Car Licences and Testing Information

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Validity of International Driving Licences

The holder of an international driving licence is only allowed to drive on that licence during the first thirty consecutive days of the holder having landed in Taiwan, and only to drive the group(s) of vehicles designated on the licence.
If the holder is applying for an Alien Residence Certificate (A.R.C.), then the validity of the licence can be extended to cover the period of the holder’s extended residence, up to a maximum of one year. Re-application of the licence extension must be made after its date of expiry.
If a non-A.R.C. holder leaves Taiwan and then re-enters, then the standard international licence validity period of thirty consecutive days from landing re-applies.
If required, licences can be extended upon reaching the thirty day expiry date.

International Licence Extension
To extend an international licence for use beyond the holder’s initial thirty days after landing in Taiwan, the applicant will need to go to one of the main Motor Vehicles Offices in their area and provide:
i) their International Driving Licence
ii) their passport or A.R.C. (Alien Resident Certificate)
iii) a passport photo.
The process should usually be completed within a few minutes and documents will be returned immediately. The original international licence will have an additional piece of paper attached (called a “visa” by the authorities) and notarized with a rubber stamp. There is no charge for this service.

Please refer to the list of reciprocating countries for information on validity and acceptance of relevant international licences for use in Taiwan as not all licences may be accepted for use.

See table of reciprocating countries for international licence validity in Taiwan.

Local Licences, and Testing

Local licence regulations have recently been cleared up over their validity period and are now valid for as long as the holder's A.R.C. permit. They may be extended along with A.R.C. permits up to a total of five years. Subsequent renewal licences do not require additional testing, only an additional tax/fee, payable at a motor vehicles office. In the case of R.O.C. citizens the licence will be valid for five years.

You may only apply for a local licence if you hold an Alien Residence Certificate (A.R.C.) or are already an R.O.C. citizen. If you are a holder of a licence from a reciprocating country you may use it to qualify for immediate entrance to the theory and road examination procedure after passing the basic physical exam (see physical exam below) . Drivers from some reciprocating areas may simply exchange thier licences for local licences (see table for details).

If you don't already hold an accepted licence from another region then you can apply for a local provisional licence and then register for lessons at a training facility. After 35 days minimum of training you may proceed with the theory and practical test at a testing facility. If you can, we recommend taking your test at the Motor Vehicles Office, Taipei Shilin branch as the online practice exam questions and answers are exactly as they appear in the exam offered at that centre whereas not only questions, but answers to questions may be different at other testing stations, which is another anomaly within the local bureaucracy. The road test itself should technically be most demanding in the parts of the test which require tight turning, parking and driving through the 'S' road and then reversing. We recommend you become familiar with whichever vehicle you will be using in the test as turning circles on different vehicles may differ (you may not use your own vehicle for the test).

Required Documents for Local licence Application

1) A completed 'Physical Examination Report' (see 'Pysical Exam' below).

2) Alien Residence Certificate (A.R.C.) with validity of one year from beginning to end.

3) Three recent photos 1-inch photos of front image without hat  (Taken within past six months.)

4) Application Form for Driver’s Licence (available at theMotor Vehicle Office).

5) Local Provisional Driver’s Licence or accepted International Driver’s Licence, plus one copy (necessary only for car driver’s licence test)

6) Money. You should need around NT$1000 to cover all aspects of registration and testing, but take more in case prices change over time.

7) We advise to take multiple foreign and local identification doccuments including passports in case they are requested by M.V.O. staff.

Local licence application process and costs:

Step One: Physical Exams (NT$100, plus NT$100)

Step Two: Application (NT$552)

Step Three:Theory Test

Step Four: Practical [Road] Test

Step Five: Collection of new Driver's Licence (NT$200)

Step One: Physical Exam

This exam must first be completed before applying for a local driving test.

About:
The examination is a non-intrusive exam which takes into account the applicant’s general physical abilities. No blood tests or samples of any kind are obtained during this test. See bottom pf page for 'physical exam' locations in the Taipei area.

The test consists of:
1) Eyesight, including distance, peripheral and colour blindness.
2) Measurements including height and weight.
3) Motor skills including the ability to squat down, stand up and wriggle all ten fingers.
4) Hearing, including both left and right ears.

Step Two: Application

Application forms are available at every M.V.O. (Motor Vehicle Office). Staff should be on-hand to assist with any form filling as some parts may require the input of Chinese characters.

Step Three: Theory Test

About:
The theory test is a multiple choice, computer based exam comprised of a limited number of questions. Each applicant must first pass with a minimum of 85 points before being allowed to take the final 'Practical Exam'.

When practicing the online test linked here then you will need to know that the two selection boxes offered are labelled "是" "Yes" and "否" "No". The button functions at the bottom of the page are from left to right: "Clear answers", "Submit answers" and "Return to language page". You will need a score of 85 points or more to pass this "theory" test.

It is recommended to take the theory test at the Taipei City, Chengde Rd. Centre as the test will appear identical to the one linked here. Taiwan still has a way to go in introducing standard questions and answers to all regions and many M.V.O.s are known to offer differing questions and difering answers to the same questions.

Step Four: Practical [road] Test

About:
The practical course is a simple course set on a relatively empty testing lot, free of traffic, which consists of various challenges. These courses are standard testing tracks and can be found at many of the M.V.O.s in Taiwan. The course (depending on volume of applicants) generally takes only twenty minutes to complete for a practiced and competant driver. It is important to remember that there is no time limit to complete this practical test and so applicants can take all the time they like to complete the exam. There is no hurry and hurrying any sections of this test can easily result in failure. Do please take your time.

