Traffic tickets in Taiwan can be looked up using your National ID number and birthdate on the Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service (監理服務網), where most citations can be settled directly online. Under Article 9 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, motorists receiving a traffic citation notice may settle fines directly within 30 days without formal adjudication; those contesting citations must also submit written administrative statements within 30 days. Exceeding the mandatory court appearance deadline printed on tickets triggers three tiers of escalating penalty surcharges under unified fine standards.
Important Notice: Never click hyperlinks in SMS or message alerts claiming "traffic ticket overdue, click to pay"; motorists should independently navigate to the official portal or the mobile application to verify records. Citations marked with "Must appear at designated adjudication office for ruling" (such as cases involving driver license suspension or plate revocation) cannot be settled at convenience stores or apps and require appearing in person. Statutory fine amounts, payment channels, and processing fees are governed by published announcements from motor vehicle offices and adjudication authorities.
How to Look Up Traffic Tickets
The query path on the Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service is "Traffic Violations > General Violations > Traffic Violation Inquiries and Payments." Individual drivers input their National ID number, date of birth (e.g., enter 0780702 for July 2, 1989; 民國 78 年 7 月 2 日), and security verification code; corporate vehicles query by Unified Business Number combined with ticket or license plate details. Motorists check unpaid citations and proceed to online checkout.
The identical portal also checks driver violation penalty points, vehicle violation infraction counts, and license suspension/revocation status, which motorists should review prior to license renewals or vehicle title transfers. Article 9-1 of the Penalty Act stipulates that before processing title transfers, operational suspensions, reactivations, plate surrenders, cancellations, or renewals of vehicle plates and driver licenses, motorists must clear all outstanding traffic fines.
Speed camera citations may not appear instantaneously online. Under Article 28 of the Unified Standards for Handling Road Traffic Violations, automated photo citations must be transferred to adjudication agencies within 30 days of the infraction date, with extensions permitted for verification not exceeding 3 months; Article 90 of the Penalty Act provides that citations cannot be initiated once 2 months have elapsed since the violation date (with statutory exceptions). Failing to find citations online within days of an incident does not ensure a clean record.
Appearance Deadlines: 30 Days or 45 Days
Article 15 of the Enforcement Rules defines statutory calculation methods for the appearance deadline printed on citation slips, categorized by enforcement type:
| Enforcement Method | Appearance Deadline Calculation | Statutory Basis |
|---|
| On-Site Officer Traffic Stop Citations | 30 days from citation issuance date | Enforcement Rules Article 15, Paragraph 1 |
| Automated Citations (Cameras), Ex Officio, Accident Reports, Public Reports, or Driver Diverges from Owner | 45 days from citation date | Enforcement Rules Article 15, Paragraph 1 Proviso |
| Notice Delivered with Fewer Than 30 Days Remaining, or Already Past Appearance Date | Within 30 days following legal effective delivery date | Enforcement Rules Article 15, Paragraph 2 |
Examine the payment method checked in the top-left box and the appearance deadline on the right margin; these two fields dictate authorized payment channels and applicable fee schedules.
Overdue Penalties and Tiered Surcharges
The Unified Fine Standard Table categorizes fines across four progressive brackets: payment within statutory deadline, overdue within 30 days, overdue 30 to 60 days, and overdue exceeding 60 days. Three common examples illustrate the escalation:
| Violation Category (Act Article) | Within Deadline | Overdue Within 30 Days | Overdue 30 to 60 Days | Overdue Exceeding 60 Days |
|---|
| Parking in Prohibited Areas (Art. 56-1-1), Motorcycle | NT$600 | NT$700 | NT$800 | NT$900 |
| Parking in Prohibited Areas (Art. 56-1-1), Small Car | NT$900 | NT$1,000 | NT$1,100 | NT$1,200 |
| Failure to Attend Periodic Inspection on Time (Art. 17-1), Motorcycle or Private Car | NT$900 | NT$1,000 | NT$1,100 | NT$1,200 |
When delays exceed 60 days, Article 44 of the Enforcement Rules stipulates that adjudication authorities will issue a formal Ruling within 3 months, mailing the official adjudication notice. If the violator fails to file an administrative lawsuit or pay within 30 days after the ruling is served, Article 65 of the Penalty Act mandates transferring the fine to compulsory execution; unserved driver license or vehicle plate suspensions see suspension durations doubled.
For those unable to pay at once, Articles 60 and 61 of the Enforcement Rules permit installment payment applications based on financial hardship: 1 month per installment, up to 18 installments, with each installment not less than NT$500 (except the final installment). If an installment is missed, Article 63 deems all remaining installments immediately due and refers the case to compulsory execution. The Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service provides online installment payment queries and payments.
