BASICS:

There are two types of licenses which allow you to LEGALLY drive a motor vehicle in Taiwan (separate licenses are issued for motorcycles and cars):

1) International Driving Permit (easiest way/but only good for up to 3 months)
2) Taiwanese issued Driver's License

NOTE: A national driver's license from your home country is acceptable ONLY if you have an ARC (Alien Resident Certificate; see Visas section) and your home country has a 'reciprocal agreement' with Taiwan.
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HOW TO APPLY:

1)  International Driving Permit

Short-term visitors of UP TO 3 MONTHS ONLY may drive with an International Permit, which is issued by your HOME COUNTRY (you can get one in Taiwan, but only after receiving a Taiwanese Driver’s License first…)

Requirements: The permit is usually valid for 1- 5 years depending on your country of origin. Also, generally speaking if you have a license in your home country you can apply for an International Driving Permit for a small fee at your local Department of Motor Vehicles, Automobile Association, or Post Office (U.S.) and will receive it in the mail in about a week. (You may need to show your license, passport sized photos and other similar requirements so check with your country’s related offices for exact requirements.)

2)  Driver's License

If you plan to stay in Taiwan over 3 months, you must obtain a Taiwan driver’s license to drive legally.

If you are over 18 and have a driver’s license from your home country, you may be able to apply for a Taiwanese license without a written or driving test depending on whether your country has a ‘reciprocity agreement’ with Taiwan (check with your local consulate or home embassy) If you are not from a country with a ‘reciprocal agreement’ with Taiwan, you can take an oral exam in English and a driving test (small obstacle course, no street driving).

The driving test consists of driving through an S-shaped section. Following that you will have to parallel park, back into a parking space, stop and start on a slope, stop at a red light and stop for an oncoming (imaginary) train. The hard part in doing this is not to drive over the multitude of inconveniently located pressure tubes planted in the ground. Every time you hit one of those pressure tubes you set off an alarm that notifies the neighborhood around the test site of your lack of driving skills. Even worse, but less embarrassing, is that you will have points deducted. If your point deductions add up to 32 or more, you'll have to try again another day.

If you take the driving test in your own car, the fee is NT$450. If you register through a driving school the fee is NT$1,000. This fee is non-refundable, meaning that if you need to take the test again, you will also need to pay the fee again.

It is highly recommend that you practice for the test at a driving school. The instructors at these schools will be happy to teach you the gimmicks to pass, for example landmarks to use in lining up your car and how many turns of the steering wheel are required to finish a maneuver, etc. It is usually possible to take the test on the driving school's course and in the vehicle you have practiced in.

If you already have driving experience you can request one-on-one use of the track and an instructor for about NT$600 per hour. For new drivers, there is a month-long instruction course.

NOTE:  The only problem is that most instructors don't speak English, so you may need to bring along your own translator if your Chinese skills are not strong enough.

Department of Motor Vehicle Application Requirements:

1)  ARC (Alien Resident Certificate; see Visas section)
2)  Passport
3)  3 passport size photos  (2.4cm by 3cm)
4)  Cash for fees (variable)
5)  Physical/eye exam (at clinic or public hospital)

Taipei City - Dept. of Motor Vehicles Office
21, Ba De Road, Section 4, Taipei
Tel: (02) 2763-0155

English website - www.tcmvd.gov.tw/en_default1.htm

NOTE: Licenses are only issued for length of your ARC (typically 1 yr). You must renew the license right before it expires OR TAKE THE TESTS ALL OVER AGAIN. The good news is that the renewal process is very fast. Just bring your ARC, two recent passport-sized photos and NT$200. 

Citizens of Taiwan are granted license valid for 6 years (if you take the Taiwan DMV to court on discrimination charges you may win similar privileges as some foreigners have done…)

Scooter & Motorcycle Driver's Licenses

If you have a Taiwanese automobile driver's license or an International Driving Permit, you do not need another license for a 50cc scooter. If you are riding anything more powerful than that, up to 150cc, you will also need a motorcycle license.

With Taiwan's recent entry into the WTO, large motorcycles have been allowed for import. There is another application and test procedure for motorcycles over 150cc.  

Each city and county has its own motor vehicles offices. Most motor vehicles offices outside of Taipei do not have English-speaking staff. Thus, it is best to contact the Taipei office to ask any questions you may have about obtaining a license, as well as the telephone number and address of your local motor vehicles office. 



SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT THE POLICE:

In general, especially if you are living in smaller cities or rural towns, the police tend to look the other way when they see a foreigner breaking the law (driving without a helmet/seat belt, driving the wrong direction, not stopping at stop signs/lights, or other similar infractions). HOWEVER, just because they may not speak English well and don't want to hassle with a foreigner, legally you may have to pay large fines and/or possibly be deported if you are not careful. You should always carry your driver’s license/ID, insurance documents and vehicle registration with you whenever you drive.

Buying a stolen vehicle or a vehicle without registration papers/current license plate tags, etc. can also land you in hot water (if you are caught...). This is not to say that MANY foreigners don’t drive unlicensed vehicles, but police do make spot checks at traffic lights and check license plates at parking stalls (because of the popularity/ease of vehicle theft in major cities) so to prevent a large fine/landing in jail, you may want to make sure whoever you buy a vehicle from has the proper paperwork (most scooter shops will help you verify this.)