A total of seventy points or above are needed to pass this portion of the test.
Re-testing may be done after a minimum of seven days in the event of a failure.

Section

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Description

1.Do not touch pressure sensors (Penalty: 16 points) and do not touch curbs. (penalty: 32 points)
2.Only one reverse movement is allowed. No stopping is allowed. No forward correctional moves are allowed. (penalty: of 32 points)
3.The wheels have to keep within the sensors while reversing into the box. (Penalty: 16 points)
4.Keep speed slow and stable without stalling the engine on the way. (penalty: 8 points)
5.Do not turn the wheels after the car stops moving. (penalty: 2 points)

1.Do not run over the sensors (penalty: 32 points) and do not touch any curbs or barriers. (penalty: 32 points)
2.Complete the proper actions at one time while driving forward. Neither stop on the way nor use the "Reverse" gear. (penalty: 32 points)
3.If you have lost no more than 30 points by the time you attempt the reverse through the 'S', you may have one more attempt at reversing from the end if you fail the first attempt.
4.Do not stop on the way. (penalty: 8 points, twice deductable at most)
5.Do not stop/stall engine. (penalty: 8 points)

1.Obey the traffic sign "停" (STOP) and then restart. (penalty: 32 points)
2.Begin driving and shift through three gears (1st/2nd/3rd) within the 45 meter strip (for manual transmission only).
Auto transmission vehicles only need use the accelerator. (penalty: 16 points)
3.do not cross the sensors. (penalty: 32 points)
4.Shift gears throughout the process without speeding beyond the posted limit. (penalty: 16 points)

1.Stop at the assigned place and assume awareness of pedestrians and trains in front of the railroad and pedestrian crossings. Neither shift the gears nor stop the engine at the railroad crossing. (Penalty: 32 points)
2.Obey traffic light(s) at these places. (Penalty: 32 points)
3.Pedestrians have priority to pass. Do not make a rushed approach to the line before the zebra crossing. (Penalty: 32 points)
4.Do not run over the edge line or central line of the lane. (Penalty: 32 points)

1.Do not run over the sensor when going up/down hill. (Penalty: 16 points)
2.Do not roll backwards over 15 centimetres. DO stop at the assigned area. (Penalty: 16 points)
3.Do not stop/stall the engine. (Penalty: 16 points)
4.Do not shift the gear to "neutral" when going down hill. (Penalty: 32 points)
5.Stop car between two white lines when going uphill, then apply the hand brake and shift gear to "neutral" after the wheels stop moving.
6.Start in gear, using the throttle and footbrake, before releasing the hand brake.

1.Do not shift gear to "Reverse" when moving forwards. (Penalty: 16 points)
2.Do not run over border lines or the central lane line. (Penalty: 32 points)
3.Follow the lane, and do not change lanes while turning. (Penalty: 16 points)
4.Do not come into contact with the curb, 'safety island' or any car. (Penalty: 32 points)
5.No skipping any subject of the test. (Penalty: 32 points)
6.Do not stop or stall the engine, except at the start and end of the test. (Penalty: 8 points)
7.No immediate make-up test is allowed if any challenges are incompleted or skipped.

A government video of the test is available online with a description of points deductable for various errors.

Step Five: Collection of new Driver's Licence

A counter should be available onsite at which you will make any final payment and collect your new driver's licence. Licences should be provided immediately upon completion of all criteria.

Physical Examination Centre locations:
Some of the main Motor Vehicles Offices may have onsite physical examination facilities, in which case the physical examination can be carried out at the same time as the application for a motor vehicle licence. Call ahead to confirm the M.V.O. has a physical examination department, or ask them where you might otherwise find a local examination centre, clinic or hospital which will offer the relevant, stamped paperwork required for the licence application.

A list of official health exam centres in the Taipei area:
台北市監理處北區分處 : 台北市承德路5段80號。
Taipei City Motor Vehicles Office : No.80, Section 5, Chende Road, Taipei City.
Telephone (02)2831-4155

西區代辦處 : 台北市萬華區和平西路3段345號。     
Taipei, Western District office: No.345, Section 3, Heping West Rd., Wanhwa Dist., Taipei.  
Telephone (02)2302-7709

忠孝醫院 : 台北市同德路87號。
Zhongshiao Hospital: No. 87, Tongde Rd., Taipei City.
Telephone (02)2786-1288

和平醫院 : 台北市中華路2段33號。
Heping Hospital: No 33, Section 2, Zhonghwa Rd., Taipei City.
Telephone (02)2388-9608

仁愛醫院 : 台北市仁愛路4段10號。  
Renai Hospital: No. 10, Section 4, Renai Rd., Taipei City.
Telephone (02)2709-3600

Taipei, Shilin, M.V.O. Address:
Motor Vehicles Office, North Branch, No.80, Sec. 5, Chengde Rd., Taipei.

City Buses: take the 288 or 620 and get off at YMSHS stop
MRT: Get off at Shilin Station, and take bus 620 and get off at the MVO North Branch stop.

Service times for motorcycle riding tests.
Monday to Friday, 09:00~12:00 and afternoons 13:30~16:30.
Note: No motorcycle license testing on Wednesday afternoons.

Service times for car driving tests
Monday 13:30 to 16:30 (morning off). Tuesday 09:00~12:00, afternoon 13:30~16:30. Wednesday 09:00~12:00 (afternoon off). Thursday & Friday 09:00~12:00, afternoon 13:30~16:30.

Related information websites:

Taipei City Government Motor Vehicles Office.

Taipei Motor Vehicles Supervision Office (Shulin)

Other Taiwan Motor Vehicles Offices