i can’t even get the hummer into the damn test ground let alone through the s bend.
stupid farkin test.
cheaper to be busted for no license. and the law actually is that you can’t use a IDL for more than 6 weeks after you land, once only, AFAIK.
Well, I never got to the driving test, having failed twice now the theory test.
I have a Florida license, and I might just go to the DMV in Taipei tomorrow and let them know that Florida is part of Oklahoma State. Who knows, that might work, they might just give me a TW license.
[quote=“urodacus”]i can’t even get the hummer into the damn test ground let alone through the s bend.
stupid farkin test.[/quote]
It’s easy. Go straight and then just before the entrance with the treeline in line with the rear windown, turn the wheel with full right hand lock then go straight until the right hand mirror is barely touching the telegraph pole, then reverse full left hand down without crossing the zebra crossing line and just before the end of the road, swing the front end around with the brakes fully locked. There, your Hummer is at the start possition of the test, easy as pie! Now all you must do is refil it with fuel once more before taking on the 300 metre course. Oh, don’t forget to take an extra can of fuel, just in case it runs dry half way around.
the wheel base is wider than the touch strips, so the buzzer goes off regardless of the superior skill of the operator…
no, i don’t even have a car here let alone a hummer.
[quote=“urodacus”]…the law actually is that you can’t use a IDL for more than 6 weeks after you land, once only, AFAIK.[/quote]I think the regulations are that you can use an IDL as it is for a month from date of issue. If during that month you get it endorsed by a DMV office, you can then use it for its full period of validity. That’s how it worked for me and apparently for quite a few other people, too.
forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=4832
[quote=“sulavaca”]Oo! THanks for that. Edit: I’ve fixed it now and added the other link to the other test site, so now there are two test sites. The other one was where my link wasn’t working which is
here.[/quote]Interesting. Seems similar to the page I linked to, but not quite the same. I think it’s likely the same range of questions, but presented slightly differently, and with the option to take the test in various other languages including Hakka!
Still, non-Taipei City dwellers had better take note of what you wrote on your site: the sample test questions are only comprehensive and accurate as regards taking the test in Taipei City.
thanks joesax.
[quote=“joesax”][quote=“urodacus”]…the law actually is that you can’t use a IDL for more than 6 weeks after you land, once only, AFAIK.[/quote]I think the regulations are that you can use an IDL as it is for a month from date of issue. If during that month you get it endorsed by a DMV office, you can then use it for its full period of validity. That’s how it worked for me and apparently for quite a few other people, too.
forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=4832[/quote]
Quite right. I too had my license stamped and stickered up after a month and it was good until the international license’ expiry date, there is no limitation on the validity other than the original validity stamp on the license.
[quote=“joesax”][quote=“urodacus”]…the law actually is that you can’t use a IDL for more than 6 weeks after you land, once only, AFAIK.[/quote]I think the regulations are that you can use an IDL as it is for a month from date of issue. If during that month you get it endorsed by a DMV office, you can then use it for its full period of validity. That’s how it worked for me and apparently for quite a few other people, too.
forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php?t=4832[/quote]
Not 100 % right. The time for the 30 days is not the date of the issue of the IDL, it is the arrival date in ROC. For example my Austrian IDL was like 2 weeks old when I landed but I still would have 30 days. This of course just applies if your IDL is valid throughout the 30 days (Austria issues 1 year validity to the IDL).
That’s the text on the MVO Taipei site to it:
"…You can use your international driving license to drive in Taiwan for thirty days without applying for a ROC driving license.
If you are staying for more than thirty days, you must apply for an international driving license permit for driving in Taiwan…"
Link: http://163.29.36.51/tcmvd/index.jsp?categid=2029
There is one other limitation to this which is the validity of your ARC. So if the IDL runs still a year but your ARC not, the IDL will just be stamed and vaild to the date your ARC runs off. So make sure you have the ARC extended before, if you need. 
I don’t think they asked to see my ARC. I will double check this with them later, but what use would an international license be if it had to be used in cojunction with an ARC?
Yes, you don’t need to take the ARC, but your passport which has the re-entry permit in it which comes with the ARC. Thats at least what they told me in Taoyuan but we all know how much this things can differ here. 
[quote=“sulavaca”]I don’t think they asked to see my ARC. I will double check this with them later, but what use would an international license be if it had to be used in cojunction with an ARC?[/quote]In Taichung they definitely require an ARC.
I see your point that it’s a bit odd, but I guess we’re all used to jumping through these kinds of bureaucratic hoops by now.
[quote=“mingshah”]Not 100 % right. The time for the 30 days is not the date of the issue of the IDL, it is the arrival date in ROC.[/quote]Not sure about that. I got my (car) IDL sent from the UK, years after my first arrival, and months after my last re-entry to Taiwan. To be sure, I didn’t use it until I’d got it validated, but they did validate it for its full period (my ARC was a multi-year one so that wasn’t an issue).
