If you’re traveling around Taiwan, you’ll quickly realize this: the trains are amazing, but the moment you want a sunrise stop in the mountains, a beach town detour, or a stress-free airport pickup… having a car or a reliable taxi app becomes a game-changer.
This is my “save-it-now” directory—similar to my Leyte car rental post, but Taiwan edition—plus practical tips I wish someone told me sooner.
Quick Reality Check: Car Rental or Taxi? ๐ค
✅ Choose a taxi / ride service if…
- you’re staying mostly in Taipei (or another big city)
- you’ll use MRT + taxi for last-mile trips
- you want airport transfers without driving stress
✅ Choose a rental car if…
- you’re going to Hualien/Taroko, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Kenting, Taitung, countryside spots
- you’re traveling as a family/barkada (splitting costs helps!)
- you want to do a DIY road trip without following train schedules
๐ก Taiwan’s tourism site also confirms taxis are common and convenient in cities and for short-distance travel. (Taiwan Tourism Administration)
A. Taxi & Ride Options in Taiwan (With Contacts) ๐ฒ๐
1) Taiwan Taxi (ๅฐ็ฃๅคง่ป้) — Hotline + English Option
This is one of the most traveler-friendly fleets because you can call and press “9” for English.
๐ Hotlines:
405-88888 or 55688 (mobile)
๐ฃ️
English: Press 9
๐
Booking notes: follow the call confirmation instructions so dispatch can
proceed (Taiwan Taxi)
Typical use cases: airport rides, hotel pickups, late-night rides, rainy days.
Helpful tip: Screenshot your destination in Chinese (from a map app) before calling—less back-and-forth.
2) yoxi (Toyota-backed taxi app) ๐✨
If you like using apps instead of calling, yoxi is a popular option.
๐ง Support email: cs@yoxi.app (App Store)
My tip: If you’re landing tired and jet-lagged, booking through an app feels calmer than negotiating at the curb.
3) Taxi Fare Reality (Taipei quick guide) ๐ธ
Taipei meters typically start with a base fare, then increase by distance + waiting time in traffic. One commonly cited breakdown is NT$85 for the first 1.25 km and increments after that; there’s also a night surcharge window mentioned in local guides. (่ข้ผ ้่)
Tip: Heavy traffic can trigger waiting-time charges. If you’re not in a rush, MRT can be cheaper + faster in peak hours.
Taxi Tips I Actually Use ✅
- Carry small cash, especially for night markets and short rides (cards aren’t always guaranteed).
- Use Naver? (Korea) — nope. In Taiwan, Google Maps works, but I still like having the Chinese address ready.
- If you’re unsure about a route, keep your map open—politely, not accusingly.
- Don’t slam doors—some drivers get really upset about that (learned from traveler horror stories).
B. Car Rentals in Taiwan (With Contacts, Hours, and What They’re Best For) ๐๐งณ
Below are the big, most practical options travelers actually book. It’s impossible to list every small operator in Taiwan in one post, so I focused on providers with official sites + clear contact channels.
1) Chailease Auto Rental (ไธญ็ง็ง่ป) — Strong Nationwide Option
If you’re doing DIY road trips and want a major local brand, Chailease is worth checking.
๐ Website: Chailease Auto
Rental
☎️
Dispute/Help line shown on site: 0800-720-168
๐
Mobile/Office: (02) 2656-2800 (RentalCar)
Why travelers book this: broad coverage + structured booking flow.
Booking tip: For long weekends/holidays, reserve early—popular car sizes disappear first (especially family-friendly units).
2) IWS (ๆๆบ็ง่ป) — Great for THSR stations + multiple cities
IWS is widely used for pickups near HSR (High Speed Rail) and city hubs.
๐ Booking hotline: 0800-288-568
✉️
Email: iwsidp@iws.com.tw
๐
Multiple station contact hotlines listed on their site (Taipei, Taichung,
Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taitung, etc.) (iws)
Best for: travelers doing one-way routes (pickup city → drop-off another city), depending on availability/policy.
My tip: If your itinerary is Taipei → Taichung → Kaohsiung, sometimes it’s cheaper to rent only for the countryside leg, not the whole trip.
3) Hotai / EasyRent + iRent (ๅ้็ง่ป / iRent) — Hotline + Car Sharing Option
Hotai’s rental ecosystem is huge—good if you want either a traditional rental or car sharing.
