Foreign-issued International Driving Licenses/Permits

[hm]

It is also possible for me (Austria) to take the test at any time. The medical check can be done there. They were very nice and trying to help and also answer my questions.

I (German) was told the same at Taipei's MVD in Bade Rd. - but when I wanted to register at a driving school to do the test I was told that I still have to ride a bike <= 250cc for 1 year before I can upgrade to the real big bike license. That's ridiculous, considering that I have the permit to ride bikes with unlimited performance capacity for some 20 years and that I was legally riding such big bikes for some 2.5 years in Taiwan on my stamped IDL.

[EscapedFromTaiwan]

I had the same experience. I had my license stamped/validated for free at the DMV on Bade Road. One time a cop stopped me and told me that my license wasn't valid.
Me: Are you sure?
Him: Yes, it is not valid in Taiwan.
Me: Are you really, really, sure?
Him: It is against the law to drive in Taiwan with one of those things.
Me: Well then, what's this all about? (I show him the validation clearly stamped on the inside of it.)
He then took out his gun and pistol-whipped me for being a smartass. (Well, ok, he didn't.) But judging from the expression on his face, he was thinking about it. After much muttering and back-pedalling he let me go.

Same thing happened to me on a number of occasions. Never had a problem, even with the few traffic accidents that I was involved in.

[gcat]

I'm sorry, I'm a bit unclear. If I take my Australian (ACT) drivers license in, do they change it for a Taiwan license, or can I get one in addition to my Australian license?

[Joesox]

I'm sorry, I'm a bit unclear. If I take my Australian (ACT) drivers license in, do they change it for a Taiwan license, or can I get one in addition to my Australian license?

I don't think so. According to the table of reciprocity on the Taipei City Motor Vehicles Department website, Australians need a valid International Driving Permit. When you have that, you take it (within one month) to your local Motor Vehicles Department office, show them your ARC, fill in a form, and they'll stick a bit of paper in the IDP that permits you to use it for its full period of validity.

[gcat]

For the first time ever (4th year here) I went to get my International driving permit stamped as I read somewhere that after 30 days it needs a stamp.

They asked what state in Aus I am from. Funny question I thought. They then told me that I can not drive in Taiwan. I tracked down the manager and got a photocopy of a document that says if you are from Canberrra or Western Australia you have reciprocal rights. So, obviously the same thing would work in reverse off a Taiwan issued international licence being used in Australia.

Note that I have no ARC and come in on a 90 day visa as thats plenty of time before a trip out for whatever reason.

So, I still do not believe this. There has to be a communication/ interpretation error. Anybody know about or heard about this?

Sorry, I think I got confused by the whole reciprocal rights thing in this post. So, I need an International Drivers License, and, because I have a Canberra license I can get it stamped and use it. If I was from any state that is not the ACT or WA, then I couldn't even use an International Drivers License. Is that right?

I have an ARC, and have been here for a year and a half (almost 6mths since last entry).

[Joesox]

Sorry, I think I got confused by the whole reciprocal rights thing in this post. So, I need an International Drivers License, and, because I have a Canberra license I can get it stamped and use it. If I was from any state that is not the ACT or WA, then I couldn't even use an International Drivers License. Is that right?

I don't think so. I think you should be able to get an International Driving Permit stamped whatever state you're from.

I think what Ironman may have been talking about was full reciprocity -- i.e. you show them your Canberra license and they give you a Taiwanese one. I have no idea about this and to be honest I'm not sure whether most Motor Vehicles Department staff have either. The reciprocity table on the TCMVD site justs lists "Australia", not individual states. It shows that you need an international driving permit.

But why not just do the local license test, if you're going to be driving quite a bit?

[Stian]

I would like to clear one thing up.

How long is a international driverlicense valid when I don't have the stamp?
Is it 3 mounts from I entered the country or is it 3 mounts from the license was ishued?

I arived in January, but I just had a internatioal one shiped to me this week.
Do I have to get the stamp right away? And can I do it in Lou Dong or Y-lan/ So-Au?

[Joesox]

I would like to clear one thing up.

How long is a international driverlicense valid when I don't have the stamp?
Is it 3 mounts from I entered the country or is it 3 mounts from the license was ishued?

I arived in January, but I just had a internatioal one shiped to me this week.
Do I have to get the stamp right away? And can I do it in Lou Dong or Y-lan/ So-Au?

One month. I'm not sure about whether that means from when you entered the country or from when it was issued, but it would be sensible to get the "stamp" (actually a bit of paper stapled in the IDP) right away. Any DMV office should be able to issue this. Go there with your ARC and the IDP, and a couple of passport-sized photos -- I can't remember how many they need; maybe just one.

[Stian]

quote]One month.

I think that depends on nationalety.
I'm quite shure that in my case it's 3, but I'm not able to find out if it's from the license ishue date or the stamp in my passport or ishue off ARC.

My ARC is for some reason only valid for 11month and 20days so I could not take the local driving license. Dos this mean I can't get the stamp eather?

Do I have to just hope that next years ARC get 12months on it?

[X3M]

Why don't you just go there and try to get the stamp in your International Driver License.
If they notice the difference of dates, just tell them the buraucracy is so slow back home, with long waiting list to get it issued.

Maybe they buy it, maybe not.....