Driver's license
Traditional Chinese駕駛執照
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese駕照

In Taiwan, driver's licenses (駕駛執照) are issued by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to a qualified motor vehicle driver. The number on a license is the same as the ID number of the license holder's household registration in Taiwan. In Taiwan, the license is sometimes accepted as a valid identity document, as its information replicates most of what is on a National Identification Card.

Format

Front and back of a Taiwanese driver's license

Licenses are only issued in Chinese. For comparison purposes, the table below is shown in bilingual form.

中  華  民  國
Republic of China (Taiwan)
交通部制發汽車駕駛執照
Driver license
照片
Photo
駕照號碼
License No.
A000000000性別
Sex
姓名
Name
◯◯◯◯◯
出生日期
Date of birth
YYY.MM.DD駕照種類
Type
◯◯◯◯◯◯持照條件
Condition
X
住址
Address
◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯
有效日期
Date of expiry
YYY.MM.DD管轄編號
Control No.
8000000000000
發照日期
Date of issue
YYY.MM.DD審驗日期
Date of inspection
YYY.MM.DD

Notes:

Categories

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

Ordinary automobilesBusiness automobilesMotorcycles
No.NameChineseNo.NameChineseNo.NameChinese
1Driver license of ordinary
light vehicle
小型車普通
駕駛執照
5Driver license of business
light vehicle
小型車職業
駕駛執照
11Driver license of small
light-duty motorcycle
小型輕型機器
腳踏車駕駛執照
2Driver license of ordinary
large truck
大貨車普通
駕駛執照
6Driver license of business
large truck
大貨車職業
駕駛執照
12Driver license of ordinary
light-duty motorcycle
普通輕型機器
腳踏車駕駛執照
3Driver license of ordinary
large passenger vehicle
大客車普通
駕駛執照
7Driver license of business
large passenger vehicle
大客車職業
駕駛執照
14Driver license of ordinary
heavy-duty motorcycle
普通重型機器
腳踏車駕駛執照
4Driver license of ordinary
container truck
聯結車普通
駕駛執照
8Driver license of business
container truck
聯結車職業
駕駛執照
15Driver license of large
heavy-duty motorcycle
大型重型機器
腳踏車駕駛執照
  • 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 honor 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.

Licenses and motor vehicles

TypeVehicleDefinitionLicenses allowed to drive
1, 52, 63, 74, 811121415
Auto-
mobiles
Light vehicle小型車Motor vehicles having a permissible maximum weight not exceeding 3,500 kg and not more than nine seats including the driver's seat. YesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
Large truck大貨車Motor vehicles used for the carriage of goods and whose permissible maximum weight exceeds 3,500 kg. YesYesNoNoNoNoNoNo
Large
passenger vehicle
大客車Motor vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and having ten seats or more including the driver's seat, e.g. city bus, tour bus. YesYesYesNoNoNoNoNo
Container truck聯結車Tractor coupled to a trailer whose permissible maximum mass exceeds 750 kg, e.g. Link Truck, Tractor-Full Trailer, Tractor-Semi Trailer. YesYesYesYesNoNoNoNo
Motor-
cycles
Small light-duty
motorcycle
小型輕型
機器腳踏車
Electric motorcycles with power not exceeding 1.34 HP. NoNoNoNoYesNoNoNo
Ordinary light-duty
motorcycle
普通輕型
機器腳踏車
Motorcycles with a cubic capacity not exceeding 50 cm³, or electric motorcycles with power between 1.34 HP and 5 HP. NoNoNoNoYesYesNoNo
Ordinary heavy-duty
motorcycle
普通重型
機器腳踏車
Motorcycles with a cubic capacity between 50 cm³ and 250 cm³, or with power between 5 HP and 40 HP. NoNoNoNoYesYesYesNo
Large heavy-duty
motorcycle
大型重型
機器腳踏車
Motorcycles with a cubic capacity exceeding 250 cm³, or with power over 40 HP. NoNoNoNoYesYesYesYes

Driving tests

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 the age of 60, but a professional small-vehicle driver may keep their license until they are 65 years old if they pass annual physical examinations. Since driving jobs are not open to foreigners, they cannot obtain a professional driver license.[1]


International Driving Permit

Taiwan International Driving Permit

Taiwan 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 do not recognize the status of Taiwan as a signatory state, nor do 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 (including Pacific Islands), this includes Brunei, Japan, Hong Kong, Kiribati, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Thailand, Tuvalu, and Vietnam.

In Australia (a total of six states and two territories: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, and Victoria.

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

In North America, a total of 39 states and territories of the United States participate: Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, and the US territories of Guam, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico. Canada includes all 10 provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan.

In Central and South America, the list includes Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Christopher, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.[2]

Implementation dateCountryContent
November 1, 2002ItalyThe two sides completed an agreement on mutual recognition and exemption of test driving license exchange based on the principle of equality and reciprocity.
January 1, 2003FinlandAn agreement between the two countries was reached on mutual recognition and exemption of test-exchange driving licenses for passenger cars based on the principle of equality and reciprocity.
June 14, 2007JapanThe Japanese Congress passed the "Road Traffic Amendment Act" to allow those with a Taiwanese driver's license to apply for a translation of the driver's license to drive in Japan. From October 1, 2008, the driver's license renewal measures will be further opened. After staying in the country for the months, one can take the original and translated driver's license issued by the government-approved units of both countries to apply for a driving license after passing the eyesight, hearing and other physical fitness tests, without a road test.
June 2, 2008Canada (Quebec)Based on the principle of equality and reciprocity and respective traffic laws, mutual recognition of driving without testing is exempted.
September 3, 2010IrelandBased on the principle of equality and reciprocity and respective traffic regulations, mutual recognition of driving without testing is exempted.

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,[3] such as the US Driver's License notary service of the American Institute in Taiwan.[4]

Exchanging a foreign license for a Taiwan driver's license for foreigners (Reciprocity Agreement)

Holders of a valid full driver's license issued by a foreign, mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau government who obtained a certificate of permit to stay or stay for more than six months in Taiwan can be exempted from the test and reissued a Taiwan driver's license to an equivalent vehicle class upon entry, based on the principle of equality and reciprocity.[5] This only applies to licenses from certain participating authorities (see above).[6]

Exchanging a foreign license for Taiwan driver's license for Taiwanese

Holders of a valid foreign full driver's license who has Republic of China nationality can be exempted from taking the test and be issued a Taiwan's driver's license for the same type of vehicle. This is applicable to countries not in the reciprocity agreement.[7]

References

  1. "Taiwan Driving Licenses | International Drivers Association". International Drivers Association.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  2. Directorate General of Highways, MOTC: Table for Driving License with Our Reciprocal Countries
  3. "Road Traffic Safety Rules" Article 50 section 6
  4. American Institute in Taiwan: Driving in Taiwan
  5. Taipei City Vehicle Office, Directorate General of Highways, MOTC, ROC
  6. Article 50 of the "Road Traffic Safety Rules"
  7. Article 50 of the "Road Traffic Safety Rules"
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