[Taiwan Self-Driving Tour] Top 5 Popular Self-Driving Destinations | Car Rental Process | Rental Tips | Insurance Details | Important Driving Tips
Taiwan is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Hong Kong people. In addition to urban tourist spots such as Taipei and Kaohsiung, the continuous mountain scenery and vast coastline are also pleasing attractions.
If you are traveling with your family or the elderly, it is indeed a bit tiring to take the bus if you are in a hurry. Do you want to enjoy the trip? Self-driving tour is naturally a good choice. You don’t have to follow bus or train schedules, which makes itinerary planning more flexible.
This time, Kuai Er Bao will share the process and precautions of renting a car in Taiwan, and also introduce popular self-driving locations in Taiwan. Are you ready for your trip to Taiwan?
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Car Rental Conditions

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Car rental companies in Taiwan have slightly different age requirements for renters. Generally, they require renters to be 20 years old or above, but some car rental companies also accept renters over 18 years old.
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For luxury models, you must be 25 years of age or older and pay by credit card to rent.
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Car Rental Documents
1. Car rental reservation documents
2. Driver’s passport and Taiwan Entry Permit
3. Driver's Hong Kong driving license (valid for at least 1 year)
4. DriverInternational license plate (Note: Hong Kong and Taiwan have an equal and reciprocal agreement. In principle, you only need a Hong Kong driving license to rent a car, but different car rental companies may have different requirements. It is safer to bring an international license plate)
5. Credit Card
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Car Rental/Return Procedure

