How to rent a car in Taiwan: The guide, useful tips & important notes

April 20, 2025

Travel conveniently and worry-free with motorbikes and cars in Taiwan. So, can I rent a car in Taiwan, can you rent a car in Taiwan, how much to rent a car in Taiwan? We will guide you on how to rent a car in Taiwan, how to rent a scooter in Taiwan along with lots of useful information, tips, important notes for your next trip in this article!

Taipei traffic | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Dadaocheng old city taipei (5) — Dadaocheng Old Street, Taipei | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Taiwan is famous for its magnificent natural structures and bustling streets with unique local culture. However, not all tourist attractions are located right in big cities so that you can call a taxi or take a train to get there. In addition to renting a car with a driver, renting a self-driving car is also an economical and convenient option for you to travel around the hot destinations of this country.

This article will provide you with detailed instructions on how to rent a car in Taiwan, making your trip smoother and more memorable.

How to rent a car in Taiwan: Popular Car Rental Options in Taiwan

Self-Drive Car Rental

Small roads on the island are often less congested with heavy trucks, allowing you to enjoy and share Taiwan’s stunning scenery with your family and friends in a self-driving car. This is an ideal option for those who want complete freedom to explore, especially when traveling in groups or families, or want to visit suburban or mountainous areas with limited public transport. However, you will need to meet the required paperwork.

Car Rental with Driver

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New Taipei Private tour Car Rental with Driver : Jiufen , Pingxi (from Taipei)

If you want to relax and not worry about driving, finding your way or parking, this is the perfect solution. Local drivers are often experienced, know interesting destinations and can communicate at a basic level. This option is great for transfers between the airport and hotel, day trips or inter-city transfers. These services are often available on Klook with a wide range of car options and itineraries.

cishan old street,qishan kaohsiung,qishan old street,taiwan (1) — A street food vendor in Cishan Old Street | How to rent a car in Taiwan

A great option is Klook’s “Taipei Car Rental with Driver” package, which provides you with a private driver who can take you to famous Taipei sights, or follow your own itinerary. Traveling with a local driver will give you new and interesting things that you might not have found on the internet.

Self-Drive Motorbike Rental

Taichung street | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Hualien Scooter Rental – Hualien Railway Station Pick Up

Very popular with locals and also an economical option for travelers who want to travel flexibly over short distances, especially in smaller cities, coastal areas or islands like Green Island, Penghu. However, you need to have a proper driver’s license and pay attention to traffic safety because the density of motorbikes in Taiwan is quite high.

wulai old street taiwan (2) — Wulai old street | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Penghu Scooter Rental

To ride a motorbike in Taiwan, all you need is an International Driving Permit. This type of permit will be valid for 30 days from the date of your arrival in Taiwan. A common place to rent a motorbike is near a train station or bus station. In addition, some hotels in Taiwan also offer scooter rental services at the same price as the room rate. Make sure the motorbike is in good working order and comes with valid safety accessories such as helmets.

Requirements and Documents Required for Renting a Car in Taiwan

For Self-Drive Car Rental

Taipei Car Rental with Driver- Customized itinerary

Passport: Valid.
National Driver’s License (Original Driver’s License): Valid, from your country of residence.
International Driving Permit (IDP): This is the most important and REQUIRED document. Taiwan accepts IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention or the 1968 Vienna Convention (depending on the country that issues your IDP, please check carefully the type of IDP issued by Vietnam and the current regulations of Taiwan). Note: IDP must be used WITH the original driver’s license. Without a valid IDP, you will not be able to rent a self-drive car.
Credit Card: A credit card in the name of the main driver is required to deposit a security deposit. Debit Cards are not usually accepted for deposits.
Age: Usually requires the driver to be 20 or 21 years old or older and have at least 1 year of driving experience (regulations may vary by company).

Hualien Car Rental with Driver: Taroko Gorge & Qingshui Cliffs…

For Motorcycle Rental

Yilan Scooter Rental – Jiaoxi/Luodong/Yilan Railway Station Pickup

Similar to cars, a Passport, Original Driver’s License and IDP with a category that allows driving a motorcycle (Motorcycle endorsement) are required. Some small shops may omit the IDP for low-capacity vehicles, but this is illegal and very risky. Always prepare a valid IDP.
Credit Card or Cash for Deposit.

