Renting a Car in Taiwan with a Korean Driver's License: IDP Rules, Pickup Steps & Road Trip Routes

Renting a Car in Taiwan with a Korean Driver's License: IDP Rules, Pickup Steps & Road Trip Routes

More and more Korean travelers are exploring Taiwan beyond the MRT and rail lines — and a rental car is the easiest way to reach Jiufen, Taroko Gorge, and Kenting on your own schedule. But can you drive in Taiwan with a Korean license? How do you get an International Driving Permit (IDP)? What documents do you need at pickup? This complete guide from GoodCars, with 30+ pickup locations across Taiwan, answers everything Korean drivers need to know.

Most Korean travelers start in Taipei, where downtown branches make pickup easy (image for illustration only)

Can You Drive in Taiwan with a Korean License? You Need an IDP

The short answer: a Korean driver's license alone is not valid in Taiwan — you must carry an International Driving Permit (IDP). Taiwan recognizes IDPs on a reciprocity basis rather than by convention format (1949 or 1968): a valid IDP issued by a country with a reciprocal arrangement with Taiwan, plus your original home-country license and passport, lets you drive for up to 30 days after entry; stays of more than 30 days require an IDP endorsement (visa) from a Taiwan motor vehicles office (valid for up to 1 year). Whether a country qualifies is determined by the MOTC Highway Bureau's list of driving-license reciprocity with major countries. Korea and Taiwan have recognized each other's IDPs since February 2022, so with a valid IDP, Korean visitors can legally drive and rent cars throughout Taiwan.

Your IDP works as-is for the first 30 days after entry. If you stay in Taiwan for more than 30 days, you need an IDP endorsement (visa) from a Taiwan motor vehicles office (valid for up to 1 year) — but a typical 5–10 day trip needs no extra paperwork.

Getting Your IDP in Korea: Same-Day Issuance

Getting an IDP in Korea is straightforward:

Whether an airport counter is available, and its hours, depends on official Korean notices — get your IDP well before departure day.

Picking Up Your Car at GoodCars: 6 Simple Steps

Take a few minutes near the branch to get familiar with the car before heading out (image for illustration only)

GoodCars operates 30+ locations across Taiwan — Taipei Main Station, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Yilan, Hualien and more. Here is the standard flow:

• Step 1 — Book online: choose your car, branch and dates at goodcars.tw; the price is based on the live quote on the official site
• Step 2 — Prepare documents: IDP + original Korean license + passport, plus a credit card in your own name
• Step 3 — Pick up the car: at a staffed store (open 09:00–21:00), show your booking and documents and sign the agreement on site; at self-service pickup points such as Taoyuan Airport (car park pickup and return) there are no staff on site — complete your documents and contract online as instructed by the system, then collect the car from the designated car park in your booking confirmation (at return, just leave the key in the car)
• Step 4 — Inspect the car: walk around the vehicle before you drive off and photograph its condition and the odometer (at staffed stores you can check it together with staff)
• Step 5 — Set up navigation: Google Maps supports Korean interface and voice guidance
• Step 6 — Drive off: a dedicated fuel card is provided — when you refuel, ask the attendant to fill up and pay with the card (self-service pumps may not accept it), and return without refilling

Driving in Taiwan vs Korea: What's the Same, What's Different

Good news: Taiwan drives on the right with left-hand-drive cars — exactly like Korea. Steering position and turning logic are identical, so Korean drivers adapt almost instantly (far easier than right-hand-drive Japan). Key differences to note:

Highway tolls are collected automatically via ETC; rental cars come with an eTag installed, so you never stop to pay. Toll charges are settled when you return the car — a similar experience to Hi-pass back home.

Basic Insurance and the GO Worry-Free Protection Plan: Three Layers Explained

• Third-party liability (included): legally required base coverage, included in the rate; covers injury and property damage to others
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): caps your repair liability at a deductible, greatly reducing risk
• GO Worry-Free Protection Plan (add-on): your liability for vehicle damage from a collision with another vehicle drops from NT$50,000 to NT$5,000 and the depreciation fee is waived; loss-of-business compensation still applies, and some situations (such as glass or tyre damage) are excluded. Recommended for first-time drivers abroad

The biggest worry overseas is handling an accident in a foreign language. GoodCars' GO Worry-Free Protection Plan keeps the cost of a fender-bender down. If the car breaks down or you have an accident on the road, contact your pickup branch first (the phone number is in your booking confirmation) and follow their instructions.