Car rental process
1. Book a vehicle online or via mobile app and confirm the additional equipment you need such as child seats, driving recorders, etc.
2. Bring relevant documents with you when picking up the vehicle and confirm the interior and exterior condition of the vehicle (it is recommended to take a video for backup), and clearly understand the vehicle insurance terms.
3. You can pick up the car only after confirming that there are no problems.
Car return process
1. The vehicle must be fully fueled before the scheduled return time. Taiwan's gasoline is divided into three types: 92, 95 and 98. It is best to ask the rental store in advance which gasoline they use.
2. Drive the car to the designated return location and wait for the staff to check the inside and outside of the car. Once they confirm that there are no problems, the return process is completed.
Taiwan self-driving tour | How much does it cost to rent a car for a self-driving tour?
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Cost Estimate (NT$/JPY) |
Small car |
Mid-size car |
Sports Utility Vehicle |
|
gogoout |
NT$2,500 |
NT$4,400 |
NT$5,000 |
|
AVIS |
NT$3,000 |
NT$4,000 |
NT$5,500 |
|
GeShang Car Rental |
NT$1,820 |
NT$2,660 |
NT$3,500 |
|
China Rent a Car |
NT$1,820 |
NT$3,000 |
NT$3,650 |
|
uDrive car rental (only Tesla models available) |
NT$4,000 |
NT$5,500 |
NT$7,300 |
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Top 5 Popular Car Rental Companies
gogoout
A car rental platform based in Taiwan, in addition to popular places such as Taipei and Tainan, there are also pick-up points in Hsinchu, Yilan, Changhua, etc. There is also a mobile app that allows you to rent a car instantly and view the information of the rented vehicle.
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Minimum age requirement |
20 years old |
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Minimum rental time |
1 day |
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Deposit |
Depends on the car rental company |
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Payment Method |
Credit Card |
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Total Loss Excess |
NT$5,000 |
|
Child seat |
Depends on the car rental company |
|
Overtime charges |
Depends on the car rental company (usually NT$300 per hour for more than one day, and one day's fee for more than 6 hours) |
|
Exceeding driving kilometers |
Depends on the car rental company (usually NT$5 per kilometer for more than 400 kilometers per day) |
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Cancellation Fee |
Depends on the car rental company (usually free cancellation 6 days before the pick-up date, 50% of the rental fee will be refunded if canceled 3 days before the pick-up date) |
AVIS
In addition to general small vehicles, MPVs and seven-seater vehicles, AVIS offers a variety of luxury models, including European luxury brand vehicles, electric vehicles, farmer's vehicles and high-end business MPVs that can accommodate 9 people.
|
Minimum age requirement |
20 years old, 25 years old for premium models |
|
Minimum rental time |
1 day |
|
Deposit |
Not available |
|
Payment Method |
Credit Card |
|
Total Loss Excess |
NT$10,000 |
|
Child seat |
NT$120 / day |
|
Overtime charges |
Each full hour will be charged at one-tenth of the daily rental rate posted. For more than 6 hours, the daily rental rate will be charged. |
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Exceeding driving kilometers |
Not available |
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Cancellation Fee |
Free cancellation 10 days before pick-up date |
GeShang Car Rental
Vehicles can be rented by people over 18 years old, and reservations can be made via mobile phone. In addition to daily rentals, there are also shared cars and subscription cars. The former is rented by the hour, with a daily limit of 10 hours; the latter is rented on a monthly basis, with a minimum of 3 months.
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Minimum age requirement |
18 years old |
|
Minimum rental time |
1 hour |
|
Deposit |
Not required |
|
Payment Method |
Credit Card |
|
Total Loss Excess |
NT$10,000 |
|
Child seat |
NT$120 / day |
|
Overtime charges |
Each full hour is charged at one-tenth of the daily rental rate. If it exceeds 6 hours, it will be charged at the full day's rental rate |
|
Exceeding driving kilometers |
Not available |
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Cancellation Fee |
Free cancellation 10 days before pick-up date |
China Rent a Car
We provide MPVs with up to 9 seats for rent. There is no daily mileage limit for all models. If the rental time exceeds 8 hours, it will be calculated as 1 day's rental. We also support multiple payment methods, including LINE Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
|
Minimum age requirement |
18 years old |
|
Minimum rental time |
1 day |
|
Deposit |
Not required |
|
Payment Method |
Credit card, LINE Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
|
Total Loss Excess |
NT$10,000 |
|
Child seat |
NT$100 / day |
|
Overtime charges |
Each full hour is charged at one-tenth of the daily rental rate. If it exceeds 8 hours, it will be charged at the full day's rental rate |
|
Exceeding driving kilometers |
No limit |
|
Cancellation Fee |
Free cancellation 10 days before pick-up date |
uDrive Car Rental
We specialize in renting out Tesla's full range of vehicles. Some models include long-range or performance versions, and even models with fully automatic assisted driving (FSD). Tesla Supercharge is included in the rental fee.
|
Minimum age requirement |
20 years old |
|
Minimum rental time |
1 day |
|
Deposit |
NT$10,000 |
|
Payment Method |
Credit Card |
|
Total Loss Excess |
NT$100,000 |
|
Child seat |
NT$100 / day |
|
Overtime charges |
Each full hour is charged at one-tenth of the daily rental rate. If it exceeds 6 hours, it will be charged at the full day's rental rate |
|
Exceeding driving kilometers |
Not available |
|
Cancellation Fee |
Free cancellation 10 days before pick-up date |
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Insurance Matters
When renting a car in Taiwan, basic insurance is usually included or provided for the renter to purchase. However, the coverage is generally smaller (see figure below), and when an accident occurs, the renter needs to pay the deductible (excess). Therefore, you can purchase additional insurance to waive the excess fee, but the insurance terms of different rental cars are also different, so remember to ask clearly when picking up the car.
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Taiwan Auto Insurance Overview |
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Car insurance |
There are many forms of vehicle insurance. The most common one when renting a car is "collision insurance" (i.e. collision with other cars), and the insurance company will bear the cost of repairing the vehicle. Some car rental companies' vehicle insurance will include self-collision (i.e. no collision with other vehicles), which is also within the coverage scope. |
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Theft Insurance |
If the vehicle is stolen or robbed and the loss is caused (excluding the items and parts inside the vehicle), you will receive compensation. If the rented vehicle is unfortunately stolen, the insurance company will be responsible for the compensation, but the renter may still have to pay a deductible. |
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Passenger Insurance |
Insurance that protects the vehicle's passengers (excluding the driver) in the event of a traffic accident. However, you must be careful to prove that the traffic accident occurred due to the driver's improper driving, or that the passengers are asking the driver for compensation. |
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Compulsory Insurance |
Only the driver's death or injury is covered, and vehicle property damage is not covered. Taiwan law requires that any vehicle must purchase compulsory insurance, so the vehicles rented by car rental companies already include compulsory insurance. |
|
Driving Insurance |
The insurance company will pay the insurance money to protect the car driver from "casualties" caused by the car accident, including any physical injuries or even death. |
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Third Party Liability Insurance |
Similar to the three insurances in Hong Kong, it mainly covers claims for third party injuries or deaths caused by improper driving of the driver. |
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Insurance Protection Chart
|
Our driver casualties |
Casualties of our passengers |
Our vehicle was damaged |
Our vehicle was stolen |
Other driver's casualties |
Casualties of other passengers |
The other party's vehicle was damaged |
Pedestrian casualties |
|
|
Compulsory Insurance |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
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You can also choose to purchase the following benefits |
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Car insurance |
YES |
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Theft Insurance |
YES |
|||||||
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Driving Insurance |
YES |
|||||||
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Passenger Insurance |
YES |
|||||||
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Third Party Liability Insurance |
YES |
YES |
YES |
YES |
||||
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Car Rental Notes
When you pick up the vehicle, remember to check the body of the vehicle for any damages and ask the rental company staff to list them on the rental receipt, and take photos or videos as evidence. If it is a self-service car rental system, the program will ask you to take a video around the car body for proof and record.
Before departure, please test the brake system with the car rental company staff to ensure normal operation for safety. Some car rental companies will require customers to fill up the car with gas when returning it. Just remember to leave time to go to the gas station to fill up when returning the car. If an accident unfortunately occurs, please call the car rental company and contact the staff as soon as possible. If necessary, please call 110 to report the accident to the police.
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Popular Self-Driving Destinations
1. Nantou

