Taiwan to launch new driver's license rules in phases next year

台灣明年將分階段實施新駕照規定

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan will begin phasing in new driver’s license reforms in stages starting in January.

The Directorate General of Highways announced on Thursday that 17 measures will be introduced, including replacing true-or-false questions in car and scooter exams with multiple-choice questions, per CNA. Other changes will create a program for underage repeat offenders and lower the mandatory license renewal age for seniors from 75 to 70.

The reforms follow a deadly traffic accident in New Taipei’s Sanxia District on May 19, caused by a 78-year-old driver, which drew public attention to driver’s license rules. The ministry had outlined three areas that needed reform.

The three reforms were improving testing, strengthening retraining for traffic offenses, and introducing graded license renewal for seniors.

The bureau said changes to senior license renewals are designed to ensure safe driving, not to prohibit seniors from driving. Drivers aged 70 and above will undergo a flexible medical assessment by a physician before renewals and receive free courses on updated traffic regulations and road safety.

Under the graded system, drivers aged 70–74 who pass a medical exam can renew their licenses until age 75. Those aged 75 and above must continue renewing every three years.

If a senior causes an accident due to a traffic offense, they will be required to pay for additional driving school training before renewal. Seniors over 70 who voluntarily surrender their licenses will receive TPASS transportation discounts, including taxi rides.

Nine measures will be implemented in the first half of 2026. In January, enhanced driver training, multiple-choice scooter exams, support programs for senior drivers, and TPASS subsidies for seniors who surrender their licenses will take effect.

In March, closed-course driving tests for small and large vehicles will add stop-and-yield requirements. Repeat offenders of specific violations will be required to attend retraining courses.

The senior license renewal system will begin in May. In June, multiple-choice tests for cars will take effect, along with mandatory driving school retraining for drivers whose licenses were revoked for more than three years.

Six additional measures will take effect in the second half of 2026. In September, on-road scooter training and a program for under-18 repeat offenders will start, while hours for road safety, repeat-offender, and drunk driving courses will be extended.

In December, small car road tests will add more routes, longer distances, and unsignaled intersections. Drivers aged 75 and above who cause an accident due to a traffic infraction will be required to complete paid driving school training before renewal.

In 2027, simulators will be introduced for car and scooter training in the first half. Regional pilot road tests for scooters will begin in the second half of that year.