Where on Bali should you rent a car from a local company?

What the numbers say about local car hire across Bali

This snapshot covers 317 cars from local companies across 3 tracked areas of Bali. All 317 were analysed for a one-week rental. Bali ranks 25 of 36 destinations, with a score of 5.7/10.

The fleet is young. The median model year is 2022, and 73% of cars are marked as new. 97% have an automatic gearbox, which helps in dense scooter traffic.

Two terms score perfectly. 100% of cars need no credit card, and 100% come with unlimited mileage. Fleet quality also scores high in this guide.

The weak points are deposits and cancellation. Only 47% of cars need no deposit, which is below the median destination. Just 21% offer free cancellation, well below the median share. Choice sits in the middle of the range.

For context, see how this guide scores destinations and the full list of destinations. Bali also appears within the wider Indonesia picture on the countries page.

Denpasar Airport, Kuta or Ubud: where to collect a car in Bali

The three tracked areas share the same top models and the same median year. Their terms differ only slightly, so pick by itinerary rather than by headline figures.

Denpasar Airport has the largest choice in Bali. Ngurah Rai International (DPS) sits on the narrow isthmus south of Kuta. It has the highest share of free delivery of the three. Its no-deposit share is a little below the island figure, but free cancellation is slightly more common.

Kuta offers a slightly higher no-deposit share than the airport. It lies a short drive north of DPS on the south coast. Free delivery is less common here, so collection may mean a trip to the office.

Ubud matches Kuta's terms in this snapshot. Ubud is the inland hub of Gianyar regency, among rice terraces and temples. A car from Ubud suits day trips to Mount Batur and the northern lakes.

The near-identical figures suggest many companies serve all three areas. Compare the same car's terms across locations before you book. The cities list shows other places tracked by this guide.

Toyota Avanza, Innova and small hatchbacks on Bali roads

The most listed models in Bali are Toyota Avanza, Toyota Innova, Daihatsu Ayla, Honda Brio, Toyota Agya. Nearly all are automatic, and the median model year is 2022.

• The Toyota Avanza is a seven-seat compact MPV. It suits family runs from DPS to Nusa Dua on the Bali Mandara toll road.
• The Toyota Innova is a larger seven-seat MPV. It suits luggage-heavy trips north over Bedugul to Lovina.
• The Daihatsu Ayla is a small city hatchback. It suits the narrow lanes between Seminyak and Canggu.
• The Honda Brio is a compact hatchback. It suits tight village roads and small parking spots around Ubud.
• The Toyota Agya is a city car close in size to the Ayla. It suits short hops around Sanur and Kuta.

Small hatchbacks are easier in traffic and crowded car parks. MPVs give more room for suitcases, surfboards and extra passengers. On steep climbs to Kintamani, a fully loaded hatchback can feel weak, so groups should consider an MPV.

Check the exact model, year and photos on each car card. The car card checklist lists what to verify before paying.

Deposits in Bali: no deposit, cash deposit and card rules

In this car rental Bali snapshot, deposits are the weakest score. Only 47% of cars need no deposit. That is below the median destination tracked by this guide.

Cash is common. 51% of cars accept a cash deposit, and 100% need no credit card. Travellers without a credit card can still choose from every car in this snapshot.

If a car needs a deposit, its amount and payment methods are on the car card. Read them before you pay the advance. Do not assume a card is accepted where only cash is listed.

The search filters for no deposit and no credit card narrow the list quickly. Use them first, then compare the remaining cars by model and terms.

Browse cars without a deposit or cars with a cash deposit across destinations. The deposits guide explains the deposit types in more detail.

Free cancellation, unlimited mileage and villa delivery in Bali

Free cancellation is scarce in Bali. Only 21% of cars offer it, well below the median destination. Plans that may change need a careful filter.

Filter for free cancellation, then read the exact terms on the car card. Your conditions are also written in your voucher. Cars with free cancellation are grouped on a separate page.

Mileage is no concern here. 100% of cars come with unlimited mileage. A loop from the south coast to Amed, Lovina and back carries no distance cap on these cars.

Free delivery is offered on 23% of cars. The airport has the highest delivery share of the three tracked areas. Delivery helps travellers staying in Bali vacation rentals, such as villas in Canggu or Ubud.

Confirm the delivery address and time with the rental company in advance. Villa lanes can be hard to find, so a map pin saves time.

Driving in Bali: left-hand traffic, scooters and main routes

Bali drives on the left, and most cars are right-hand drive. Scooters fill every lane and overtake on both sides. Expect slow progress in the south at peak hours.

Key routes for an auto rental Bali trip:

• Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai links the airport, Kuta, Sanur and the south.
• The Bali Mandara toll road crosses the bay between the airport area, Benoa and Nusa Dua.
• The road north via Bedugul climbs past the lakes to Singaraja and Lovina.
• The west coast road runs through Tabanan to Gilimanuk and the Java ferry.
• The east road follows the coast via Klungkung towards Candidasa and Amed.

Mountain roads to Kintamani and Bedugul are steep and winding. Fog and rain are common there in the afternoon. Village lanes around Ubud are narrow, and temple ceremonies sometimes close roads.

Minimum driver age and licence rules are set by each company. They are shown on the car card, so check them before booking.

How booking a Bali car through Localrent works

Localrent is an online booking service that lists cars of local, independent rental companies. It is an intermediary and does not own cars. This guide is independent and is not Localrent.

The steps are short:

• Pick a specific car from a named local company.
• Read the car card: model, year, photos, deposit, payment methods, mileage, insurance and cancellation terms.
• Pay the advance online by bank card. Cash is not accepted for the advance.
• Pay the rest to the rental company at pick-up, by the methods shown for that car.

The rental contract is signed with the local company, not with Localrent. Your conditions are in your voucher, so keep it ready at pick-up. Insurance terms differ by company, so compare them card by card.

More detail is in how Localrent booking works. If you doubt the service, read is Localrent legit. All guides and the home page cover other topics.

Our verdict

Bali suits travellers who want a recent automatic car, long drives and no credit card. Deposits and strict cancellation are the trade-offs behind its rank of 25 of 36. Filter carefully and read each car card before paying the advance.