I have a Florida driver’s license. According to the Taipei MVO’s reciprocity tables for foreigners in Taiwan (http://english.mvo.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=188535&ctNode=18768&mp=117012), I can’t exchange my license for an ROC license. But the reciprocity table for Taiwanese drivers on the Ministry of Transportation site (http://www.thb.gov.tw/tm/Menus/new_english/link/NorthAmerica.pdf) says that Taiwanese drivers can get a FL license with just the written exam. Can I argue from that reciprocity table that as a Floridian driver, I should also be exempt from the driving exam here in Taiwan?
Otherwise, can I keep on getting a new International Driving Permit every year and then get a driving visa on each permit after 30 days? Can one keep on getting new driving visas indefinitely or do they check to make sure that you’ve only had a driving visa for a total of one year?
Nationality does matter for converting licenses. The Taipei MVO’s Chinese website state’s that “people without ROC nationality can convert their licenses according to reciprocity principles” (“無中華民國國籍者依平等互惠原則辦理換照”), implying that ROC nationals can convert a foreign license regardless of reciprocity. http://www.mvo.taipei.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=65266&ctNode=6671&mp=117011[/quote]
Are you planning to stay here for an extended period? Beyond your Florida DL’s expiration date? According to the reciprocity rules, Taiwanese DL’s are vaild for driving in FL, and as such your FL license is valid for driving in Taiwan - IDL’s are optional. The check boxes between Taiwan and FL in the PDF document indicate direct conversion is not-applicable - some test is required, e.g. FL requires a written test. Taiwan may require a written or driving test of you based on your FL DL based on reciprocity.
You could keep getting an IDL every year, or just drive based on your FL DL. The distinction is what you show the traffic cop - show your FL DL first, and if he doesn’t understand it, show him your IDL, pointing out expiry dates, etc. (Your FL DL trumps your IDL in this case.)
[quote=“rct288”]Do you know if it’s possible to get an endorsement from a DMV in Taiwan for driving a motorcycle? I.e. Go take a test while I’m there? I remember last time I was in TW for 3 months and obtaining a motorcycle license was impossible without a visa of 6 months or greater in duration. (So I just rode without one, and luckily didn’t get into any accidents) Anything different if I’m only in town for a month, but also have an IDL?
May be easiest just to get my endorsement in the U.S. before I head over.[/quote]
You’re probably already here, but if FL requires a two-wheeled license / endorsement for you to ride in FL, then you would need to get it for you to ride two-wheels here in Taiwan. You probably won’t be putting your hands on a motorcycle (aka big bike) here in Taiwan, so any scooter license / endorsement applicable in FL will work in Taiwan (assuming scooters are defined as <125cc in FL - there as 125cc and 50cc scooters here in Taiwan).
I am new to the forum, I found while searching info about visa in taiwan, actually been living in Taipei for around a year now, nice to meet you all
I open my first post with a question about driving license in taiwan, I was wondering what is the difference between using an international driving license or applying to get a local license, is there some restriction with the international one compared to the local one ?
I am new to the forum, I found while searching info about visa in taiwan, actually been living in Taipei for around a year now, nice to meet you all
I open my first post with a question about driving license in taiwan, I was wondering what is the difference between using an international driving license or applying to get a local license, is there some restriction with the international one compared to the local one ?[/quote]
Actually there are often more restrictions with your local licence than with your international one. It is often the case that your international licence is stamped up in various categories which can also allow you to ride motorcycles and operate larger, non commercial vehicles. A local licence may not offer these allowances.
When living here, you can not just keep driving on you IDL forever … an IDL is mostly not valid forever in the country where you reside, at one point you need to switch to local … it’s meant to be used on holidays or short stay in other countries than your home country …
I for one have a new IDL, which is not valid in Belgium and Taiwan … because I live here.
Plus, you need to have it stamped by the MOTC in Taiwan after 3 months I believe.
[quote=“Belgian Pie”]When living here, you can not just keep driving on you IDL forever … an IDL is mostly not valid forever in the country where you reside (at least not forever), at one point you need to switch to local … it’s meant to be used on holidays or short stay in other countries than your home country …
I for one have a new IDL, which is not valid in Belgium and Taiwan … because I live here.
Plus, you need to have it stamped by the MOTC in Taiwan after 3 months I believe.[/quote]
This isn’t accurate.
I have been driving a car on an IDL for a number of years, just got my latest one ‘stamped’ by the DMV earlier this month. I simple get a new one every time I visit home (usually once per year) and the TW DMV graciously approves it without question and free of charge. I even show them my APRC as a proof of identity.
I have been driving a car on an IDL for a number of years, just got my latest one ‘stamped’ by the DMV earlier this month. I simple get a new one every time I visit home (usually once per year) and the TW DMV graciously approves it without question and free of charge. I even show them my APRC as a proof of identity.[/quote]
But technically, the rule is that if you reside here for longer than what, 30? 60? days, you are supposed to go local, as we tend to with, um, other things.
