For most people, a regular driver's license (普通駕照) has not needed periodic renewal since July 1, 2013, but senior drivers have new rules: from May 31, 2026, a regular license is valid only until the holder turns 70. At 70 to 74 you must pass a medical examination and take a free 2-hour course to receive a license valid until age 75; from age 75 you must also pass a cognitive function test, and then renew once every 3 years. People who were already 70 but not yet 75 on May 31, 2026 must finish renewing before May 31, 2028.
Reminder: Senior renewal does not mean retaking the driving test, and the course is free with no exam afterward. Driving after the renewal deadline has passed is punishable under Article 22, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalties Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) by a fine of NT$1,800 to NT$3,600. The highway bureau Q&A explains that after a ticket is issued, the motor vehicles office sends a notice advising the driver to comply, and renewing or voluntarily surrendering the license within 3 months of the notice avoids the fine. Renewal deadlines and documents are subject to the latest announcements from the highway bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (交通部公路局) and the regional motor vehicles offices (監理所).
Which licenses need no renewal and which do
| Driver | License validity and renewal | Basis (Road Traffic Safety Rules) |
|---|
| Under 70, holding a regular license | From July 1, 2013, no periodic renewal is needed and the license stays valid after its validity period ends; from May 31, 2026, validity runs until the holder turns 70 | Article 52, Paragraph 7; Article 52-2, Paragraph 3 |
| Aged 70 to 74 | Pass a medical examination and complete the road traffic safety course, then receive a license valid until age 75 | Article 52-2, Paragraph 3 |
| Aged 75 and over | Pass the medical examination, pass the cognitive function test or submit proof of no moderate or more severe dementia, and complete the course; renew once every 3 years | Article 52-2, Paragraphs 1 and 4 |
| Already 75 before July 1, 2017 (born before June 30, 1942) | A license already issued stays valid after its validity period ends and need not be renewed; but if the holder receives a demerit-point or suspension penalty from July 1, 2017 on, the license must be renewed within 3 months of the notice | Article 52-2, Paragraph 2 |
| Professional driver's license | Reviewed once every 3 years with a passing medical certificate attached; reviewed every year from age 60 | Article 54 |
| Retaking the test after revocation, or suspension of 1 year or more (from October 31, 2024) | After revocation and retaking the test, a 2-year validity is issued, renewed every 2 years within 6 years; for suspension of 1 year or more, a 3-year validity is issued, renewed every 3 years within 6 years | Article 52-4 |
Two more conditions are easy to miss. If you receive a demerit-point or license suspension penalty before renewing, you must renew within 3 months of the notice from the motor vehicles office (Article 52-2). And from December 31, 2026, a driver who after turning 75 has an accident record caused by a violation must first complete training at a registered driving school (立案駕訓班) before renewing (Article 52-2, Paragraph 4, Subparagraph 2).
The 2026 new rules: deadlines by date of birth
The highway bureau's "Frequently Asked Questions on the New Senior Renewal Rules, public edition" (May 2026) divides those affected into three groups by their age on May 31, 2026, under Article 52-2 (the birth dates are this article's own calculation from the statute; where they differ from the Q&A, this is noted):
| Group | Deadline | What to complete | License issued |
|---|
| Under 70 on May 31, 2026 and turning 70 afterward (counting a person as reaching an age on the birthday, this means born on or after June 1, 1956; the highway bureau Q&A says "born after May 31, 1956") | Within the 2-year grace period after the license's validity period ends | Passing the medical examination (certificate valid for 3 months) and the 2-hour senior renewal course (record valid for 1 year) | Valid until age 75 |
| Already 70 but under 75 on May 31, 2026 (Article 52-2, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 2; counting by birthday, born from June 1, 1951 to May 31, 1956. The highway bureau Q&A says "born May 31, 1956 to May 30, 1951", whose lower bound overlaps with the next group's "born before May 31, 1951"; people with birthdays between May 30 and June 1, 1951 should follow the renewal notice sent by the motor vehicles office) | Before May 31, 2028 | Same as above | Valid until age 75 |
| Already 75 on May 31, 2026 (born on or before May 31, 1951; excluding those covered by Article 52-2, Paragraph 2 who were already 75 before July 1, 2017, which the highway bureau Q&A describes as born before June 30, 1942) | First renewal: from 1 month before the validity period ends to 3 years after it ends; after that, renew every 3 years, within 1 month before or after the validity period ends | Medical examination, passing the cognitive function test or proof of no moderate or more severe dementia, and the 2-hour course | 3-year validity, then renewed every 3 years |
A note on the second group: if you turn 75 before May 31, 2028 without having renewed, then under the proviso to Article 52-2, Paragraph 3, Subparagraph 2 you must follow the rules for age 75 instead (adding the cognitive function test or proof of no moderate or more severe dementia), and the 3-year grace period for the first renewal at 75 does not apply to you.
