What should you do if you have a scooter accident in Bali?

The first ten minutes

• Move to safety. Get yourself and, if you safely can, the scooter out of the traffic flow to the side of the road.
• Check for injuries. Look for bleeding, head impacts and anything that hurts to move, on yourself and anyone else involved.
• Call for help. Dial 112 for general emergencies, or 118/119 for an ambulance. A private hospital’s own ambulance is often faster than the public service.
• Photograph everything before it moves. Both scooters, the damage, the road surface, skid marks, number plates and the wider scene.
• Exchange details calmly. Get the other rider’s name, phone number and a photo of their licence and plate. Avoid admitting fault, which can matter for both insurance and any settlement.
• Message your rental company. Most have a 24/7 line and will tell you what they need for the bike and any damage claim.

Clinic or hospital, and which one

For grazes, road rash and minor sprains, a reputable clinic can clean and dress wounds properly, which matters because Bali’s roads leave grit and bacteria deep in the skin and infection sets in fast in the heat. For anything involving the head, a suspected fracture, heavy bleeding or loss of consciousness, go straight to a hospital.

Private hospitals such as BIMC, Siloam and Kasih Ibu have English-speaking staff, 24-hour emergency departments and modern facilities, but expect to pay upfront or have your insurer authorise payment first. Sanglah (Prof. Ngoerah) in Denpasar is the major public referral hospital for the most serious cases; it is cheaper but busier, with less English.

When police must be involved

For a minor solo spill with no other party, police involvement is often minimal. You need a police report when someone is injured, when another vehicle or person is involved, or when there is any dispute over fault, because your insurer will usually ask for one on a serious claim.

If a disagreement cannot be resolved on the spot, call 110 for police, or ask your rental company, hotel or embassy to help. Get a copy of, or reference number for, any report filed.

The under-told part: what your insurance actually does with a scooter claim

This is where tourists get caught out. A travel policy does not automatically cover a scooter crash, and several common conditions can quietly void the whole claim:

• Licence. Most insurers only pay if you were legally entitled to ride, meaning a valid motorcycle licence from home plus a matching International Driving Permit showing the motorcycle category. Ride without them and the claim can be refused, however serious your injuries.
• Helmet. Many policies exclude cover if you were not wearing a helmet at the time.
• Engine size. Some policies only cover bikes up to a stated capacity, and your home licence must cover that size too.
• Alcohol and drugs. Injuries while over the limit are excluded, and Bali hospitals routinely run toxicology tests after serious accidents, so this is not something you can talk your way around.
• Add-on required. Plenty of standard policies exclude motorbikes entirely unless you have bought the specific scooter or motorcycle extension.

Practically, that means you usually pay the hospital yourself and claim it back later, unless the bill is large and the insurer coordinates payment directly. Report to your insurer and rental company promptly, and keep the lot: medical records, invoices, discharge notes, the police report, scene photos and your rental agreement. Check your exact wording before you ride, not from a hospital bed.