Do you need a driver in Lombok?

Groups visiting Lombok do well with a driver for the long days and nothing for the short ones. A car with a driver costs about Rp 350,000 to 700,000 per day, including fuel ^[1]. The right answer depends on who is travelling and how much you want to see.

This question belongs to our domestic access routes hub. For the island overview, read the Lombok planning page.

How do the options compare?

Distances on Lombok look short on a map, but roads wind and speeds drop. Here is how the choices differ.

Option	Best suited to	Worth knowing
Car with driver	Families, grandparents, groups of friends	About Rp 350,000 to 700,000 a day with fuel [1]
Self-drive rental car	Confident drivers, small groups	About Rp 150,000 to 450,000 a day [4]
Scooter	Solo or couples on short, local rides	About Rp 80,000 a day [2]; licence and helmet rules apply [3]
Grab or Gojek	Short hops around the airport and towns	Coverage is thinner away from the main areas

These rates come from a travel guide, so use them to compare, not to budget. Ask for a written quote.

When is a driver the better choice?

A driver helps when your group includes children or grandparents. It also helps when you plan a run of stops in a day, such as waterfalls and beaches. You avoid parking, navigation and the fatigue of unfamiliar roads.

A driver also suits Muslim travellers who want to stop for prayer. Ask the driver to plan prayer stops in advance and write them into the day. Our driver-day checker helps you list what to confirm.

When can you manage without one?

If you stay at one base and walk to meals, you may need a driver only for the airport. Resort bases such as Senggigi and Kuta Lombok have restaurants in walking distance. A short ride by app or taxi covers the rest.

If the Gilis are your main plan, you need no driver on the islands. You still need a transfer to the harbour, as set out in Lombok airport to Gili Air.

What about renting a scooter?

A scooter costs about Rp 80,000 per day, and the price rises in peak season ^[2]. Guides say you need a helmet, a valid licence and an International Driving Permit ^[3]. Check your travel insurance for riders before you rent.

Rural roads can be unfamiliar, especially after dark. Families and first-timers are better served by a car. Our guide on renting a scooter in Bali covers the same questions and applies here too.

What should you ask before you pay a driver?

1. How long is the working day, and what does overtime cost?
2. Is fuel, parking and the driver’s meal included?
3. Which vehicle will arrive, and does it fit your luggage?
4. Does the driver speak enough English or Malay?

Our guide to how a private driver day works covers hours and overtime in detail. Put the answers in writing before the day starts.