I have been driving a car on an IDL for a number of years, just got my latest one ‘stamped’ by the DMV earlier this month. I simple get a new one every time I visit home (usually once per year) and the TW DMV graciously approves it without question and free of charge. I even show them my APRC as a proof of identity.[/quote]
But technically, the rule is that if you reside here for longer than what, 30? 60? days, you are supposed to go local, as we tend to with, um, other things. [/quote]
Its Taiwan, I got the paper with the chop, and on this lil island, that means case closed.
I have been driving a car on an IDL for a number of years, just got my latest one ‘stamped’ by the DMV earlier this month. I simple get a new one every time I visit home (usually once per year) and the TW DMV graciously approves it without question and free of charge. I even show them my APRC as a proof of identity.[/quote]
But technically, the rule is that if you reside here for longer than what, 30? 60? days, you are supposed to go local, as we tend to with, um, other things. [/quote]
Its Taiwan, I got the paper with the chop, and on this lil island, that means case closed.[/quote]
It’s international accepted I believe that an IDL is not valid in the country you reside in …
And, in the US and Canada, you can (technically) drive with a Belgian drivers license, as long as it’s understandable by the local police force … the new drivers licenses are with symbols, figures … in 23 languages …
My new IDL states as country of residency … Taiwan (and automatically it’s also invalid in Belgium) … plus you need to be able to show, on request, your original drivers license on which the IDL is based
You’re quite right. I know of many who do this because their ARC’s are valid for only eleven months and twenty-nine days who get by quite nicely and without any question. Afterall, an ARC has to be valid for a year before the holder can obtain a local license…Someone at the DMV has yet to notice that these two rules conflict…
Citizen K, that’s my situation exactly. Students are only able to get an ARC valid for a year at most (I was only told this by the NIA, so it might still be untrue). To apply for a local licence, the ARC must still be valid for at least a year. Before I physically get the renewed ARC (10 working days), the remaining validity period is already less than 1 year (as it is counted from the date of application). No matter what I do, I can never fulfil the one-year requirement.
As Belgian Pie pointed out, IDP is not supposed to be used in the country of residence. This is against the letter and the spirit of the Vienna Convention. It should be exchanged for a local licence. The whole IDP “visa” thing is a Taiwanese idiosyncrasy, however without it there would be no way for many people to drive a car legally. I’d much prefer to get a local licence, but I can’t.
The way I see it, a lot of laws in Taiwan serve no useful purpose or are mutually contraditory, but it doesn’t matter, because they are not adhered to. Only when certain laws become stricly enforced the whole ridiculousness of the system and lack of co-ordination in the legislative process is exposed.
I bet if suddenly all the laws were to be enforced starting tomorrow, the place would come to a complete standstill. Fortunately (or not), it’s not going to happen. However, it just so happens that some laws dealing with “foreigners” are among the few that are more or less followed, which results in all these surplus problems where there should be none. Why, for instance, a vehicle cannot be sold after the owner’s ARC expires?
Thanks everyone for the clarification, so holding an international driving license is enough to buy a car and drive in Taiwan without any limitation (other than just going to the mvo every year to get it renew) ?
To buy a car you don’t need a driving licence at all, except perhaps as a form of ID (you need two), however ARC and health insurance card are fine for that purpose (non-local driving licence is not accepted).
I think you should differentiate between “buying” and “registering” as they are separate processes. You need two forms of local I.D. in order to transfer the vehicle into your person’s name.
UK photo-ID driving license are only valid for 10 years, then you need to apply for a new one with a new photo.
The expected/required proof of identity is a passport. If you have a “digital passport” you don’t have to physically send them the passport, just give them the number and give them signed permission to access the electronic records.
Since you can only apply for a UK driving license (unclear if this only refers to a first application, but I’d guess it includes renewals) if you are” normally resident in the UK for more than 185 days” (it doesn’t say “a year” on the form but I’d guess that’s just sloppy wording) this suggests the possibility that THE MAN will use the electronic records to check your UK residence status as well as your identity.
So, from the point of view of a forumosan intending to use their UK driving license (in conjunction with an International Driving Permit) to drive in Taiwan,
(a) is it essential to renew the UK photo-license in order to get an IDP.
(b) Could such a forumosan get away with such a renewal, even though they are, in fact, normally resident in Taiwan.
IDL’s or only valid 3-5 years … depending on country
Now, in Belgium our car and motor DL’s are valid forever … IDL, 3 years … truck and coach depend on a medical (5 years)
According to some websites I found online, I can apply for and get an International Driver’s License online. I looked at the application and its pretty simple, just fill in information, then send scanned copies of your DL and a photo…costs anywhere from 35 to 50 dollars depending on whether you want 1 year or 10 year IDL. Is this all I would need to legally drive in Taiwan? I do not have a motorcycle license, I have passenger vehicle license…but perhaps I could do that before I leave for Taiwan. I leave in mid December.
That last one makes me think the safest option for my summer visit is to bring an IDL and get it stamped if I stay more than 30 days.
US IDL’s expire after just a year. The trouble and expense of a new one annually is unpleasant. I can see how a hypothetical person (not me, of course - I’m not hypothetical) might decide to just risk relying on his foreign DL.
