Renting a Car

Car rental in Taiwan involves complications, and the licence requirements are the part worth settling before you book. What counts as valid depends on your nationality, how long you are staying, and whether your country holds a reciprocal arrangement with Taiwan. The rules also change. Check the current position with the Highway Bureau, MOTC, then confirm with the rental company. Driving on the wrong paperwork leaves you uninsured.

Major international rental companies operate at airports and major cities, alongside local companies offering competitive rates. Expect to pay NT$1,500-3,000 daily depending on vehicle size and rental duration. You can also rent a car via mobile app called iRent. iRent has physical rental sites as well.

Taiwan drives on the right side of the road. Traffic in cities is dense and aggressive, with scooters surrounding your car from all directions. Traffic lights frequently use countdown timers, you can see how many seconds remain until the green light.

Parking presents constant challenges in cities. Public parking garages exist but fill quickly, and they are expensive. Hence, avoid cars for Taipei city sightseeing. In Kaohsiung and Taichung, cars help reach scattered attractions but expect traffic. For eastern Taiwan or mountain areas, cars transform the experience, allowing stops at viewpoints, small towns, and hiking trailheads between major destinations. GPS navigation in English works well with Google Maps or Apple Maps. Road signs increasingly include English, at least for major routes, but knowing destination names in Chinese characters helps verify directions.

Taxis and Ride-Sharing

There are two types of taxi in Taiwan: metered and on-demand. Metered taxis start at around NT$80, varying by city and time of day, with surcharges at night. You can flag taxis on streets, join taxi ranks at stations, or call dispatch services. The second ones are Uber and several local providers like 55688, you can order a taxi via app and see the price.

When taking metered taxis, note that few drivers speak English, so it’s recommended to have destination addresses written in Chinese characters or use translation apps. Show drivers your phone with the destination marked on a map. Most drivers appreciate seeing exactly where you need to go.