For Car Rental with Driver

Usually only a Passport or ID is required to confirm information when booking the service. No driver’s license or IDP is required.

Hsinchu, Taiwan | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Kinmen Scooter Rental

Average Car Rental Rates in Taiwan

Average Car Rental Rates

Neiwan Old Street | source: https://www.hashcorner.com/ | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Taichung Scooter Rental – Taichung Station Pickup

Self-driving cars:

Small cars (Economy): About 1,500 – 2,500 TWD/day (about 1,185,000 – 1,975,000 VND/day).
Sedan: About 2,000 – 3,500 TWD/day (about 1,580,000 – 2,765,000 VND/day).
SUV/MPV (7 seats): About 3,000 – 5,000+ TWD/day (about 2,370,000 – 3,950,000+ VND/day).

Release lantern in Shifen | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Private City Transfers between Taipei and Jiufen or Shifen

Cars with drivers: Usually charged by the hour or by the day package.

Hourly: About 800 – 1,200 TWD/hour (about 632,000 – 948,000 VND/hour) (depending on vehicle type).
8-hour package: About 5,000 – 8,000+ TWD (about 3,950,000 – 6,320,000+ VND) (depending on vehicle type, route). Price usually includes driver salary, fuel, road tolls.
Motorbike: About 300 – 800 TWD/day (about 237,000 – 632,000 VND/day) (depending on vehicle type, rental period).

@mrhost.com.tw | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Private Intercity Transfer between Downtown Kaohsiung for Kenting/ Donggang

Factors Affecting Rental Price

Type of car: The larger, newer, and more luxurious the car, the higher the price.
Rental period: Long-term rentals often have more preferential prices per day.
Tourist season: Prices will be higher during peak season, weekends, and holidays.
Insurance: Additional insurance packages will increase costs.
Additional services: Child seats, GPS devices, returning the car to a different pick-up location… may incur additional fees.
Rental company: Major international brands may have higher prices than local companies.

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Fugang Fishery Harbor to/from Hualien/Taitung Charter Transfer

Reputable Car Rental Apps and Companies in Taiwan

You can refer to the following firms:

International firms: Avis, Hertz (usually have counters at major airports).

Reputable local companies:

CarPlus (格上租車 – Gé shàng zū chē): Very large and popular, many branches.
IWS (和運租車 – Hé yùn zū chē): Belongs to the Hotai Motor Group (Toyota), very reputable, good quality cars.

CarPlus @kkday | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Online car booking platform:

Klook: Provides many options for self-drive car rental, car with driver, airport pick-up at competitive prices and convenient booking process. Often has attractive packages.
Rentalcars.com, Qeeq, Kayak: Aggregate sites that help compare prices from many suppliers.

@udrive-blog.uspace.city | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Motorbike rental: Usually small retail stores near train stations, bus stations, or tourist attractions. Choose a store that looks professional, read reviews if any.

Driving guide in Taiwan

Hualien Downtown Private Car Charter

Driving in Taiwan is generally quite convenient but you should note:

Direction of traffic: Taiwan drives on the right side of the road (the steering wheel is on the left side of the car, similar to Vietnam and the US).

Road quality: The freeway system is very good, with automatic toll collection via the eTag system (usually attached to the rental car, the fee will be calculated when returning the car). Provincial roads and city roads are also quite good. However, mountain roads can be narrow, winding and steep.

Traffic laws:

Obey the speed limit (clear signs, many cameras to fine you).
Seat belts are mandatory for everyone in the car.
Absolutely do not drink alcohol when driving (the alcohol concentration allowed is almost zero).
Do not use mobile phones while driving.
Always give way to pedestrians at crosswalks.
Be extremely careful with motorbikes: There are many motorbikes and they often move quite flexibly, sometimes unpredictably. Always check your rearview mirrors and blind spots.
Are right turns allowed at red lights? NO, unless there is a green arrow sign allowing right turns.

