Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation (as convenient as it is). If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. You could take taxis everywhere to see these sights, like a rich Chinese person, or you can take the cheaper option and rent a vehicle. Many of the scenic and rural sights of Taiwan can’t be experienced except by hiring your own vehicle.
Taiwan is the scooter capital of the world, so driving a car can be dangerous here because you need to be more aware of your surroundings. However, if you are looking to get around the island faster, are traveling with multiple people, have lots of luggage, or are afraid that scooters are dangerous, I would suggest renting a car.
We recommend using Klook here or KKday here to rent or charter cars in Taiwan for the best deals.
🏯 Planning to rent a car in Taiwan? 🌊
Here are some quick car rental travel tips for you:
- An international driver’s permit or local Taiwanese license is required
- Price: 1000-3000+ NT per day depending on the vehicle
- We recommend booking on Klook or KKday for the best deals
- Drive on the right lane, no turns on red, and obey light arrows
- Look out for speed cameras, red light cameras, freeway tolls, small roads, and lots of scooters
- Best places to stay can be found on Agoda
- Stay connected with a local SIM
Car Rental FAQ:
Where can I rent a car in Taiwan?
Car rental places can be found next to most airports and in all major cities. But don’t expect them right next to every small train station. If you rent online through a platform such as Klook here or KKday here, they will work with local rental companies to provide cars at locations throughout Taiwan.
How much does renting a car in Taiwan cost?
Cheap would be 1000-1500 NTD a day (30-45 USD), average would be 2000 NTD a day (60+ USD), and expensive would be 3,000+ NTD a day (100+ USD). Discounts are often given for multiple-day rentals and for weekdays.
Do I need a local license?
No. However, you should get an international driver’s permit. If you don’t have an international driver’s permit there is no guarantee that you can rent a car. Check with the rental agency beforehand and make necessary preparations.
How do I get a local Taiwanese license?
Check out our guide on getting a driver’s license in Taiwan here.
You can also check out our guide to getting an International Driver’s Permit here.
Does Taiwan have Uber?
Yes, Taiwan has Uber. However, it is just as expensive as a Taxi. Uber was banned and fined multiple times because their business model was deemed illegal. Uber drivers were required to have a professional driver’s license. Now they work with local rental car companies to keep the app going in Taiwan.
What side of the road does Taiwan drive on?
The Right side.
How much is the price of gas?
As of 2025, it is around 30 NT (1 USD) per liter for 95 octane gas.
What is the standard taxi fare in Taiwan?
About 85 NT for the first 1.25 KM, and then 5 NT for every 200 meters after that. A short trip within Taipei City is around 200 NT (6 USD).
Anything else I should be aware of when driving in Taiwan?
Yes!
- Driving on National Highways will incur a fee of about 1.5 NT per kilometer, so don’t be surprised when the rental company throws this extra fee at you.
- Turning right at a red light is against the law.
- If the streetlight has arrows instead of plain color lights, that means you have to wait for an arrow to turn left, even if there is a green arrow pointing straight.
- When turning right, check your blind spot and the space behind your car for scooters. There are scooters everywhere. To make a safe right turn, make sure to signal early, turn slowly, and check your mirrors and blind spots.
- Check for speed cameras and red light cameras. These are the only effective ways of traffic enforcement in Taiwan, and they are everywhere! But, most GPS systems in Taiwan will tell you where they are and will warn you when you approach them.
- Make sure to buy additional insurance in case of an accident where you cause damage.
- Getting in an accident can be messy and involve a long litigation process. If it’s just a minor accident, consider paying cash to the other person and avoid calling the police if at all possible. However, always consult with your rental company on their accident policies.
- There are a few lanes in Taipei City that are just for buses. Don’t drive on them.
- Some lanes are only meant for scooters or motorcycles.
- Avoid small alleys if at all possible. You can get stuck and might have to end up backing out.
- If you come to a blind corner, there should be a round mirror at the intersection to let you see if there is any oncoming traffic from the right or left
Comparison of Rental Car Companies in Taiwan:
Klook
website: https://www.klook.com/
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is about 1380 NT per day (43 USD).
- Locations – Multiple cities throughout Taiwan (airport pickup possible)
KKday
website: https://www.kkday.com/
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is about 800 NT per day (25 USD).
- Locations – Multiple cities throughout Taiwan (airport and HSR pickup possible)
Qeeq
website: https://www.qeeq.com/
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is about 1,240 NT per day (39 USD).
- Locations – Multiple cities throughout Taiwan (airport and HSR pickup possible). This website works with multiple car companies in Taiwan to find the cheapest deals.
Trip.com
website: https://trip.com/
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is about 1,500 NT per day (45 USD).
- Locations – Multiple cities throughout Taiwan (airport and HSR pickup possible). This website works with multiple car companies in Taiwan to find the cheapest deals.
Gogoout
website: https://www.gogoout.com
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is about 1,000 NT per day (45 USD).
