Parking in Taiwan: Complete Guide for Foreign Drivers — Tips, Apps & Costs

Parking in Taiwan: Complete Guide for Foreign Drivers — Tips, Apps & Costs

If you're driving a rental car around Taiwan, finding parking can be more stressful than the drive itself. A monthly parking spot in Taipei averages over NT$10,000, and at popular weekend destinations spaces vanish before noon. This guide walks you through how Taiwanese street parking actually works, the differences between public and private lots, the apps you should install before arrival, and what happens when your rental car gets ticketed or towed.

How Parking Works in Taiwan

Parking in Taiwan falls into four basic categories: roadside metered spaces, public (government-operated) parking lots, private lots (department stores, office buildings, hotels), and small self-service coin lots. Each type uses different payment methods, rates, and operating hours, so foreign drivers most commonly trip up on the first one — roadside metered parking.

The crucial detail: in most Taiwanese cities, you do NOT pay anything when you park on the street. A uniformed parking attendant (usually wearing a fluorescent vest) walks the block and records every license plate. The bill is mailed to the registered address weeks later. For rental drivers, that bill goes to Goodcars.tw, which then forwards it (plus a small admin fee) to the renter.

Taiwan Parking Rate Reference Table

The table below shows typical weekday daytime rates for roadside metered parking. Weekends, evenings, and special districts may charge differently — always check the on-site signage.

Public garages (multi-story or mechanical) typically run NT$30-60/hr with overnight caps of NT$200-500. Private lots in department stores or office buildings tend to charge more, NT$60-100/hr, but most offer 1-hour discounts when you spend over NT$1,000-3,000 in-store.

Three Ways to Pay for Roadside Parking

1. Mail-in Payment Slip (Most Common)

The attendant places a yellow slip under your wiper. You can scan its barcode at any 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life or OK Mart and pay at the convenience store counter. Or wait for the official mailed bill and pay later — but late payment adds up to a 30% surcharge.

2. Real-Time Payment via App

Apps like 停車大聲公 (ParkingGo), Bibibill, and ParkU let you bind a credit card or mobile wallet, enter your plate number, and pay automatically when you leave. This is the cleanest method for short-stay foreign drivers — most apps now support international Visa and Mastercard.

3. Coin/Card Kiosks (Rare)

A few districts (older parts of Taichung, Changhua, Tainan) still use prepay kiosks where you insert coins or tap a card and place a printed slip on your dashboard. These are gradually being phased out.

Public vs Private Parking Lots

Public lots are operated by city governments (or contractors) and offer transparent rates and 24-hour access. Most attractions have one nearby — Jiufen Old Street Public Lot, Kenting Main Street Lot, Alishan Visitor Center Lot. Rates run NT$30-50/hr with NT$200-300 daily caps.

Private lots are run by department stores, office buildings, or hotels, and tend to charge more — but typically offer parking discounts when you shop. SOGO and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi waive 1-hour parking with NT$1,000 in purchases. Hotel guests usually get one free spot per room; outside guests pay full rate.

Must-Install Parking Apps

1. ParkingGo (停車大聲公)

Nationwide coverage and a friendly map UI. Shows live availability for street spots, lot rates, and 24-hour status, with online payment built in. Accepts foreign credit cards and supports Apple Pay/Google Pay.

2. ParkU

Specializes in auto-detect roadside parking. The app uses GPS to detect when you enter a metered zone and starts the timer automatically. When you leave, it stops the clock and bills you. Excellent foreign-card support.

3. Bibibill (嗶嗶繳)

7-Eleven's official barcode-scanning app. Use it to pay mailed parking slips online without queuing at the counter — handy if you receive an invoice after returning home.

4. Google Maps Parking Layer

Not a dedicated app, but Google Maps in Taiwan now indexes most public and private lots with live rates. Searching "parking near me" in English just works. Best option for travelers who don't read Chinese.

