Driver's License

Bring your IDP and DL here!

IDP = International Driving Permit
DL = Driver’s License

According to the laws, car rental services are not allowed to deliver cars to customers without a valid IDP or DL.

If you plan to stay for more than 30 days, you will need to get the driving permit or Taiwan driver’s license within 30 days after arrival.

How do IDP and DL work?

The validity of driver’s license are based on reciprocity agreements between your country and Taiwan. Taiwan Government treats you exactly the same as how your Government treats Taiwan citizens/license holders.

Both your IDP (International Driving Permit) and DL (Driver’s License) may be required according to the reciprocity agreements. Please make sure you bring both documents here.

Please choose your status

  • Short-Term Visitor

    Tourists or workers who stay for less than 6 months and will not get an ARC (Alien Residence Certificate)

Go

  • Long-Term Expat

    Expats who stay for more than 6 months and will get an ARC (Alien Residence Certificate)

Go

Make sure you bring you IDP and DL here!

  • Real International Driving Permit (IDP)

    The IDP must be a booklet format regulated by United Nation. Any other format of dicensed will be invalid in Taiwan.

    According to UN conventions, the IDP must be issued by the authorities based on your DL. Some organizations "sell" their own "international driver's license" on the internet, and such documents will be no use at all.

  • Unconditional 30-day Validity of IDP

    IDP will be valid to drive in Taiwan within 30 days withour any verification. The 30-day validity will be renewed once you leave Taiwan and come back again. If you are a frequent traveller, your IDP will be good enough!

  • Suggestion

    ARC is an important and very useful document. Without ARC, and if your arrival already passed 30 days, I strongly suggest you DO NOT drive in Taiwan.

IDP and DL

  • Domestic Driver's License (DL)

    DL from some countries are directly accepted in Taiwan (Country List). And you may carry your DL and IDP to drive in Taiwan.

    Many DL can be converted into Taiwan DL by taking a physical exam (height, weight, eyesight, arm & leg movement, etc.) and, if required, a written test. Taiwan DL can be extended according to your ARC. It's highly recommended if you plan to stay for a long period.

  • International Driving Permit (IDP)

    IDP is usually valid for one year only, and is widely accepted in most countries. It is issued to you based on your DL, and it has the information and details of your license (your license type and vehicles you are entitled to drive).

    As long as your country/State and Taiwan accept each other's IDP, it's good for 30 days only after your arrival. Please refer to the list below and see how your IDP works in Taiwan.

    Further verification will be required to drive more than 30 days, which requires your ARC, DL, IDP, photos, etc. We wiil help you get the verification.

IDP Verification vs. DL Conversion

IDP Verification DDL Conversion
Cost
Free
NT$500~600;

Not including the verification fee of DL (AIT Notary is US$50; Singapore is NT$100, etc.)
Procedures
One Stop at MVO
  1. The authority office from your license country to have your DL verified
  2. Physical exam at MVO or local clinics
  3. Written test (if required) and documentation at MVO
Validity
1 year at most; within IDP’s validity
6 years; regardless of your ARC or DL
Renewal
You need to renew your IDP every year, and then we will update the verification every year.
Taiwan license can be extended without any tests once your ARC is renewed.

  • Suggestion

    If you plan to stay within 1 year, you may go for IDP verification.
    If your stay is longer than 1 year, I suggest you convert your DL to Taiwan DL to have 6-year validity. Besides, Taiwan DL is convertible to Japan DL without taking written or driving exams, since Japan DL is extremely difficult to get.
    Besides, your Taiwan DL can be extended without taking any test for another 6 years once you have your ARC extended.

Test Materials for Taiwan Driver's License

IDP for Driving Convert DL to Taiwan DL
Required documents for IDP Endorsement:
  1. IDP
  2. DL
  3. Passport
  4. ARC
  5. 1 photo (1-inch or 2-inch size)
  1. To convert to Taiwan DL, ARC must be more than 1 year.
  2. DL must be verified by your country's official authority/organization/office in Taiwan. Please check with your country office.
  3. Please read the materials and prepare for the written test: English / Chinese
    Online trial test: https://www.mvdis.gov.tw/m3-simulator-drv/
  4. 3 photos (1-inch or 2-inch size)
Online Trial Test

Asia

Country IDP for Driving (Endorsement) DL for Driving Convert DL to Taiwan DL
Documentation Physical Exam Written Test Driving Test
China N/A N/A
  1. DL must be notarized in China
  2. Send it to ARATS in China and then take it at SEF in Taiwan
  3. Use EEP as the residence certificate
 Yes Yes No
India 1 Year N/A N/A
Japan N/A Yes; with Chinese translation DL translated and verified by Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Yes No No
Korea 1 Year N/A "DL" and "Chinese translation" verified by Korean Mission Office in Taipei Yes No No
Malaysia 1 Year N/A DL verified by Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre in Taipei Yes No No
Myanmar 1 Year N/A N/A
Philippines 1 Year N/A DL verified by Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei/Taichung/Kaohsiung Yes No No
Singapore 1 Year N/A DL verified by Singapore Trade Office in Taipei Yes Yes No