- Locations – Multiple cities throughout Taiwan. This website works with multiple car companies in Taiwan to find the cheapest deals.
Expedia
website: https://expedia.com/
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is about 1,500 NT per day (45 USD).
- Locations – Multiple cities throughout Taiwan (airport and HSR pickup possible). This website works with multiple car companies in Taiwan to find the cheapest deals.
Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog.
Kayak
website: https://kayak.com/
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is about 2,200 NT per day (69 USD).
- Locations – Multiple cities throughout Taiwan (airport and HSR pickup possible). This website works with multiple car companies in Taiwan to find the cheapest deals.
Good Cars
website: https://www.goodcars.com.tw/
- English Capable – No
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is 1440 NT (44 USD) but can be as cheaper over multiple days.
- Locations – New Taipei City and Taoyuan (airport pickup possible)
Avis Taiwan 安維斯租車
website: https://www.avis-taiwan.com/us/
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – No
- Cheapest Car is 2900 NT (90 USD) per day.
- Locations – Multiple locations are on all major cities, including the East Coast.
HLC 和運租車
website: https://www.easyrent.com.tw/
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – No
- Cheapest Car is 2500 NT (78 USD) per day.
- Locations – Multiple locations are on all major cities, including the East Coast. Most locations of any car rental company are in Taiwan.
Jinfeng Car Rental 進豐租車
website: http://www.1car-rent.com.tw/service.php
- English Capable – No
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is 1300 NT (40 USD) per day on a weekday and 1500 NT (45 USD) per day on weekends.
- Locations – One location in Taipei
Budget
website: https://www.budget.com/en/locations/tb
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – No
- Cheapest Car is 2500 NT (75 USD) per day
- Locations – 4 locations in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung.
CarPlus 格上租車
website: https://www.car-plus.com.tw/EN/ugC_AboutUs.asp
- English Capable – Yes
- Relatively Cheap – No
- Cheapest Car is 1750 NT (55 USD) per day with cheaper options for longer rentals.
- Locations – multiple locations in all major cities including the east coast
Private Vehicle Charter / Hiring a Driver
In Taiwan if you don’t want the hassle of renting, driving, or getting licensed, you can hire your own driver for roughly 3000 NT or 100 USD per day.
Some taxi drivers or Uber drivers will may agree to day rates.
There are many options for private chartered vehicles on Klook here or KKday here.
Comparison of Taiwan Car-Sharing Apps
There are a few car sharing apps available in Taiwan, however these are only available to Taiwan residents with a local Taiwanese license.
In other words, we do not recommend car sharing apps to foreign tourists.
Nevertheless, we still get asked about these services, and they can be a convenient option for Taiwan residents, so here is an overview of car sharing apps in Taiwan:
iRent (run by HLC 和運租車)
website: https://www.irentcar.com.tw/irent/web/
- English Capable – No, the website and App are all in Chinese.
- Relatively Cheap – No
- Cheapest Car is about 230 NT per hour (sometimes the price may go down to 125 NT on weekdays during a promotion) and charged maximum 10 hours per day. That means if you rent for one day the lowest price is about 2300 NT (1250 NT during a promotion). Other special promotions may be applicable.
- Can rent with local Taiwanese residence card (ARC/Taiwan National ID): yes, foreigners with a Taiwan ARC can use the app.
- Taiwan license required: Yes
- Locations – All over Taiwan wherever there is a free car. This is Taiwan’s largest car sharing app. Therefore it may be the most convenient way to rent a car if you are a Taiwan resident.
Go Smart (run by CarPlus 格上租車)
website: https://www.car-plus.com.tw/gosmart/
- English Capable – No, the website and App are all in Chinese.
- Relatively Cheap – Yes
- Cheapest Car is about 99 NT per hour / 990 NT per day for an electric car, or 110 NT per hour / 990 NT per day for a small gas car. Other special promotions may be applicable.
- Local Taiwanese residence card (ARC/Taiwan National ID): no, foreigners with a Taiwan ARC can not use the app. Only Taiwan nationals can.
- Taiwan license required: Yes
- Locations – Available only in major cities such as Taipei and New Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, and Taichung.
Zipcar
website: https://zipcar.com.tw/
- English Capable – No, the website and App are all in Chinese.
- Relatively Cheap – No
- Cheapest Car is about 250 NT per hour or 2500 NT per day. Other special promotions may be applicable.
- Can rent with local Taiwanese residence card (ARC/Taiwan National ID): yes, foreigners with a Taiwan ARC can use the App.
- Taiwan license required: Yes
- Locations – Only a few locations around Taipei and New Taipei.
Renting a Scooter?
Check out our blog about scooter rental in Taiwan here, or our scooter buying guide here.
You can also check out Klook here or Kday here to search for options.
Want to buy a car instead?
Please see our Taiwan car buying guide here.
Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotels through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here for ideas of where to visit in Taiwan.
You can also find more tours of Taipei on Klook here or KKday here.
Feel free to contact us with any specific questions about car or scooter rental in Taiwan, and please like, comment, and share!
