Driver license in Taiwan

Front and backside of a Taiwanese driver license

The driver licenses in Taiwan are only issued in Chinese. For comparison purposes the table below is shown in bilingual form.

Notes:

• License Number is identical to the National Identification Number.
• All dates are written in Republic of China calendar, the year is in three(3) digit format.
• Conditions:
  • A – Unlimited
  • B – Automatic transmission cars only
  • C – Other conditions on reverse side
• Date of expiry: Since July 2013, all the license are valid until the holder's 75th birthday. A citizen who is elder than 75 has to renew their driver license every 3 years.
• Date of issue: the date that the holder passed the driver test of the type
• Date of Inspection: date for taking driver's physical examination, for commercial driver's license only.

Taiwan International driver Permit

Driver licenses are categorized pursuant to the Road Traffic Security Rules (道路交通安全規則) in Taiwan. These 15 categories are:

• 9. International Driving Permit (國際駕駛執照): A multilingual translation a Taiwanese license for international use, issued after Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968. As the Republic of China has lost diplomatic relations with most countries since the 1970s, certain countries do not honour international driver permits from Taiwan.
• 10. driver license of light-duty motorcycle (輕型機器腳踏車駕駛執照): Formerly used, now splits into 11 and 12.
• 13. driver license of heavy-duty motorcycle (重型機器腳踏車駕駛執照): Formerly used, now splits into 14 and 15.

The minimum age pursuant to Article 60 is normally 18, but one must be at least 20 to get a professional license or a license for an ultra-heavy motorcycle. A professional license must be converted to an ordinary one at 60 years old, but a professional small vehicle driver may keep the license until they are 65 years old when passing annual physical examinations. Since driver jobs are not open to foreigners, foreigners cannot get professional driver licenses.

Republic of ChinaInternational Driving Permit

The Republic of China is a signatory of the 1968 "Vienna Road Traffic Convention" and recognizes the international driving licenses of all countries. However, due to the Republic of China's withdrawal from the United Nations in 1971, some countries did not recognize the status of Taiwan as a signatory state, nor did they recognize its international driving license. The Republic of China and these countries reciprocate in the mutual recognition and renewal with test exemption for driving licenses.

In Asia and Australia, this includes Japan, Hong Kong, Macao, Australia (a total of 6 states and 2 territories: Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Australia Capital Territory, Northern Territory) , Brunei, Palau, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Papua New Guinea.

In Europe, this includes the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Italy, Hungary, Finland, Switzerland, Ireland, Slovakia, Portugal, and Poland.

In North America, a total of 28 states and regions in the USA participates: Maryland, Idaho, Florida State, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Delaware, Washington State, Mississippi State, West Virginia, South Carolina, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Alabama, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Nevada, Tennessee, Colorado, Puerto Rico. Canada list includes these 8 provinces: Quebec, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan.

In Central and South America, the list includes Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Saint Christopher, Guatemala, El Salvador, Saint Lucia, Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominican Republic, Mexico.[1]

To exchange a foreign driver’s license for a ROC driver’s license in Taiwan, the foreign driver’s license must be verified by the ROC’s foreign affairs office or the foreign ministry in Taiwan,[2] such as the US Driver's License notary service of the American Institute in Taiwan.[3]