US

To convert your US Driver's License to Taiwan License, please follow the following procedures:

  • Notarial Service at AIT

    DDL must be verified by AIT before converting to Taiwan license. Please make an appointment (https://www.ait.org.tw/acs-appointment/) for a notarial service and bring your original valid driver’s license and a photocopy. The notarial service fee is US$50. (Taipei and Kaohsiung only)

  • Sign up for physical exam and written test at MVO

    1. Before signing up the test, you need to find a clinic near the MVO and take the physical test for driver's license.
      (The physical exam takes 10 mins and costs NT$250~NT$300.)
    2. And then go to MVO to take the wrriten test. What if you failed the test, you can take another test in 7 days.
      (The written test will take 30-60 minutes anc costs NT$225)

State IDP for Driving
(Endorsement)		 DL for Driving Convert DL to Taiwan DL
Documentation Physical Exam Written Test Driving Test
Alabama 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Alaska 90 days (*1) N/A N/A
Arizona Yes Yes (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Arkansas 90 days N/A DL verified by AIT Yes No No
California N/A Yes for visitors (*2);
N/A for ARC holder		 N/A
Colorado Yes (*1) Yes (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Connecticut 1 year (*1) for visitor;
30 days for ARC holder		 1 year (*2) for visitor;
30 days for ARC holder		 N/A
Delaware 60 days (*1) 60 days (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Florida 6 months Yes DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Georgia 30 days (*1) Yes DL verified by AIT
ARC validity of 6+ months		 Yes No No
Guam 30 days 1 year (*2) DL (held for more than 5 years) verified by AIT Yes Yes No
Hawaii 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Idaho 90 days N/A DL verified by AIT Yes Yes No
Please provide your Driving License Record (DLR) from Idaho DMV (https://www.accessidaho.org/itd/driver/dlr/index). You will purchase a 24-hour access to download your DLR. Please save a PDF file and send the access link and the PDF file, and then bring the print copy to MVO for their record.
Illinois Yes N/A N/A
Indiana 1 year N/A DL verified by AIT Yes Yes No
Iowa 90 days (*1) No DL verified by AIT Yes Yes No
Kansas 1 year (*1) N/A DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Kentucky N/A 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Louisiana 90 days N/A DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Maine 1 year (*1) for visitor;
N/A for ARC holder		 1 year (*2) for visitor;
N/A for ARC holder		 N/A
Maryland 1 year (*1) Yes with ARC (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Massachusetts No Yes DL verified by AIT
(*3: Surrender US DL)		 Yes No No
Michigan Yes N/A N/A
Mississippi 60 days Yes DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Missouri 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) N/A
Minnesota 60 days N/A DL verified by AIT
(*3: Surrender US DL)		 Yes No No
Montana Yes for tourist N/A DL verified by AIT Yes Yes No
Nevada 30 days Yes DL verified by AIT Yes Yes No
New Jersey Yes (*1) Yes (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
New Hampshire 60 days (*1) 60 days (*2) N/A
New Mexico 1 year (*1) Yes (*2) for visitor; N/A for ARC holder DL verified by AIT
(*3: Surrender US DL)		 Yes No No
New York N/A 90 days (*2) N/A
North Dakota 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) N/A
Ohio 90 days for visitors;
60 days for expat living for more than 6 months		 N/A DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Oklahoma No 1 year DL verified by AIT
(*3: Surrender US DL)		 Yes No No
Oregon 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT
(*3: Surrender US DL)		 Yes Yes No
Pennylvania 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Rhode Island 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT
(*3: Surrender US DL)		 Yes No No
South Carolina 6 months (*1) 6 months (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Tennessee Yes (*1) Yes (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Texas 1 year (*1) for visitor;
30 days for ARC holder		 N/A DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Utah 6 months (*1) 6 months (*2) N/A
Vermont 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT
(*3: Surrender US DL)		 Yes No No
Virginia 6 months 6 months DL (held for more than 1 year) verified by AIT Yes Yes No
Virgin Islands N/A N/A DL verified by AIT Yes Yes No
Washington 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
Washington D.C. 1 year Yes for tourist;
N/A for ARC holder		 DL verified by AIT Yes Yes No
West Virginia 90 days 90 days DL verified by AIT
(*3: Surrender US DL)		 Yes No No
Wyoming 1 year (*1) 1 year (*2) DL verified by AIT Yes No No
*1: Use with DL; 　*2: Use with IDP; 　*3: Surrender applicant's DL at MVO