Parking at Taiwan's Top Attractions

Taipei 101 / Xinyi District

Park in Taipei 101 underground (NT$60/hr, 1-hour discount with NT$3,000 purchase) or Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11. Street parking is functionally non-existent in this district.

Jiufen Old Street

Narrow mountain roads + weekend crowds = no street parking at all. Use Jiufen Old Street Public Lot or Jiufen Visitor Center Lot. Arrive before noon on weekends. Daily flat rate around NT$100.

Sun Moon Lake

Shuishe Visitor Center, Itashao Pier, and Xiangshan Visitor Center all have large public lots, NT$50-100 per visit. Allow 30 minutes for finding a spot during peak season.

Kenting Main Street

Multiple self-service lots line the main street, NT$100-200 per day. Avoid unmarked private plots — they often inflate rates or tow without warning.

Alishan Forest Recreation Area

First, second, and Zhaoping lots together hold ~800 cars and fill before 7am on holiday weekends. NT$100 per visit, includes park entry.

No-Stop Lines & Towing

Taiwan parking violations come in two flavors: tickets (NT$300-1,200) and tows (tow fee NT$1,000 + storage NT$300/day). The most common pitfalls:

If your rental gets towed, check the city tow lookup (e.g. Taipei DOT website) or call 1999 (citizen hotline). To retrieve the car, pay the tow + ticket and present your driver's license and rental contract.

Parking Tips for Goodcars Renters

After picking up your car at Goodcars, the most common question is: "Where do I park at my hotel?" A few principles:

• Filter Booking.com or Agoda for "free parking" before booking — confirm whether it's truly free or pay-as-you-go
• If your urban hotel has no lot, NT$200-500/night at a nearby department store or public garage is fair
• Mountain B&Bs in Kenting, Jiufen, Cingjing almost always have free parking on-site
• Watch for unsigned "private lots" near night markets — confirm the rate before parking to avoid price-gouging

How to Save on Parking

• Park-and-MRT — Drop the car at a suburban MRT lot (NT$100-200/day cap), take the train into the city center, save NT$200-300
• Department store discounts — Spend NT$1,000-3,000 to waive 1-2 hours; works at SOGO, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Q Square, Eslite
• Off-peak rates — Most public garages halve or waive fees after 22:00; ideal for hotel overnighters
• Pick the right car — A small VIOS or YARIS clears most mechanical lots; SUVs may not fit (height limit ~1.55m)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do I have to pay before I park on the street in Taiwan?

Usually no. Most metered street spaces use post-mailed billing — you don't pay anything when you park. Some districts have prepay kiosks. The safest option is to use the ParkingGo or ParkU app for instant payment.

Q2: I've already left Taiwan. Where do parking bills go?

Rental car bills go to Goodcars, who email you and charge the credit card on file. Keep your card valid for 30 days after return so we can settle final fees cleanly.

Q3: Will I get towed for parking on a red curb?

Yes. Red curbs draw NT$1,200 fines and frequent tows in city centers. Tow fees start at NT$1,000 plus NT$300/day storage. Always avoid them.

Q4: Which credit cards work with Taiwanese parking apps?

ParkingGo and ParkU accept Visa, Mastercard, and JCB international cards (verification required). Apple Pay and Google Pay are the easiest setup.

Q5: Can I park an SUV in a mechanical garage?

Check the dimensions. Standard mechanical bays cap out at length 5m, width 1.85m, height 1.55m, weight 2 tons. RAV4 and CRV often exceed 1.55m and need flat-deck spaces.

Q6: Sun Moon Lake / Jiufen are full on weekends — what now?

Arrive by 7-9am, or visit on weekdays. For Jiufen you can park at Ruifang Train Station and take a NT$200 taxi up the hill. For Sun Moon Lake, park at Shuili Station and ride the lake-loop bus.

Q7: Can I research parking before picking up the car?

Definitely. Search Google Maps with "[hotel address] + parking" before your trip — most public and private lots are indexed with rates and hours.