Renting a motorcycle in Taibei and returning it Kaosiung (or nearby?)

[Zhouyu]

Is it possible? Which rental companies allow it? What should I expect to pay?

Also, I have an abnormally large head. It took me ages to buy a helmet in the US, and I left it there. Will the rental company provide a helmet for a bighead like me, or should I expect to buy one separately (not all bad- I guess I could use it later on).

[maunaloa]

AFAIK, nix on both counts. You had better bring a helmet. Also, don't forget your ARC... no ARC, no rental, except maybe a scooter in Kending.

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Renting a car in Taipei and returning it in Kaohsiung is doable and no problem, and in this heat, a lot better. South of Taipei parking situation is not bad like here, so don't worry.

[omerojs]

why would you return it in Kaosiung? wont you be back to Taipei after?
I don't think they have such flexibility for scooters/bikes because those are normally small shop agents.. what i could suggest is that you ship it back by train.. then pick it up in Taipei and return it.. its cheap to ship the scooter by train...

[rk1951]

AFAIK, nix on both counts. You had better bring a helmet. Also, don't forget your ARC... no ARC, no rental, except maybe a scooter in Kending.

I have never heard of this type of rental in Taiwan before. Also, last year I tried to rent a scooter in Kending and because I didn't bring my scooter license with me they wouldn't let me rent. My APRC wasn't good enough for them....are you kidding me!! It really pissed me off.

I have rented scooters before with just a passport, many many years ago, but you might need a Taiwanese scooter license or an International license. Good luck!

[Icon]

why would you return it in Kaosiung? wont you be back to Taipei after?
I don't think they have such flexibility for scooters/bikes because those are normally small shop agents.. what i could suggest is that you ship it back by train.. then pick it up in Taipei and return it.. its cheap to ship the scooter by train...

Actually, they just started a similar service for cars, too. Put the car in a train and pick up at the end.

[maunaloa]

AFAIK, nix on both counts. You had better bring a helmet. Also, don't forget your ARC... no ARC, no rental, except maybe a scooter in Kending.

I have never heard of this type of rental in Taiwan before. Also, last year I tried to rent a scooter in Kending and because I didn't bring my scooter license with me they wouldn't let me rent. My APRC wasn't good enough for them....are you kidding me!! It really pissed me off.

I have rented scooters before with just a passport, many many years ago, but you might need a Taiwanese scooter license or an International license. Good luck!

rk, when I've stayed in Kending, the guest houses either owned scooters they rented to guests, or could arrange one. No ARC required (of course, the guest house has a copy of your passport and credit card data). If you went to the scooter rental outfits on the main drag in Kending, yes, you'll get the ARC run-around.

As far as shipping a motorcycle or scooter back to Taipei... easy to do, even from minor TRA stations. There's generally an express company shop within a block of such stations. Ship the bike, and train back to the Sprawl.

[Zhouyu]

Damn. It was a great plan while it lasted. I could still try shipping it back though.

And I definitely need an ARC? I read elsewhere that they'd take a US-issued IDP, if I got it all clean and properly.

This will be my second trip to Taiwan, but I'm not planning on actually living there before next year. For now I'm going to school in Beijing.

If I cant do motorcycle/scooter rental at all, what are my best options for getting to hiking/camping/beaches on the east coast?

[maunaloa]

I would fly to Taidong and see if you can find an "ARC-indifferent" scooter rental (very low probability unless your oral Mandarin is very good, in which case, low probabililty). If no scooter, then bus/taxi/bicycle.

[omerojs]

Damn. It was a great plan while it lasted. I could still try shipping it back though.

And I definitely need an ARC? I read elsewhere that they'd take a US-issued IDP, if I got it all clean and properly.

This will be my second trip to Taiwan, but I'm not planning on actually living there before next year. For now I'm going to school in Beijing.

If I cant do motorcycle/scooter rental at all, what are my best options for getting to hiking/camping/beaches on the east coast?

what I am going to suggest is not the best idea, but i may work.. I know some foreigners still buy and sell scooters without papers, that means a scooter a foreigner bought legally one day and then left it to a friend and left the country.. no one can own it legally but they still sell it as it is.. if you find one of those then you can go around Taiwan with not much problem.. unless it gets towed away or something like that..
again, its not the best idea, but its an idea..