Hiring a private driver is the easiest way to see Bali beyond your base, and for most first-time visitors it is the right choice for any full-day outing. You book a car and its driver for the day, set the route, and the driver waits at each stop. We quote no rates, because they vary and we have no official source; this page covers how the arrangement works and what to agree in advance.
What hiring a driver means
Hiring a private driver in Bali means booking a car and the person who drives it for a block of time, often a day, to take you where you want to go. What you are buying, compared with a taxi or an app ride, is a car that stays with you, so confirm when you book that the driver will wait at each stop.
Why it suits Bali
Bali's sights are spread across the island and its distances are short in miles. Ubud is about 6 miles from the Tegallalang rice terraces and about 27 from the crater rim at Kintamani, and about 22 miles from the airport to Ubud. A day can link several stops, and the driver handles the roads and the parking.
What it is not
A driver is not automatically a licensed tour guide. Some drivers explain a great deal and some simply drive. If you want commentary on temples and history, ask for that when you book, and expect that a guide and a driver may be two different services.
How to find a driver
Drivers in Bali are found in three ways: through your accommodation, through a recommendation from someone who has used one, and through booking platforms. The State Department's advice for Indonesia is to arrange transportation through reputable companies. Booking through your hotel puts a business you can return to between you and the arrangement.
What the rules say about the vehicle
Bali's rules for foreign tourists refer to roadworthy four-wheeled transport that officially belongs to a rental business or association. Ask whether the car is a registered tourist transport vehicle. Asking the question is the only way to know; we cannot tell you that any particular arrangement satisfies the rule.
Checks before you set off
The State Department's advice for any ride in Indonesia is to confirm the driver and vehicle information before entering. On the morning itself, confirm that the person and the car are the ones you booked. Seat belts for every passenger are worth asking about when you book, not when the car arrives.
What to agree in advance
A driver booking in Bali goes smoothly when the terms are written down beforehand, in a message you can both refer to. These are our own suggestions, since no official checklist exists. Settle them before the day, not at the end of it.
- The total price, and the number of hours it covers.
- What happens if the day runs longer.
- Whether fuel, parking and tolls are included.
- The list of stops, and that you choose the restaurants and shops.
- The pickup time and place, and the driver's phone number.
Entrance fees are separate
Sights that charge an entrance fee are a separate cost from the driver unless you have agreed otherwise. We list no amounts, because they change. Carry small rupiah notes for them, and dress for temples, where Bali's rules ask for modest dress.
Paying
Agree how you will pay when you book, and have rupiah ready if the answer is cash. Bali's rules for visitors say to transact in rupiah and to change money only at authorized changers. Our view is that a tip for a good day is a decision for you; the agreed price is the price.
