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Car hire in Taiwan
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Driving in Taiwan on an Australian licence
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Yes - Australians need an International Driving Permit for Taiwan.
Taiwan requires an International Driving Permit with your Australian licence, and it must be validated at a local motor vehicles office for stays over 30 days.
Drives on the rightOpposite to Australia
Minimum age 18For most hire companies
$50-$95Typical daily hire
IDP required1949 Geneva Convention
Is hiring a car in Taiwan worth it?
Only worth it for the east coast and the mountains. Everything else is better by rail.
Typical daily hire runs $50-$95.
Where to hire a car in Taiwan
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. A row labelled "Featured partner" holds a paid position at the top of the table. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
What Australian drivers need to know in Taiwan
- Scooters dominate city traffic and filter constantly - they are the main hazard for a visiting driver.
- The high-speed rail is faster and cheaper than driving between the west-coast cities.
- Mountain roads on the east coast and through Taroko Gorge are narrow, and rockfall closures are common after rain.
- Hire a car for the east coast, not for Taipei.
Driving without the permit here means driving uninsured. Australian policies exclude claims from driving without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country, and in Taiwan the International Driving Permit is part of being validly licensed. A car licence does not cover a scooter - riding one needs a motorcycle class on your Australian licence as well as the permit, and scooter accidents are the most expensive claims Australians make in this region.
You can only get an International Driving Permit in Australia, before you fly - the state motoring clubs issue them for about $49 and it takes a fortnight to be safe. How to get one, and where it works.
More Taiwan essentials
Taiwan visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Taiwan
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Taiwan eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Taiwan travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Taiwan money and cards
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Taiwan airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Taiwan travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Taiwan
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: International Driving Permit: which countries Australians need one for
How these comparisons are made
Licence and permit rules come from the destination's road authority and the Australian motoring clubs that issue International Driving Permits, and each page states whether an IDP is legally required, required in practice by hire companies, or genuinely not needed - three different situations most sites blur into one. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning Taiwan?
We will send you the Taiwan guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.