The highway bureau Q&A also says there is no required order between the medical examination and the course, though it recommends doing the examination first. If you miss the grace period, the license is considered "beyond its validity period" (逾有效期間); it is not forcibly cancelled, but it has lost its legal effect for driving and you cannot drive.
Renewal procedure, documents and medical standards
- Prepare documents: your original national ID card, your existing car and motorcycle licenses (not needed if lost), and 4 recent 1-inch color photos taken within the past two years that clearly show your face (used for the medical form and the new license).
- Medical examination: go to an accredited hospital, public health center or clinic commissioned by the motor vehicles office that conducts driver medical examinations. Not every one does, so first check the list of examination sites published by the motor vehicles office. You may wear the glasses or hearing aids you normally use when driving; if you hold both a car and a motorcycle license, you need only 1 examination. The vision standard follows Article 64: uncorrected vision of at least 0.6 in both eyes with at least 0.5 in each eye, or corrected vision of at least 0.8 in both eyes with at least 0.6 in each eye. Those 75 and over also take a cognitive function test; the highway bureau has a senior driver cognitive function test practice platform (高齡駕駛人認知功能檢測練習平台) for practicing beforehand.
- Course: free, 2 hours (2 sessions of 50 minutes, including a hazard perception experience), with no exam afterward. You can book online through the motor vehicle services website's senior renewal course booking (高齡換照講習預約), phone your motor vehicles office or station, or ask for help at the counter. Course locations include 37 motor vehicles offices nationwide, road instructors (路老師) who teach at community care stations, and cooperating driving schools.
- Renewal: if you apply at the counter, you can receive the new license the same day; if you apply by mail, it arrives about 5 to 7 working days after the motor vehicles office receives your application.
If an item in the medical examination does not pass, you can get treatment first and be re-examined within the grace period, or switch to another hospital. If your health has changed so that you need to be restricted to automatic-transmission vehicles or modified vehicles, follow the rules for persons with disabilities applying for a driver's license.
Not driving anymore: surrendering your license and TPASS rewards
Article 76-1 of the Road Traffic Safety Rules allows drivers to voluntarily cancel their license or switch to a license of a lower class. The highway bureau Q&A says you can do this at the counter, or apply online through the motor vehicle services website, or send in a senior voluntary license surrender and cancellation affidavit (高齡者自願繳回駕照註銷切結書) by fax or email. If you want to drive again after surrendering, you must retake the driving test.
From January 1, 2026, people aged 70 and over who surrender their license and consent to personal data authorization have TPASS frequent-rider reward eligibility (TPASS 常客回饋) noted by the motor vehicles office. For 2 years after surrender, when they use a county or city senior citizen card (敬老卡) on highway buses, freeway buses, city buses, Taiwan Railway, metro, light rail, public bicycles, ferries and taxis, the highway bureau gives back 50% of the fare spending in the senior card e-wallet each month, capped at NT$1,500 per month. From the 25th of each month, you can take your senior card to the four major convenience store chains to collect the previous month's reward. For the senior card's own points rules, see senior citizen cards in Taipei and New Taipei, and for monthly pass plans see TPASS monthly pass.
Lost license replacement and international driving permits
If a license is lost or damaged, then under Article 75, Subparagraph 3 of the Road Traffic Safety Rules, fill in a change registration form (異動登記書) and present identification documents to apply for a replacement from the highway motor vehicles office. Article 25 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalties Act requires drivers to carry their license while driving, and failing to apply for a replacement of a lost or damaged license may be fined NT$300 to NT$600. Replacement fees are as announced by each motor vehicles office.