3 Road Trip Routes Korean Travelers Love

Route 1: Taipei → Jiufen → North Coast (Day Trip)

The red lanterns of Jiufen are Taiwan's most iconic sight on Korean social media (image for illustration only)

Jiufen tops every Korean traveler's list. Public transport means transfers and crowds, but by car it's about 1 hour from Taipei via the freeway and Expressway 62. On the way back, add Golden Waterfall, the Yin-Yang Sea, and Yehliu Geopark — your schedule, your call.

Route 2: Hualien — Taroko Gorge → Qixingtan (2 Days)

Taroko Gorge is the classic Hualien drive (image for illustration only)

Pick up at Hualien Station (the train station) and follow Provincial Highway 8 toward Taroko. Since the April 2024 Hualien earthquake, most gorge trails are still closed for repairs (including Shakadang, Swallow Grotto, the Tunnel of Nine Turns and Changchun Shrine), and Highway 8 between Tianxiang and the Taroko entrance only opens in time windows announced by the Highway Bureau and closes at night — don't stop inside the controlled section. What you can visit now is mainly the Taroko entrance area, the Tianxiang area and the Qingshui Cliffs. For the latest status and a day plan, see our Taroko National Park self-drive guide and check the notices again before you go. Spend the evening at Dongdamen Night Market and catch sunrise at Qixingtan beach.

Route 3: Kaohsiung → Kenting Coastal Highway (3 Days)

The Pingtung–Eluanbi highway hugs the coastline — southern Taiwan's signature drive (image for illustration only)

From Kaohsiung, head south via Highway 88 and Provincial Highway 1 onto the coastal road to Kenting, with the ocean beside you the whole way. Kenting Street, Eluanbi Lighthouse, Longpan Grassland — a tropical escape that feels nothing like Korea, popular for winter getaways.

Sample Rental Costs

Rates vary by season and rental length — longer rentals mean lower daily averages. Enter your dates on the official site for an instant total, no sign-up needed.

FAQ

Q1: Can foreigners rent a car in Taiwan with just their home-country license?

No. Foreign visitors — including Korean travelers — need an International Driving Permit (IDP) together with their original domestic license and passport. All three documents are checked at pickup, and you also need a credit card in your own name.

Q2: Where do Koreans get an IDP and how long does it take?

At driver's license examination offices (운전면허시험장), police stations and other designated locations — usually same day in person, or apply online and receive it by mail. The fee follows the official Korean notice, and the IDP is valid for one year.

Q3: Can I keep using my IDP if I stay over 30 days?

Stays beyond 30 days require an IDP endorsement (visa) from a Taiwan motor vehicles office (valid for up to 1 year). Trips within 30 days of entry need no extra steps.

Q4: Does Taiwan drive on the same side as Korea?

Yes — left-hand-drive cars, right-side traffic, identical to Korea. Just watch for the huge number of scooters in cities, and remember right turns on red are not allowed.

Q5: How do highway tolls work?

All Taiwan freeways use ETC electronic tolling. Your rental car has an eTag installed; tolls are detected automatically and settled when you return the car.

Q6: What if I have an accident and can't speak Chinese?

Turn on hazard lights, set up the warning triangle, call 110 (police), then contact your pickup branch (the phone number is in your booking confirmation) and follow their instructions — staff use translation apps, and some branches can assist in English. Adding the GO Worry-Free Protection Plan lowers what you owe after an accident (vehicle-damage liability from a collision with another vehicle drops from NT$50,000 to NT$5,000) — see our website for details.

Q7: Can I pick up in Taipei and return in Kaohsiung?

Yes. GoodCars supports one-way rentals between branches (choose "Drop car off at different location" when booking). The fee depends on your pickup and return locations — see the live quote on our website. Perfect for one-direction island itineraries.