Find Scooter & Motorcycle Hire in Taiwan
Enter your city, island or destination below to search available scooters and motorcycles.
Enter your city, island or destination below to search available scooters and motorcycles.
Explore Taiwan on Two Wheels
From Taipei’s buzzing streets to Taichung’s lively neighbourhoods, Taiwan offers an exciting mix of city life, culture and scenery to explore on two wheels.
Beyond the cities, winding roads lead through lush mountains, peaceful countryside and traditional communities, with spectacular views and unexpected stops along the way.
A scooter or motorcycle gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, discovering local neighbourhoods, scenic roads and a different side of Taiwan.
City to Mountains
Swap lively streets for winding roads and spectacular scenery.
Discover Local Life
Explore neighbourhoods, traditional communities and places beyond the usual sights.
Take the Scenic Route
Enjoy the journey through Taiwan’s lush countryside and mountain landscapes.
Explore Taiwan
Taipei
Taiwan’s vibrant capital, where lively streets meet temples, markets and surrounding mountains.
Taichung
A laid-back city with colourful neighbourhoods, local culture and scenic countryside close by.
More places to ride in Taiwan
Considerations Before You Ride in Taiwan
To ride a scooter or motorcycle in Taiwan, you need a valid driving licence that covers the appropriate motorcycle category for the vehicle you intend to hire. A standard car entitlement should not be assumed to cover a rental scooter simply because it has a small engine.
For visitors from the UK, you need your valid UK driving licence together with a 1949 International Driving Permit (IDP). The IDP must include the appropriate motorcycle entitlement and accompanies your UK licence rather than replacing it.
For stays of more than 30 days, Taiwan requires foreign visitors using an IDP to register it with a local Motor Vehicles Office. Rental companies may also impose their own minimum age, riding-experience or documentation requirements, so check these before booking.
Useful links
GOV.UK – Taiwan travel advice: road travel
Taipei City Motor Vehicles Office – International Driving Permit registration
Yes. Taiwan has important road restrictions for scooters and motorcycles, and the rules depend partly on the type and engine capacity of the motorcycle. Ordinary scooters and motorcycles are not permitted on Taiwan’s freeways, so routes designed for cars may include roads you cannot legally use.
Some expressways permit large heavy motorcycles, but this does not mean that an ordinary rental scooter can use them. Individual roads and sections can also prohibit particular classes of motorcycle, so always follow motorcycle restriction signs and lane markings rather than assuming a road is open to scooters.
Temporary restrictions can also affect mountain roads because of severe weather, landslides, snow or other hazardous conditions. This is particularly important when exploring Taiwan’s mountainous interior, where road conditions and access can change quickly.
Useful link
Taiwan Highway Bureau – Motorcycle restrictions on the Suhua Highway
In Taiwan, both the rider and any passenger must wear a motorcycle helmet. The helmet must be an approved motorcycle helmet, worn correctly, securely fastened under the chin and in good condition. Taiwan’s official road-safety rules also require the helmet to fit securely without obstructing the rider’s vision.
Other protective equipment such as gloves, a riding jacket, long trousers and sturdy footwear is strongly recommended, particularly for longer journeys and mountain roads, but these items are not part of the general legal helmet requirement.
Whether protective equipment is supplied with a rental scooter depends on the rental agreement. A helmet may be included or available with the scooter, but you should check before booking rather than assume one is provided. If a helmet is supplied, make sure it fits properly and is undamaged before riding.
Useful link
Taiwan Highway Bureau – Motorcycles
Yes. In Taiwan, you must be at least 18 years old to obtain a light or general heavy motorcycle licence. For large heavy motorcycles over 250cc, the minimum licensing age is 20, with additional licensing and training requirements.
However, these are the legal licensing ages rather than guaranteed rental ages. Scooter and motorcycle hire companies can impose a higher minimum age and may also require riders to have held the appropriate licence for a specified period.
Visitors must still have the correct licence and International Driving Permit for the scooter or motorcycle they intend to ride. Meeting the minimum age requirement does not by itself give you the necessary motorcycle entitlement.
Useful link
Taiwan Highway Bureau – Driver Management Q&A
Yes. If you are travelling from the UK and intend to ride in Taiwan, you should obtain a 1949 International Driving Permit (IDP) before travelling and carry it together with your valid UK driving licence. The IDP must cover the appropriate motorcycle category for the scooter or motorcycle you intend to ride.
Taiwan distinguishes between short visits and longer stays. For stays of 30 days or fewer, a valid qualifying IDP can be used without registering it locally. If you stay for more than 30 days, you must register your IDP with a Taiwanese Motor Vehicles Office before continuing to ride.
An IDP does not give you additional vehicle entitlements, so you still need the appropriate motorcycle entitlement on your home licence. Carry your original driving licence and IDP when riding, and check the documentation requirements of your rental before collecting the scooter.
Useful links
GOV.UK – Taiwan travel advice: road travel
Taipei City Motor Vehicles Office – Register an International Driving Permit
Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road in Taiwan. Riders and passengers must wear approved motorcycle helmets, and scooters must follow the traffic signs, road markings and motorcycle-specific lanes used extensively across the country.
At many larger junctions, smaller scooters are required to make a two-stage left turn rather than turning directly across traffic. Look for designated waiting boxes and signs showing where this system applies. Some lanes and roads also prohibit scooters, so pay close attention to motorcycle-specific signs when riding in cities.
Taiwan has strict drink-driving laws, and using a handheld mobile phone while riding is prohibited. Traffic in Taipei and Taichung can be extremely busy, with large numbers of scooters sharing the road, so allow extra space and take particular care at junctions and when vehicles are changing lanes.
Motor vehicles used on public roads in Taiwan, including scooters and motorcycles, are subject to compulsory automobile liability insurance. However, this compulsory cover should not be confused with comprehensive insurance for the scooter you are hiring.
The insurance included with a rental can vary. Compulsory liability insurance primarily covers injury or death caused to people in a traffic accident; it does not automatically mean that damage to the rental scooter, theft or other losses are covered.
Before collecting your scooter, check exactly what insurance is included and whether additional cover is available. Pay particular attention to any excess or deductible, exclusions and the amount you could be responsible for if the scooter is damaged or stolen. Your travel insurance should also specifically cover riding the type and engine size of scooter or motorcycle you hire.
Additional charges can vary between scooter and motorcycle rental companies in Taiwan, so check carefully what is included in the advertised hire price before booking.
You may be asked to leave a refundable security deposit, while additional charges can apply for optional insurance, extra helmets or equipment, additional riders, extending the rental period or returning the scooter late. Some rentals may also have mileage limits or specific fuel-return requirements.
Check the rental agreement for the deposit amount, insurance excess, mileage allowance, fuel policy and any charges for damage or late return. This will give you a clearer picture of the potential total cost before you collect the scooter.
Ready to ride in Taiwan?
Search available scooters and motorcycles for your trip.