To drive abroad you need an international driving permit (國際駕照). Article 55 of the Road Traffic Safety Rules provides that, while your original license is still valid, you can exchange it, with the change registration form and identification documents, for an international permit of the same vehicle class. In February 2023 the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' 168 traffic safety portal (168 交通安全入口網) republished an explanation from the Kaohsiung regional motor vehicles office: an international permit is valid for 3 years from the date of application, but if the domestic license expires first, the domestic license governs. To apply, bring your ID card, your original license, 2 photos in the 2-inch size taken within the past two years, and your passport; the fee is NT$250. For Japan you also need a Japanese translation of your license, for a fee of NT$100. This is information from 2023, so confirm with the motor vehicles office before you leave. Carry the international permit together with your domestic license, and if your domestic license is about to expire, renew them together.
If an older family member has a car, remember the vehicle's own inspection deadlines too; see how often cars and motorcycles need periodic inspection.
FAQ
I'm 60 and the expiry date on my license has passed. Do I need to renew?
No. Since July 1, 2013, regular licenses no longer need periodic renewal and remain valid after the validity period ends (Road Traffic Safety Rules, Article 52, Paragraph 7). But under the 2026 new rules, you must go through senior renewal after you turn 70.
Do I have to retake the test when renewing at 70?
No, you do not have to retake the driving test. At 70 to 74 you only need to pass the medical examination and take the free 2-hour course; at 75 and over you add the cognitive function test or proof of no moderate or more severe dementia, and there is no exam after the course either.
If I miss the deadline, will my license be cancelled?
The highway bureau Q&A says it will not be forcibly cancelled immediately, but the license is beyond its validity period and you may not drive. If you are caught driving, the fine is NT$1,800 to NT$3,600, and renewing or surrendering within 3 months after the notice avoids the fine. Drivers aged 70 and over who receive demerit points or a suspension penalty for a violation and do not renew as required must surrender the license under Article 76; if they do not, the motor vehicles office cancels it directly by public notice.
Do the course and the medical examination cost money?
The senior renewal course is free. Medical examination fees are charged by each examining facility, and the highway bureau Q&A does not list an amount, so ask the examination site first.
Last updated: 2026-10-31
This article was compiled by SOSfix editors from public information and is for general reference only; for your individual case, contact the regional motor vehicles offices of the highway bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
Sources
- National laws and regulations database (全國法規資料庫): Road Traffic Safety Rules (in Chinese; amended June 26, 2026; verified 2026-10-31): Articles 52, 52-2, 52-4, 54, 55, 64, 75, 76, 76-1: no renewal, senior renewal, validity after suspension or revocation, professional license review, international permit, vision standard, replacement, surrender.
- National laws and regulations database: Road Traffic Management and Penalties Act (道路交通管理處罰條例) (in Chinese; amended August 17, 2026; verified 2026-10-31): Article 22, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7, driving with an expired license, NT$1,800–3,600; Article 25, carrying the license and replacement of a lost one.
- Highway bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications: Frequently Asked Questions on the New Senior Renewal Rules, public edition (in Chinese; 高齡換照新制常見 Q&A 民眾版; May 2026, PDF republished on the website of the Xinzhuang district health center, New Taipei; verified 2026-10-31): the three groups and their birth dates, grace period, documents, medical examination, free 2-hour course, mail delivery of 5–7 working days, handling of overdue licenses, TPASS rewards, voluntary surrender.
- 168 traffic safety portal of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications: notice to seniors to renew after passing the medical examination (in Chinese; 長輩請注意～體檢合格再換照; published 2026-06-03, verified 2026-10-31): renewal age lowered to 70 from May 31, 2026, free course, renewal within 3 months of the notice for those with demerit points or suspension.
- 168 traffic safety portal of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications: Japanese translations and international permits in demand as the pandemic eases (in Chinese; 疫情趨緩 日文譯本及國際駕照申辦夯; published 2023-02-23, explained by the Kaohsiung regional motor vehicles office, verified 2026-10-31): international permit valid for 3 years or governed by the domestic license, required documents, NT$250 fee, NT$100 Japanese translation.
- Motor vehicle services website of the highway bureau: senior renewal course booking (in Chinese; verified 2026-10-31): online booking of course sessions.
- Highway bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications: senior driver cognitive function test practice platform (in Chinese; 高齡駕駛人認知功能檢測練習平台; verified 2026-10-31): entry point for practicing the cognitive function test.
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