Indonesia: Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit Varies widely, sometimes passport instead of a deposit.
Want the full guide? Get a PDF with rental car tips for Indonesia — free.
Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit Varies widely, sometimes passport instead of a deposit. Similar to Thailand, some local agencies (especially for scooters in Bali) hold your passport instead of a card deposit — a well-documented risk. Insist on a card deposit and confirm liability coverage before you sign.
Indonesia: Watch Out — Well-Documented Surprises — typical deposit Varies widely, sometimes passport instead of a deposit. Similar to Thailand, some local agencies (especially for scooters in Bali) hold your passport instead of a card deposit — a well-documented risk. Insist on a card deposit and confirm liability coverage before you sign.
Indonesia has a well-documented pattern of surprise charges, aggressive upselling, or risky practices — read the note above carefully and read your rental contract in full.
Check what your own credit card or home auto insurance already covers before buying extra coverage — you may already be covered for some or all of it. But confirm any legally mandatory local coverage separately, since that's not optional regardless of what else you have.
Photograph and video the entire car from every angle, including a timestamp — this is your best protection in any damage dispute, especially in destinations with a documented pattern of post-return charge disputes.