Parking:

In the city: There are many public parking lots (with fees), private parking lots, or street parking (look for the striped boxes and signs that allow it). Street parking fees are usually written on paper and you need to bring them to convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) to pay.
Attractions and hotels often have their own parking lots (free or with fees).
Finding a parking space in the central areas, old town on weekends can be difficult.

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Payment and Refund Policy When Renting a Car

Car Rental Payment Policy

Car rental fees are usually paid in advance by credit card when booking online, or paid at the counter when picking up the car. For the deposit, it is required to use the main driver’s credit card. The car company will temporarily hold (pre-authorize) an amount on your card (a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of TWD depending on the company and car type) and will refund it after you return the car on time, without damage and without traffic violations. Refunds can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on your bank.

Refund/Cancellation Policy

Read the terms and conditions (T&Cs) carefully before confirming your booking. Cancellation policies vary widely between companies and booking platforms.
You can usually cancel for free up to a certain time (e.g. 24 or 48 hours before pick-up). Last-minute cancellations or no-shows may result in a fee or a full loss of your booking.

Taiwan Places to Visit

East Coast Taiwan

Yeliou, Jinguashih, Juifen and Shihfen Join Day Tour

This area is ideal for a coastal or valley trip. Driving along Highway 11 along the Pacific Ocean or Highway 9 through the Rift Valley offers some particularly impressive views. Having your own car allows you to stop at popular spots such as Qingshui Cliff, Qixingtan Beach, Sanxiantai, or Mr. Brown without the constraints of public transport schedules.

Kenting National Park

A popular seaside destination in the southernmost part of Taiwan, Kenting has many beautiful beaches (Nanwan, Baisha…) and attractions (Eluanbi Lighthouse, Miao Bitou…) located far from each other. Driving makes it easy to move between these locations, freeing you to choose when to enjoy each place and more convenient in traveling between hotels and dining and entertainment areas.

Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake Boat Ticket

The beauty of Taiwan’s largest lake is often best appreciated when you can explore it at your own leisure. Driving along the circular road around the lake allows you to stop at many scenic spots, visit temples such as Wenwu Temple or Xuanzang Temple, or access quieter areas that tour buses don’t stop at often, providing maximum flexibility.

Cingjing Farm

Located in the high mountains of Nantou County, Cingjing attracts visitors with its cool air and European-style countryside scenery. Major attractions such as the Green Grassland, the Small Swiss Garden and numerous accommodation facilities are scattered across the hillsides. Having your own car makes getting between these locations much easier and more efficient than relying on the infrequent public buses.

Tourist can feed the sheep in Qingjing Farm | How to rent a car in Taiwan

Sun Moon Lake & Cingjing Farm One-Day Tour

Yilan

Located in the northeast, Yilan offers a diverse mix of rural landscapes, the famous Jiaoxi hot springs, the surfing-friendly Wai’ao coast and cultural and artistic centers. These destinations are often within a certain distance of each other. Driving will help you connect these experiences seamlessly and efficiently into your itinerary.

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Important Notes When Renting a Car in Taiwan

Check your IDP: Make sure your IDP is the correct type and is valid with your original driver’s license. This is a prerequisite.
Insurance: Carefully research the insurance packages that come with it (usually basic civil liability insurance – CDW, theft insurance – TP). Consider purchasing an additional advanced insurance package (Super CDW or equivalent) to reduce the deductible/excess to low or zero, giving you more peace of mind in case of a minor collision.
Check the car thoroughly before receiving it: Walk around the car, take videos or photos of all scratches, dents (even the smallest ones) and ask the staff to fully note them on the car receipt. Check the fuel level, tires, lights, wipers, etc.
Fuel policy: The most common is “Full-to-Full” (Receive a full tank, return a full tank). Fill up the tank before returning the car to avoid being charged a much higher price for fuel. Ask for the type of fuel used (usually 95 or 98 unleaded).
Tolls (ETC): Most rental cars are equipped with an eTag. The fee is automatically recorded. You will pay the total amount when returning the car.
Emergency Numbers: Save the car rental company’s emergency support number. Know Taiwan’s emergency numbers: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire/Ambulance).
Returning the car on time: Late returns may result in additional daily or hourly fees at a higher rate.

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