Nantou has a wealth of natural landscapes, including many forest trails such as Cingjing Farm, Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area, and Hehuanshan National Forest Recreation Area, as well as parts of Yushan National Park and Taroko National Park. In Yuchi Township, you can enjoy the scenery of Sun Moon Lake along the ring road around the lake. Other attractions include the Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village and the Sun Moon Lake Black Tea Factory.
2. Pingtung

Pingtung County, located in the southernmost part of Taiwan, includes Kenting, which is most familiar to Hong Kong people. In summer, it is full of tourists enjoying the sun and the beach. Another attraction, Hengchun Peninsula, has a tropical resort style, while Kenting National Park, Jialeshui Scenic Area and Longpan Park are all popular attractions.
3. Hualien

Hualien is located in the eastern part of Taiwan. Its long and narrow terrain gives it a very long coastline. If you want to have a good time, it is definitely recommended to drive yourself. Along the way, you can visit many natural landscapes, including coasts, cliffs and canyons, and experience the topography of Taiwan. Among them, the Hualien-Taitung Valley National Scenic Area, Danong-Dafu Plain Forest Park, Qixingtan, and Siba Plateau are also very popular among tourists.
4. Yilan

It takes about an hour to drive east from Taipei to Yilan, which is suitable for a short trip to the natural ecological environment. Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area, Jianqing Nostalgic Trail and Waiao Beach are all popular natural attractions. Also not to be missed is the "Liao Liao Jiaoxi" Hotel, which is famous for its nest-shaped tree hole design and cave restaurant, and experience the unique sodium bicarbonate hot springs.
5. Yushan

Yushan is not only the highest mountain in Taiwan, but also the highest mountain in Northeast Asia, with a height of 3,952 meters. The Yushan Scenic Highway is an ideal choice for self-driving tours. It starts from the boundary marker of Yushan National Park and passes through Guanfeng, Guanshan, Husband and Wife Tree, Tatajia Visitor Center, Shangdongpu Parking Lot, Shishan and other attractions along the way. It is about 20 kilometers long.
Taiwan Self-Driving Tour|Precautions for Self-Driving
1. Left-hand drive
Different from right-hand drive in Hong Kong, Taiwan uses left-hand drive. Whether turning at an intersection or entering or exiting a roundabout, you must be alert to avoid mistakenly entering the oncoming lane.
2. Road use rights
When turning, vehicles going straight must go first, followed by vehicles turning left in the opposite direction, and finally vehicles turning right. When entering or exiting an intersection, you must first confirm that there are no vehicles approaching from the left.
3. Mobile phones are prohibited
Whether talking on the phone or using a mobile phone, it is also considered illegal in Taiwan and the fine is NT$3,000.
4. Yellow lane
Dashed line: In the middle of the road, it is the lane dividing direction. You can overtake when it is safe and there are no cars
Double yellow solid line: lane separator, no overtaking, crossing, or turning
Virtual and real lines side by side: Overtaking, crossing and turning are prohibited on the side of the solid yellow line
5. White lanes
Dashed line: can be used for turning, crossing, overtaking
Double solid white line: No lane changing or crossing
Virtual and real lanes are parallel: changing lanes or crossing lanes is prohibited on the solid line side
6. Street Parking
White solid line: You can park within the 15 cm white line. The vehicle must not exceed the white line and must be parked close to the roadside. You are not allowed to park diagonally or in reverse. The 10 cm white line is the lane divider and parking is not allowed.
Solid yellow line: Vehicles are allowed to park temporarily for picking up or dropping off passengers or loading or unloading items, provided the vehicle is not turned off and the parking time is less than three minutes. Complete parking is prohibited (7:00-20:00), but overnight parking is allowed outside of these hours.
Red solid line: Temporary parking and full parking are prohibited, and vehicles are not allowed to pick up or drop off passengers, load or unload items, etc.
7. Don’t make loud noises
In Taiwan, loud banging is considered extremely impolite. Try to minimize the use of banging. In an emergency, it is recommended that the banging should not exceed 1 second and no more than three times at a time.

