CAR & DRIVER

First of all, unless you are used to drive in Indonesia; better hire a car with driver!
Although roads are almost empty on Flores, most of them, including the Trans Flores Road is full of bends with only a few straight stretches and/or small. Many western people are not used to drive on the left side and in case of an accident you will regret for the rest of your life you ever intended to drive yourself. Hiring a car with driver is about the same price as hiring the same car without one, but overall the latter isn't even possible. There are no rentals for foreigners unless you have a KITAS or KITAP (residence permit for Indonesia). I check this frequently, in particular in Labuan Bajo but there are no rentals for foreigners.
As a passenger you don’ t have to take care of the traffic but only enjoy the beauty of Flores and therefore more relaxed.

As about 95% of the mails and apps I receive is about finding a car with driver here below some extra information.

How to... where can I find... how much...

Please read this if you want to hire a car with driver

Arriving at the airport you can easily get a car with driver. You don’t need to look for them, they will find yóu. Sometimes prices can be steep on airports, specially if you don't have a good plan. Prices range from 800k up to 1,2 million and even higher prices are not uncommon so it depends on business logic, common sense and your nego skills to get a fair price. There isn't such a thing as a fixed price in Indonesia. However booking in advance is advisable. Your driver will await you at the airport. You don't have to spend precious time to find a driver or bargain plus your driver is prepared for the (long) trip together with you which feels good on both sides. Rates depend on where you want to go to, like within town (seldom done by travelers) but cars and drivers are mainly booked for an overland trip.

For an overland trip count on an average rate of Rp 900.000 per day.

But that is not the entire story, oplease read further.
Drivers have various systems, some of them count a minimum of 5 days, in case of a one way trip an empty run is usually added (drivers need to end or start with an empty run). If you want to travel quick but long stretches, for example Labuan Bajo to Bajawa or similar in one day the dayprice might be higher. Prices higher than the average rate are sometimes negotiable in the low season but during the high season not sure.

Many tourists come from Bali to Flores and will be disappointed by the somewhat high(er) prices for hiring a car with driver. So, maybe some explanation is needed.
First of all the living standard on Flores is higher than on Jawa or Bali since almost everything needs to be imported from elsewhere.

Maintenance and replacing spare parts is more expensive as well as there isn't always decent stock. Bad roads means that maintenance is more needed. On top of that the tourism on Flores is not yet a fulltime business like on Bali for example.

For hiring a car with driver (and/or guide) there are many possibilities.

Many people start in Maumere or Ende and travel overland to Labuan Bajo or the other way around. Sometimes in 3 days (yes, there are) and sometimes in 2 to even 3 weeks and anything in between. Drivers can take you from place to place but some of them can also guide you with (sometimes) extra costs. Also drivers have various systems. Sorry, a lot of "sometimes" :-)
Like mentioned, in general with an overland trip with a minimum of 5 days count on a minimum price with an average of Rp 900.000 per day. Plus almost always an empty run. This price is based on an overland trip and includes car, driver, fuel, costs for driver (place to sleep/meals) with normal stretches/distances for example Labuan Bajo to Ruteng, Ruteng to Bajawa etc.
If you want to travel double stretches like Labuan Bajo to Bajawa you need to count on a higher dayprice. It doesn't work to hire a car for 1 or 2 days from A to B and for example again after a few days as this will turn out to become expensive. You will lose a lot of money as an additional charge, a higher day price and/or empty leg will be charged.

I work together with around 20 drivers on Flores whom I all know myself. Some of them speak very good English, others basic only which doesn't have to be a problem. All of them are reliable and safe drivers.

You can contact me to find you a reliable, English speaking driver with a fair price. If that case please send an email to floressurgakita@gmail.com (English, Nederlands, bahasa Indonesia) and let me know your plans and information as much as possible

- date of arrival/start of the trip (when already known)

- how many days (if you already have an idea)

- how many people (adults/children)

- how much luggage weight/volume

- all other relevant information like your plans before and after Flores.

Once I have found a driver for you, you receive name and telephonenumber and you can communicate directly with the driver. Usually a deposit isn't necessary or asked. The drivers I work with can be booked on base of a gentlemen's agreement.

Some drivers ask an operational amount of 1 or 2 million or maybe half of the total price at the start of the trip, others don't and the remaining amount can be paid at the end of the trip. Further details like payment you need to discuss with the driver yourself however the norm is payment in cash and in Indonesian Rupiah. Very few drivers work with Wise, none of them with creditcard.
Again, I am not an agent, so the drivers price is your price. My assistance is for free.

Since the months July and August are peak season and getting more and more busy I advise to book early in the year or as soon as you have a concrete plan. For the rest of the year 1 or 2 months in advance is ok.

A car rental for one day has to be arranged on the spot or maybe one or two days before. In that case you can contact me via WhatsApp. I cannot help you with a one day rental in high season months before, as drivers won't accept a booking as there is a good chance they can get an overland booking which they cannot accept otherwise. Or your booking is accepted but they might change drivers. Tourism is not a year round business yet and locals working in the tourism business depend on high season so they have to make as much as possible out of it.

Again, like said on the first page of this website and over and over (I still get messages people thinking I am an agent); there are no profits for me, no fee, no commission. The drivers price is the real price, is your price. No deposit, everything is on a base of a gentlemen's agreement.

Also check the Q&A section Car & Driver