Visiting Taiwan and want to drive but forgot to apply for an International Driver’s Permit? If you have a Japanese driver’s license then it is possible for you to drive in Taiwan without having to transfer your license to Taiwan D/L or needing an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). On top of that, unlike IDPs which requires one to process before embarkation, those who are too late (already in Taiwan) are still able to process the necessary documents to drive – and it will be available to use immediately.
Read on for details, procedures, precautions, and other important information regarding driving in Taiwan with a Japanese D/L.
Table of Contents
Before You Begin
Since September 21, 1996 Taiwan and Japan have entered into a reciprocal agreement (TW) which enables license holders from one country to drive in the other withOUT transferring of license. While there are some restrictions regarding vehicle types you can drive depending on the license type (I will go more into detail about these restrictions below), it is pretty reasonable and you should expect to be able to drive the same kind of vehicle as you would in Japan.
However, this article only applies to you if you do not plan to apply for an IDP or if you are visiting Taiwan under a Visitor’s Visa – this is because it is better to just translate your Japanese D/L to Taiwan D/L if you are a resident of Taiwan or otherwise have a work permit (ARC).
In addition, note that the period of validity is limited as follows:
- Usage period is 365 days from date of arrival to Taiwan. This 365 days is refreshed when you depart and revisit Taiwan.
- Your driving eligibility is revoked after the expiry date on your Japan D/L.
- If your Japanese D/L is expired, you must apply for a new translation after renewal.
Remember to bring your Japanese Driver’s License with you to Taiwan. Additional required documents are detailed in the next section.
Required Documents
Police officers and other officials who need to check your identity and license verification would need the following items. Note that you MUST have all three documents with you in order to operate a vehicle:
- Passport
- Japanese Driver’s License
- Translation of Japanese Driver’s License to Traditional Chinese
This translation of your Japanese Driver’s License is likely the only item you don’t have on hand, but rest assured it is possible to produce this document whether you are in still in Japan or already in Taiwan. It is highly recommended you secure this document while in Japan since there are very few places where you will be able to translate your Japanese Driver’s License in Taiwan. This brings us to the next topic…
Where to Translate Your Japanese D/L
The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) is the official and only entity which can provide a legal translation of your Japanese D/L to Taiwanese D/L.
In Japan
JAF has many locations across Japan where you can either walk-in or mail your application to. Refer to the “日本運転免許証の中国語翻訳文（台湾）の発行が可能な支部” section to find the office most convenient for you. Do keep in mind that some offices do not accept mail-in services and others may not have a reception desk – make sure to check the “受付” and “発行” sections for each office before visiting or submitting your application. The translation will take some time, so don’t expect to be able to receive your translated document on the same day.
Bring/submit the following when applying for the translation document:
- Translation Application
- Japanese Driver’s License
- 3600JPY
More detailed information can be found on their official page. Allow yourself enough time to submit and receive the translation before embarking on your trip to Taiwan.
In Taiwan
There are only two JAF offices in Taiwan (Taipei and Kaohsiung) so you will need to make a trip to either of those cities if you wish to translate your Japanese D/L. Be careful that you don’t visit during weekends or holidays as they only operate during business days.
There is an additional document when processing in Taiwan, so do exercise caution and make sure you prepare all of the following documents:
- Translation Application – You can fill this out at their office
- Japanese Driver’s License
- Passport
- 590 NTD (~2145JPY, actually cheaper than doing it in Japan!!!)
Restrictions and Precautions
The types of licenses between Japan and Taiwan differ and do not exactly match. As such, it is important to note your translated license and refer to this document (JP) to understand exactly which types of vehicles you are allowed to operate in Taiwan.
As an example, my type of license (普通) grants me the ability many 4-wheel vehicles. A highly generic summary is outlined below:
- Generally all vehicles less than 3500kg, though there are a few exceptions
- Electric bikes
- Motorcycle class under 50cc power
Especially take note that you MAY NOT OPERATE MOTORCYCLES OVER 50cc. Most rental motorcycles from Gogoro and Wemo offer bikes over 50cc so don’t expect to be able to rent one. In addition, motorcycles have quite a different set of road rules compared to 4-wheel vehicles you must follow. In my honest opinion this restriction is perfectly reasonable especially if you have only driven 4-wheel vehicles and have no experience with bikes. Don’t drive bikes in Taiwan when you have the option to drive a compact car instead.
In Case of Accident
Driving in Taiwan is not as orderly as in Japan – you will often find that drivers’ attitudes are vastly different, bikes will weave around you, number of lanes will change immediately after intersections, signal lights work somewhat differently, and many other unique nuances:
- Contact the police (110)
- If injured, contact the ambulance (119)
- If vehicle was rented, contact rental company
- If you are fined, contact Japan-Taiwan Exchange association
For the last point above, for the area of Taiwan above Taichung/Nantou and Yilan, contact the Taipei branch:
Phone (Business Hours): 02-2713-8000
Phone (Non-Business): 0937-043-408
Homepage: https://www.koryu.or.jp/about/taipei/
For other areas of Taiwan, including Penghu, contact the Kaohsiung branch:
Phone (Business Hours): 07-771-4008
Phone (Non-Business): 0929-228-458
Homepage: https://www.koryu.or.jp/about/kaohsiung/