Bali Right Now (October 2026): Fuel Shortage Update and How to Get Around Bali by Scooter, Car, Private Driver or Bus

Bali is open and flights are running, but since about 12 October the island has had a petrol shortage with long queues at stations. Pertamina, Indonesia’s state energy company, blames delayed tanker deliveries and says more fuel is arriving. The easiest way to move around Bali right now is a private driver, because fuel is the driver’s problem, not yours. Scooters still work, but refuel at half a tank. Grab and Gojek are available but scarcer. Public buses (Trans Metro Dewata, IDR 4,400 a ride) cover only a slice of the island.

The morning the scooter ran dry

Picture it. You wake up in Ubud, the air smells of frangipani and incense, and your plan is simple: rice terraces by nine, a waterfall by noon, sunset in Uluwatu. You borrow the scooter you rented three days ago, ride to the nearest petrol station, and find a line of motorbikes snaking back onto the road.

That was the scene for thousands of locals and tourists across Bali this week. Reporters described queues of up to a kilometre in Denpasar, and one Moldovan tourist told AFP she had waited hours to fuel her scooter after getting stranded with no petrol while trying to reach north Bali.

The good news: this is a supply hiccup, not the end of your holiday. The better news: once you know how each way of getting around Bali behaves right now, you can plan around it. That is what this guide is for.

What is happening in Bali right now (15 October 2026)

1. The fuel shortage

• What happened: Pertamina’s president director apologised publicly and said a tanker had trouble discharging its cargo. According to Bali Holiday Secrets, the tanker due to unload around 6:30 am on 12 October had an anchor problem and could not continue until about 10 pm that night, pushing a major delivery behind schedule.
• Why it snowballed: Pertamina has confirmed delays to Pertalite (the cheaper subsidised petrol) deliveries. Demand for Pertalite had also risen, and once queues went viral, panic buying made it worse.
• Where: Worst in South Bali and Ubud, but travel blogger Michael of Bali Holiday Secrets reports queues in Karangasem (East Bali) and parts of West Bali too. Do not assume you will escape it by leaving the south.
• What is being done: A tanker carrying more than 22 million litres arrived on 13 October, per Pertamina, with fuel expected to cover up to seven more days of demand. Pertamina says it has mapped 52 stations to operate 24 hours, according to Tempo. Bali Holiday Secrets reports almost 58 million litres of extra petrol scheduled between 14 and 17 October.
• Status today: Improving but not normal. Bali Holiday Secrets said on the morning of 15 October that some stations were still running out of Pertalite and Pertamax, and that availability varies from one station to the next. Nobody has given a firm end date.
• Knock-on effects: The Bali Times reports jeep drivers in Kintamani queueing for petrol and schools and universities in Denpasar moving online.
• Is the airport affected? Reports say flights are operating normally. The shortage mainly hits road transport.

Transparency note: Pertamina has not confirmed that fuel was diverted to Lombok for the MotoGP weekend (9 to 11 October), though it did raise Lombok supply by up to 30%. Treat that link as unproven.

2. A very late rainy season

A very strong El Niño has stretched Bali’s dry season. The BMKG weather agency expects the rainy season to start in November in some areas and December across most of the island, according to RRI. The longest dry spell on record this year was 123 days in Sumberklampok, Buleleng. For you that means sunny, dusty days and good beach weather, but also:

• Water stress in the north and east (Buleleng, Karangasem, Jembrana), where the provincial government has been distributing clean water.
• Fire risk: Bali recorded 44 fires up to 9 September, per Bali Live citing local media. Never drop cigarette butts or burn rubbish.
• A possibly abrupt switch to heavy rain in early 2027, which will matter for scooter safety on wet roads.

3. Events that will fill the roads

• ICANN87 in Nusa Dua, 17 to 22 October: the global internet governance meeting was moved to Bali from Muscat, per Tempo via Pinlora. Expect busier Nusa Dua and airport corridors (this is our inference, not an official traffic forecast).
• Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, 21 to 25 October: Ubud is crowded and parking is tight in festival week.

4. Rules and fees to have ready

• Tourist levy: IDR 150,000 per person, paid once via the official Love Bali portal (lovebali.baliprov.go.id) with a QR voucher sent by email. Beware sites quoting higher amounts.
• Visa on arrival is a separate IDR 500,000 for eligible nationalities.
• Proof of funds: one 2026 guide says arrivals should prepare a USD 2,000 bank statement. We could not confirm this on an official source, so check with your embassy or Indonesian immigration before you fly.

Why Bali’s roads are so hard to read

Bali had about 5.2 million registered vehicles in 2025, more than its population, according to BPS Bali data quoted by Kompas. Public transport reaches only around 10% of the Sarbagita area (Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, Tabanan). Bali also welcomed a record 7.05 million foreign visitors by air in 2025, per Governor Wayan Koster. More people, more vehicles, and now less fuel.

How to get around Bali: 4 options compared

Prices are ranges from several local operators and vary by season, vehicle and negotiation. Confirm before you book.

Option 1: Private car and driver (our pick for right now)

A driver turns Bali from a logistics puzzle into a scenic drive. You name the places, they handle the traffic, parking and, crucially this week, the petrol.

What it costs: Operators quote about IDR 600,000 to 850,000 for a full day including car, fuel, parking and driver, while other sources put the range at IDR 600,000 to 1,000,000. Ubud-area days run roughly IDR 700,000 to 800,000. Prices are per vehicle, not per person, so four friends paying IDR 700,000 each pay about IDR 175,000.

