I cant drive! :(

Just a quick question guys,

I don’t have a driving licence and I can’t drive a car as I have never learnt. Does that mean that I can’t buy and own a scooter (50cc) in Taiwan?

Hope you can help.

Thanks

You can buy and own any vehicle you like. A jet plane, if you like and can afford it. Driving it, however, is another matter. You need a licence.

Thanks for that. What I mean to say is, can I get a licence without already having a drviers licence from my own country (UK) What will I need to go to get a licence and will I need to have a practical test?

Thanks.

Is there anyone who owns and drives a scooter in Taiwan but does not have a driving licence for their own country?

Thanks

My computer is fucked right now so I can’t point you to a link, but if you do a search on this forum, you should find detailed answers to your questions.
In short, no you don’t need to have a licence from your own country, but you DO need to sit a test, which is extremely simple. A brief and very cursory practical test which takes place in a large car-park-type place and a written test in which you select answers in a multiple choice deal. It’s done on a computer and you can do it in English. There is a help booklet available in English and all the test questions are also online so you can practice beforehand. There’s a link to the questions on here somewhere. Passing this test allows to drive any motorcycle up to 249cc.

[quote=“Robin-Hood”]Thanks for that. What I mean to say is, can I get a licence without already having a drviers licence from my own country (UK) What will I need to go to get a licence and will I need to have a practical test?

Thanks.

Is there anyone who owns and drives a scooter in Taiwan but does not have a driving licence for their own country?

Thanks[/quote]

Yes, I bought a car for the first time in Taiwan and subsequently rented for two weeks back in the UK on my Taiwanese license + Taiwan issued IDP, which was kinda fun. It’s quite possible and like sandman pointed out the information is all there in the Cars & Motorcycles stickies. We recently had a motorcycle safety day in Taichung organised by Stefan + Dangermouse which I believe we will see again in Taipei at some point in the near future - I thoroughly recommend you attend because you’ll learn bugger all from the test process.

If you only want a 50cc you don’t even need to do a drivers test. You only sit at this computer and answer multiple choice questions. Took me less than 2 minutes.

For any larger motorcycle you need to do a test and go and drive outside in the parking lot.

Don’t worry. The locals are in the same situation as you, but I don’t nead to point out the obvious do I?

You don’t need a licence, it is only required by law. Many people drive without a licence. I have a British licence and have been driving here for nine years without ever being asked to show a licence.

" You don’t need a licence, it is only required by law. "
Just had to see that again!
The real interest to me in getting legal was for the
insurance to apply, and buying all the extra insurance I could get.

  • which ain’t much, in my humble opinion.

[quote=“old canuck”]" You don’t need a licence, it is only required by law. "
Just had to see that again!
The real interest to me in getting legal was for the
insurance to apply, and buying all the extra insurance I could get.

  • which ain’t much, in my humble opinion.[/quote]

Of course, I understand.

[quote=“Robin-Hood”]Just a quick question guys,

I don’t have a driving licence and I can’t drive a car as I have never learnt. Does that mean that I can’t buy and own a scooter (50cc) in Taiwan?

Hope you can help.

Thanks[/quote]

i understand a WRITTEN test is all that is needed (you have to pass it) to ride a 50cc . Thats why car drivers can ride a 50cc motorcycle/scooter. Because car drivers have already PASSED the written test.

but since you dont have a car license to prove that you have passed the written test. Seems your best way is to go ahead and learn how to ride a motorcycle and get a motorcycle license which would then allow you to ride 50cc and above (up to a certain limit, i dont know the limit, like 250cc i think , for which you need a Heavy Motorcycle license or endorsement or some such). Far as i understand. Please correct me (anyone) if im wrong.

[quote=“tommy525”]i understand a WRITTEN test is all that is needed (you have to pass it) to ride a 50cc . Thats why car drivers can ride a 50cc motorcycle/scooter. Because car drivers have already PASSED the written test.[/quote]You’re right that passing a written test is all you need for a 50. But is it still the case that local car license holders can ride a 50 without taking that test? I heard the law was changed and even car drivers have to take the relevant scooter/motorbike test/s.

it really is a moot point seeing as there is often bugger all difference in driving ability between those who have and those who don’t or have never had a licence on taiwan roads. scary sometimes.

they should try and get a licence somewhere strict, like germany or sweden… that would be a laugh if they applied the same standards here. it would actually save a few lives too.

any input from swedes out there? am i correct in this foggy recollection? en svensk tigre?

I always feel a bit perturbed when I hear the old ‘license standards are such a joke I’m not gonna bother driving legally’. It seems to me like spitting in everyone’s faces like a spoilt baby. This ranks for me alongside ‘oh shit, I’m getting deported cause I worked without a work visa, it’s so unfair!’ Feel free to complain about traffic laws, licensing etc. all you want but at least make some effort to abide by the law yourself.

I’ve met more than a few foreigners who have complained at great length about X, Y or Z driving infraction commited by Taiwanese drivers then tell me without any hint of shame or irony that they don’t have a legal license to drive in Taiwan. What a load of crap :unamused:

The law in pretty much every country in the world says you need a valid license to drive. Thinking that it doesn’t apply because you’re a white face in Taiwan and thus know better than everyone else is just plain arrogant.

Arrogant? Nah, I don’t think so. Some people just accept that its a waste of time. The license proves nothing in terms of driving ability, the insurance provides virtually nothing in the way of coverage should you hurt someone or damage their vehicle. The arrogance is on the part of the local authorities who refuse to recognize a real driving licence issued in a place that takes learning to drive seriously.
Such people simply accept that they can drive without a licence if they wish and that the NT$6,000 fine is an acceptable risk.

i think i was talking along the lines of:

i agree that getting a licence here is a good idea, but don’t expect the driving test to approximate anything to do with real world requirements of safety and car handling education. let alone actually ever needing to know what the limit for sounding your horn is, or how many peple you may safely carry in your car or bike, or why it may not be a good idea to let your kids stand up between the front seats and stick their heads through the open sunroof at 100km on a 1 lane mountain road… etc.

in fact, blending in here by adopting the local driving habits means you are paradoxically safer than if you don’t, as people expect you to also drive like an idiot. and to do that, you must basically never recall a single driving rule or apply them. then you’ll do fine. :slight_smile: :moped: