 250cc and 1Cover at 125cc, Fast Cover changes its licence rule at 125cc, and RACV changes its conditions at 50cc without stating a cap. Second, the licence condition is about your home licence, and RACV says it applies even where the country you are riding in does not ask for one.
Alcohol, drugs and other exclusions
Alcohol appears in all four wordings above, and Cover-More says it plainly: it asks you to leave the bike behind and take a taxi if you are drinking. Compare Club lists being under the influence of drugs or alcohol among common exclusions generally, next to riding scooters without a licence or helmet, leaving luggage unattended, ignoring government travel warnings and undeclared pre-existing conditions. Exclusions vary between insurers and policies.
Insurance covers you, not the vehicle. RACV says travel insurance covers you, not the scooter, and 1Cover says that you would need insurance with your rental provider because it does not provide direct cover for your vehicle.
Pre-existing conditions
Choice says that if you have a pre-existing medical condition you should read the fine print, because some insurers will only cover pre-existing conditions for an extra fee and pending a medical assessment. Compare Club lists pre-existing medical conditions not declared upfront among common exclusions.
Activities that often need an add-on
Compare Club lists scooter or motorcycle riding, surfing and diving, volcano hiking, quad biking and white-water rafting as Bali activities that often need add-on cover. Choice says that many insurers cover scuba diving with some special conditions, for example to a certain depth, and some offer further cover as an optional extra. Choice also says that if you plan any adventure sport you should first make sure it is covered by your travel insurance.
Our guides to scuba diving in Bali and the Mount Batur sunrise trek describe the activities themselves. For wider context on risks on the island, see is Bali safe.
Volcanoes can matter for the trip as a whole, not only the hike. Choice says ash clouds from volcanoes anywhere in Indonesia can cause flight disruptions and airport closures with little to no notice. The FCDO updated its Indonesia advice on 18 September 2026 to say it no longer advises against all travel to volcanoes in Indonesia, and it points to the exclusion zones that local authorities enforce around active sites.
What to carry and keep
Choice suggests keeping a printout of your insurance details with you at all times on the trip, and sharing them with family or friends before you leave. The FCDO says insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. In practice, that means carrying your policy number and your insurer’s emergency assistance number, and keeping hospital paperwork, so that a claim can be backed up when you are home.
We did not find a dated insurer source for the exact documents each claim needs, so check the claims section of your own policy for what it asks for, such as receipts or a police report after a theft.
Questions to ask before you buy
Because we do not recommend an insurer, here is what to put side by side when you compare policies.
- Medical and evacuation limits, and whether they are unlimited or capped.
- Whether scooter riding is included or an add-on, and at what engine size.
- The licence condition, and whether it needs an Australian motorcycle licence.
- The helmet and alcohol wording.
- How pre-existing conditions are handled.
- Whether the activities you plan are covered.
- The excess, and what documents a claim needs.
Cover-More says the Product Disclosure Statement is the source of truth for limits, exclusions and conditions.