Payment Channels and Processing Fees
Payment channels only handle straightforward payment cases. The New Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office payment page (updated 2026-04-20) specifies that processing is restricted to pure fine settlements under Penalty Act Articles 12 to 68 and Article 92, excluding violations non-payable by mail per Ministry of Transportation announcements (compiled in a March 31, 2026 letter; 115 年 3 月 31 日, e.g., Article 12 unlicensed driving, Article 17 uninspected vehicles, Article 21 driving without license). Processing fees listed below reflect published figures:
| Channel | Non-Overdue | Overdue | Processing Fee (New Taipei Adjudication Announcement) |
|---|
| Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service Website / App | Yes | Yes | Credit card max NT$20, bank demand account max NT$15, Taiwan Pay max NT$15; account must match violator name |
| Mobile Payment Apps (be-Pay, iPASS MONEY, GAMA Pay, Yuanta, Shopee, JKOPAY, SinoPac, PlusPay, Bank of Shanghai, icash Pay) | Yes | Yes | NT$13 per transaction; not limited to violator name |
| Convenience Store Counters (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart, Simple Mart) | Yes | No | NT$7 per transaction, clears in 1 to 3 days; requires 3-stage barcode notice before appearance date |
| Convenience Store Kiosks (Print Bill for Counter Payment) | Yes | Yes | NT$14 per transaction; clears immediately |
| Post Office Counters, Agricultural Bank, and Credit Departments | Yes | Yes | NT$10 per transaction; clears immediately |
| Automated Telephone Transfer 412-1366 (Dial 41-1366 in 6-digit areas; User Code 168#) | Yes | Yes | Credit card max NT$20, bank demand account max NT$15 |
| Adjudication Office Service Desks | Yes | Yes | Cash payment free (NT$0 fee); credit card fee NT$2 to NT$35 |
Why do convenience store counters reject overdue slips? Under Article 59 of the Enforcement Rules, designated collecting agencies cannot collect tickets past appearance dates, except where payments offer instant clearance or debit/credit card transfers. Motorists with overdue citations should use convenience store kiosks, web portals, or post offices for real-time clearance.
Under Article 237-5 of the Administrative Litigation Act, filing a traffic adjudication lawsuit incurs a court fee of NT$300, while an appeal incurs NT$750. Overdue roadside parking fines of NT$300 follow distinct administrative workflows.
Vehicle impoundment retrieval and storage fees are outlined in our towed vehicle retrieval guide. Compare roadside parking rules in our roadside parking payment guide and vehicle inspection deadlines in our periodic vehicle inspection guide.
How to Appeal Disputed Traffic Citations
Motorists contesting citations must submit administrative statements before statutory appearance dates:
- Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office: Submit appeals online via Taipei Service Online, or visit adjudication desks in person. Provide citation slips, vehicle registration, and photographic/video evidence.
- New Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office: File applications at service desks, send registered mail, or fax records to 02-89526466 (confirm receipt via 02-89786101 ext. 510).
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If I Received a Ticket Without a Physical Notice?
Enter your National ID number and birthdate on the Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service website or app to display pending citations.
Can Overdue Tickets Past Appearance Dates Still Be Paid at Convenience Stores?
Convenience stores accept overdue tickets that do not require office appearances through multimedia kiosks, which automatically calculate higher overdue tier penalties.
Must Fines Be Paid While an Appeal Is Pending?
Filing an administrative appeal freezes enforcement during processing without requiring prior payment; however, if the appeal is rejected after the appearance deadline, overdue surcharges may accrue unless formal stays are granted.
What Happens If Traffic Tickets Remain Unpaid Indefinitely?
Failure to settle outstanding fines results in administrative distraint by the Administrative Enforcement Agency, Ministry of Justice, garnishing bank accounts, wages, or seizing personal assets.
Sources
- Laws and Regulations Database: Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (amended August 17, 2026; 115 年 8 月 17 日, verified 2026-10-31): Articles 8, 9, 9-1, 17, 56, 65, 87, 90; statements within 30 days, pre-transfer fine settlement, 30 days for administrative lawsuits, 2-month citation limit.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Unified Standards for Handling Road Traffic Violations (amended May 26, 2026; 115 年 5 月 26 日, verified 2026-10-31): Article 15 appearance dates (30/45 days), Article 28 transfer deadlines, Article 44 ex officio rulings, Article 59 collection limits, Articles 60, 61, 63 installments.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Unified Fine Standards Table (Enforcement Rules Art. 2 Appendix PDF, verified 2026-10-31): Four overdue brackets for Article 17 and Article 56, Paragraph 1, Item 1.
- Motor Vehicle Driver Information Service: Violation Query and Payment Portal (verified 2026-10-31): Query fields (National ID, birthdate, Unified Business Number, ticket/license number) and 3-step checkout.
- New Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office: Violation Ticket Payment Methods (updated 2026-04-20, verified 2026-10-31): Channel rules, fees, mobile apps, non-mailable provisions (March 31, 2026 letter; 115 年 3 月 31 日).
- New Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office: FAQ Workflow (published 2022-09-08; 111-09-08, verified 2026-10-31): Appeal documentation, 30 to 45 days verification, 30 days grace period, lawsuit court costs.
- Taipei City Traffic Adjudication Office: Violation Appeals (updated 2025-12-03; 114-12-03, verified 2026-10-31): Appeal channels, required documents, fine suspension during review.
- Laws and Regulations Database: Administrative Litigation Act (amended June 22, 2022; 111 年 6 月 22 日, verified 2026-10-31): Article 237-5 court fees for traffic adjudication cases.
Related reading: Stopping on Red or Yellow Lines in Taiwan: Rules and Fines · Scooter Two-Stage Left Turn in Taiwan: Rules & Fines · Unpaid Taiwan Freeway Tolls: NT$50 Fee and NT$300 Fines · Taiwan Car License Test: Steps, Fees and New Rules