Tips:

1. Book ahead. Drivers can make sure the tank is full before they collect you.
2. Confirm inclusions in writing: hours (usually 10), fuel, parking, toll and any area surcharge.
3. Expect overtime of around IDR 100,000 per hour and a tip of IDR 50,000 to 100,000 a day.
4. Allow buffer for airport and fast-boat transfers while fuel queues spill onto roads.
5. Multi-day trips: ask whether driver accommodation (around IDR 300,000 a night at some operators) is included.

Option 2: Scooter rental

A scooter is the classic Bali experience, and rentals are still operating. Just ride differently this week.

The legal bit (do not skip):

• You need your home licence plus an International Driving Permit (IDP) that covers motorcycles. A car-only licence or IDP does not cover a scooter, per bali.com’s July 2026 guidance.
• Pickyourtrail’s 2026 guide says there is no tourist rental ban, but enforcement has tightened, and drivers from ASEAN countries generally do not need an IDP.
• In a three-day 2025 police operation, officers seized 56 vehicles and cited 81 drivers, including 30 tourists. Riding without the right licence can also void your travel insurance.

Fuel-shortage rules of thumb:

• Refuel at half a tank. Do not ride on the fuel light.
• Fill up before long rides to Amed, Lovina or Kintamani.
• If Pertalite is sold out, ask whether Pertamax is available and suitable for your bike.
• Ask your rental shop which stations had fuel today.
• Roadside bottle sellers cost more but can save you in a pinch.
• Out of fuel? Park safely, tell the nearest shop and your rental company, and take a Grab or Gojek.
• Electric scooters are an option for short local trips, with higher prices and limited range.

Option 3: Rent a car (self-drive)

Self-drive suits confident drivers who want freedom. Budget around IDR 250,000 to 450,000 a day for small to family cars, but beware low online prices that rise once you message the shop. Bali’s narrow lanes, scooter swarms and one-way systems are stressful for first-timers, and you will be hunting for petrol too. If you are nervous, hire a car with a driver for the price difference.

Option 4: Ride-hailing and taxis

Grab and Gojek still operate, but Bali Holiday Secrets reports lower availability and more cancellations because drivers face the same queues. Try Grab first (it has some electric bikes), keep both apps, message the driver after they accept, and give yourself extra time for flights and tours.

Option 5: Public transport

Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) is Bali’s affordable bus network. It runs six core routes at IDR 4,400 a trip, with the first bus on Route 1 leaving Kuta Parking Centre at 4:30 am, according to What’s New Indonesia. It stopped at the start of 2025 over funding problems and resumed on 20 April 2025. Bali’s provincial budget for 2026 gives public transport subsidy only about 0.9%, per Kompas, so service can change.

Use TMD if: you travel light, stay near a route, and are happy with fixed stops. Skip it if: you have big luggage, tight flight deadlines or want remote sights. Check the latest routes on the official TMD site before you go.

Which one should you choose?

• First time in Bali, family or group: private driver.
• Experienced rider staying in one area: scooter, with the half-tank rule.
• Short hops in town: Grab or Gojek, plus patience.
• Tight budget, one corridor: TMD bus.
• Long island loop (Ubud, Amed, Lovina): private driver or a guided tour while fuel is unstable.

Smart planning for this week

1. Pay the Love Bali levy before you land and keep the QR code offline.
2. Pre-book your airport pickup.
3. Cluster sightseeing by area (south, Ubud, east) to cut distance.
4. Carry cash for roadside fuel and small shops.
5. Add 30 to 60 minutes of buffer for flights, fast boats and dinner bookings.
6. Save a few offline maps and screenshot your booking confirmations.

After Bali: take the story east

If your Bali days leave you craving volcano sunrises, East Java is a short hop away: Ijen’s blue fire and Mount Bromo (which reopened on 19 September 2026 after a savanna-fire closure) pair neatly with a Bali trip. Many travellers cross from Bali by ferry and road with a driver or message us on WhatsApp: +62 858-8003-4113.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is there a fuel shortage in Bali right now? Yes. Since about 12 October 2026 many petrol stations have run low on Pertalite and Pertamax, causing long queues. Supplies are arriving and some stations run 24 hours, but availability still varies station by station.

Should I cancel my Bali trip because of the fuel shortage? Not according to current reports. The airport, hotels, attractions and tours are operating. Plan extra time and choose transport that does not depend on you finding petrol.

What is the best way to get around Bali right now? A private car and driver, because the driver sorts out fuel. Scooters work if you refuel early. Ride-hailing is available but scarcer.

How much does a private driver cost in Bali? Roughly IDR 600,000 to 1,000,000 per car for about 10 hours, depending on area, vehicle and operator. The price covers the vehicle, not each passenger.

Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a scooter in Bali? Yes, in most cases: your home licence plus an IDP that covers motorcycles. ASEAN licence holders generally do not need an IDP. Riding unlicensed can void insurance.

Are Grab and Gojek working in Bali during the shortage? Yes, but with fewer drivers and more cancellations. Try Grab first, keep both apps and allow extra time.

Is there public transport in Bali for tourists? Yes. Trans Metro Dewata buses cost IDR 4,400 per trip on six core routes, but coverage is limited and luggage space is small.

How much is the Bali tourist levy? IDR 150,000 per person, paid once through the official Love Bali portal. Visa on arrival, where applicable, is separate.

When does Bali’s rainy season start in 2026? BMKG expects November in some areas and December in most of the island, later than normal because of El Niño.