EasyRent / Hotai (short-term rental + services)
☎️ 24H Service line: (02)
5589-0808
☎️
0800 line: 0800-024-550 (easyrent.com.tw)
iRent (car-sharing style)
๐ iRent locations page
(official) (irentcar.com.tw)
๐
24H line shown for their service group: (02) 5589-0808 (irentcar.com.tw)
Best for: quick city errands, flexible short rentals, “I only need a car for half a day” moments.
My personal-style tip: If you’re staying in Taipei and only want a quick side trip, car sharing can be less commitment than a full multi-day rental.
4) AVIS Taiwan — International-style processes, local footprint
๐ 24/7 hotline: +886-2-6620-6620
✉️
Email shown on AVIS page: booking@avis-taiwan.com
(Avis | Rent a Car)
Best for: travelers who want familiar policies and structured support.
5) Hertz Taiwan — Reservations + support center
Hertz has a Taiwan support listing with contact channels including phone and email. (hertz.com.tw)
My tip: For international brands, airport counters can still sell out during peak travel—book ahead if your dates are fixed.
6) Budget Taiwan — Another structured option
๐ Contact: +886-2-6620-6660
✉️
Email: reservation@budget.com.tw
(one.budgetinternational.com)
C. Price Estimates (So You Can Budget Without Guessing) ๐ฐ
Because rates change by season, pickup city, and car class, here are safe, realistic estimate ranges (not fixed quotes):
๐ Rental Car Daily Costs (Typical Ranges)
- Economy sedan: NT$1,800 – NT$3,500/day
- SUV / 7-seater: NT$3,500 – NT$6,500/day
- Peak dates (CNY, long weekends, summer): expect higher + limited stock
๐ Taxi / Ride Costs (Taipei quick sense-check)
- Meter starts at a base fare and increases by distance and waiting time (Taiwan Tourism Administration)
- Airport transfers can vary widely depending on location, traffic, and whether you pre-book.
Budget-saving trick: If you’re doing a day trip that includes multiple far stops, sometimes a full-day car rental is cheaper than stacking taxis.
D. Booking Tips (So You Don’t Get Stuck) ๐ง ✅
Before you book
- Confirm license requirements (some rentals require an IDP depending on your license origin).
- Check insurance coverage + deductible (the cheapest rate can become expensive after add-ons).
- Ask about tolls, parking, fuel policy, and overtime fees.
For airport pickups
- Screenshot your hotel address in Chinese.
- If arriving late: choose a provider with a clear hotline (Taiwan Taxi hotline options are a lifesaver). (Taiwan Taxi)
If you’re going outside Taipei
- Plan your parking: popular areas can be tight.
- Don’t underestimate mountain roads—take it slow, especially if it rains.
E. Suggested DIY Routes Where a Car Is Worth It ๐บ️
If you’re deciding whether renting is “sulit,” here are trips where having a car genuinely makes things smoother:
๐ฟ Hualien + Taroko
area (flexible stops, scenic pulls)
๐️
Sun Moon Lake loop (photo stops + lakeside cafรฉs)
๐
Kenting coastal drive
⛰️
Alishan countryside segments (depending on route + comfort level)
๐ญTraveling around Taiwan made me realize how much movement shapes the way we experience a place.
There were days when I happily followed the rhythm of the MRT—structured, efficient, predictable. But there were also moments when I wanted to linger longer, stop somewhere unplanned, or simply not rush back just because the train schedule said so. That’s when taxis and car rentals quietly became part of my story.
I didn’t always need my own car—but knowing I could rent one gave me confidence. Knowing that a taxi was just one call or tap away gave me peace of mind. And for someone who loves DIY travel, that balance between structure and spontaneity mattered more than I expected.
Taiwan taught me that convenience doesn’t have to kill adventure. Sometimes, the freedom to choose how you move—slow, fast, planned, or impulsive—is what makes a trip feel truly yours.
And maybe that’s what travel is really about:
not just getting to places,
but giving yourself permission to move at your own pace.
๐ฟ Lakwatserang Ligaw Quote
✨“In a place as organized as Taiwan, the best kind of freedom is choosing when to follow the schedule—and when to make your own.”๐
๐ข Share This Post
If you tell me:
- your Taiwan cities (Taipei only? Taipei + Hualien? full loop?),
- number of days, and
- your travel style (budget / comfort / family),
…I’ll recommend the best mix (MRT + taxi + rental) and help you build a DIY route that won’t exhaust you.
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