I am very sure on this one. Not only their page said so but I also got this information from several sides and several different organisations. It also makes sense (which almost let me struggle again if it is true… ) , because the IDL is valid through the full time. So how can you restrict it to the first 30 days of the IDL’s validity when the person didn’t live in ROC or was even here. The clock starts to tick with the first step in.
The link with the ARC is because the whole thing is just for “ROC residents” which stay longer than 30 days.
I am very sure on this one. Not only their page said so but I also got this information from several sides and several different organisations. It also makes sense (which almost let me struggle again if it is true… ) , because the IDL is valid through the full time.[/quote]I’m never “very sure” about anything like this, especially when basing conclusions on English language web pages! But as you say, it does make more sense that way, and having confirmation from several organisations also makes it more convincing.
O.K. I just got off the phone with Taipei Motor Vehicles and registration office and it goes like this:
If you are a U.S.A citizen and are using an international driving license you must extend the license at the motor vehicles office after 30 days of the license’ start date. The 30 days is regardless of how long the user has been in Taiwan, but is counted from the date that the license was validated. You are required to take:
1 passport photo
Your passport
Your original driving license
Your international driving license.
If you are a non U.S. citizen the same as above applies, although you are not required to show your original driving license, just the international one.
It is not required of anyone to posses an A.R.C.
The extension is disregarding of any type of visa, you don’t need one, although you might be referred if you are overstaying.
The extension is until the expiry date printed on the international license and has nothing to do with A.R.C., visa or passport validity.
I hope that clears some things up, and please don’t come sobbing to me if some other clerk in some other office starts whining that this isn’t the case in the special precinct of Taidong or somewhere like that. Taiwan is a bit muddled at times, as most of us know by now. 
[quote=“sulavaca”]O.K. I just got off the phone with Taipei Motor Vehicles and registration office and it goes like this:
If you are a U.S.A citizen and are using an international driving license you must extend the license at the motor vehicles office after 30 days of the license’ start date. The 30 days is regardless of how long the user has been in Taiwan, but is counted from the date that the license was validated. You are required to take:
1 passport photo
Your passport
Your original driving license
Your international driving license.
If you are a non U.S. citizen the same as above applies, although you are not required to show your original driving license, just the international one.
It is not required of anyone to posses an A.R.C.
The extension is disregarding of any type of visa, you don’t need one, although you might be referred if you are overstaying.
The extension is until the expiry date printed on the international license and has nothing to do with A.R.C., visa or passport validity.
I hope that clears some things up, and please don’t come sobbing to me if some other clerk in some other office starts whining that this isn’t the case in the special precinct of Taidong or somewhere like that. Taiwan is a bit muddled at times, as most of us know by now.[/quote]Thanks for that fact finding work. It’s very useful. Interesting that they told you an ARC isn’t required.
In Taichung I was asked to show my ARC, but if that’s just a “regulation” and not an actual bit of the law, I suppose there might be a basis for some kind of a legal challenge for anyone who felt that was necessary.
License? We don’t need no stinkin’ licenses? I have driven here for the past 10 years and never had a problem. Just speak English, smile, and be polite. It also helps to drive a really expensive European car and look important. Twice in 10 years had a problem and both times, they just let me go with a warning.
vay: Poor soul, it must have been frustrating and humiliating to fail it even once, let alone twice. That is precisely why I haven’t taken it. I was talking trash and about to take it when my Taiwanese friend warned me about the backward S curve. They said I should definitely pay for a quick lesson to practice that before attempting the test. Can’t be bothered to find the time for that.
Then there was the matter of that written test. I never studied for the written part of the test back home, it is pretty intuitive and multiple choice. This one is not at all common sense and even illogical at times, at least that is what I gathered from the practice questions. You almost have to memorize the answers to all of the questions (sorry no time for that), because it is difficult to learn what is so illogical at times. It has you constantly second guessing. But then I suppose rote memory is what Taiwanese education is all about, no learning or understanding.
[quote=“Hobart”]I never studied for the written part of the test back home, it is pretty intuitive and multiple choice.[/quote]Really? It’s quite different in the UK. I’d say that there, you have to study the highway code or you will likely fail the test. And you also have to practice specific driving skills for the test, though of course these are very useful in real life, unlike the reverse “s”.
Hey JoeSax: I never said I did well on it. I think I just barely passed with something like 60% of the questions right. Questions like how far behind an Emergency vehicle you are allowed to follow, got me. Anyway, I think once you have a valid license in one state I think you never have to take the test again. Luckily only my parents knew my score.
By the way, what is the worst that can happen to me if I do not have a Taiwan driver’s license? I heard it was just a NT$6,000, no matter if I ran a red light and hit someone etc. (Knock on wood. I mean NT$6,000 plus whatever other tickets I have have to pay for right?
Just 6,000, I think. Other fines are fixed amounts regardless of whether you have a license or not, as far as I know.
I’m not going to get all moralistic on you, but personally I’ve always felt that if I’m driving anywhere, I should have the appropriate license. And this way I can give a big, offended, honest “yes” to those people who ask me “Do you have a Taiwan driving license?” with a wink and a leer.