Heavier penalties for unlicensed driving: Scooters fined up to NT$36,000 for first offense, vehicles impounded on the spot

(FWA 2026/1/30)The new system of heavier penalties for unlicensed driving has officially been launched. The Highway Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications stated that the “Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act” and the “Road Traffic Safety Lecture Regulations,” amended and implemented on January 31, have increased fines for unlicensed driving. The maximum fine for cars is NT$60,000, while the upper limit for unlicensed scooter driving has been raised to NT$36,000. Additionally, vehicles will be impounded on the spot, and all violators must attend road traffic safety lectures at their own expense. Furthermore, it is regulated that in cases where a driver’s license is revoked or cancelled, one cannot apply for a replacement based on reciprocal foreign license agreements.

In addition, those who violate unlicensed driving regulations twice within 10 years will be punished with the maximum fine. If it is three or more times, the penalty will be further increased based on the previous fine amount.

In other words, if a second unlicensed driving offense occurs within 10 years, cars are directly fined NT$60,000 and scooters are fined NT$36,000. For the third violation, in addition to the previous fine amount, an extra NT$12,000 will be added for both cars and scooters. For example, if the previous fine for unlicensed scooter driving was NT$36,000, the third offense will result in a fine of NT$48,000. There is no upper limit for repeat offenders; a fourth offense will be fined NT$60,000, and so on.

Calculation of repeat offenses extended to 10 years; increased penalties starting from the 3rd time

The Highway Bureau stated that the number of unlicensed driving cases has continued to rise in recent years. Statistics show that in 2025, there were approximately 20,000 cases of unlicensed driving by minors and 260,000 cases by adults. In coordination with the amendment of the road traffic safety lecture regulations, the Highway Bureau has added an “Unlicensed Driving Violation Class.” The course lasts 3 hours, with a fee of NT$200 per hour. The curriculum covers “Road Risk Identification,” “License Exam Instructions,” and “Traffic Regulations (including legal responsibilities).” Besides helping violators return to legal driving, it also promotes awareness of relevant civil and criminal liabilities and includes the correct use of advanced driver-assistance systems.

The Highway Bureau stated that according to Article 24, Paragraph 3 of the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, those who fail to attend the road traffic safety lectures as required without a legitimate reason will be fined NT$1,800. If they still fail to attend after further notification within the time limit and exceed six months, car drivers will have their licenses suspended for six months (and are barred from taking exams), and vehicle owners will have their vehicle plates suspended for six months.

Wu Ji-juan, head of the Highway Bureau’s Supervision Division, explained that for violations by expats, in addition to fines according to the law, the Highway Bureau will obtain relevant information through the National Immigration Agency to send out lecture notifications. Violators can use the QR code on the notification to make an appointment for the safety lecture. In addition to the 37 motor vehicle offices across Taiwan, there are 60 commissioned institutions (such as driving schools) where lectures can be attended. Although the lectures are currently only available in Chinese, special reminders and exam-related information will be provided during the session, including multi-language versions of both mock and actual exam questions.

The Highway Bureau appeals to the public, noting that the fine for unlicensed driving has been changed from the original range of NT$6,000–NT$24,000 to having no upper limit. The cost of unlicensed driving is extremely high. It is hoped that through the new lecture courses, violators will be guided to obtain licenses through correct channels, ensuring every road user possesses complete driving skills and correct legal concepts to maintain traffic safety.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Transportation has simultaneously amended the “Road Traffic Safety Rules.” For car drivers who violate the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act and have their licenses revoked, cancelled, are prohibited from applying for a license, or whose suspension period has not ended, expats cannot bypass management regulations by applying for a license exchange based on reciprocal agreements between Taiwan and foreign countries.

Expats may not bypass driver’s license regulations based on reciprocity

The number of expats in Taiwan continues to increase. According to statistics from the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, by the end of December last year, the number of foreign nationals legally residing in Taiwan alone has exceeded one million. However, traffic accident data for expats has risen sharply in recent years. According to the National Audit Office, the number of deaths and injuries from traffic accidents involving expats increased from 6,213 in 2019 to 13,004 in 2024, with scooters and micro-electric two-wheel vehicles being the most common.

The number of expats applying for the ordinary heavy motorcycle road test has also gradually increased, rising from 14,236 in 2019 to a peak of 30,493 in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, there were still more than 28,000 and 26,000 applicants, respectively, but the passing rate in recent years has remained at approximately 60%.

Mas mabigat na parusa sa pagmamaneho nang walang lisensya: Ang unang huli sa motor ay aabot sa NT$36,000, sasakyan ay agad na kukunin

(FWA 2026/1/30) Ang bagong sistema ng mas mabigat na parusa sa pagmamaneho nang walang lisensya ay opisyal nang sinimulan. Ayon sa Highway Bureau ng Ministry of Transportation and Communications, ang mga susog sa “Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act” at “Road Traffic Safety Lecture Regulations” na ipinatupad noong Enero 31 ay nagpapataas ng multa para sa pagmamaneho nang walang lisensya. Ang maximum na multa para sa mga kotse ay NT$60,000, habang ang limitasyon para sa mga motor ay itinaas sa NT$36,000. Bukod dito, agad na kukunin at itatago ang sasakyan sa lugar ng insidente, at lahat ng lalabag ay kailangang magbayad para sa mandatoryong seminar sa kaligtasan sa kalsada. Itinakda rin na kung ang lisensya ay nakansela o nabawi, hindi maaaring mag-apply ng kapalit na lisensya gamit ang kasunduan sa “reciprocal foreign license.”

Bilang karagdagan, ang sinumang mahuli sa pagmamaneho nang walang lisensya ng dalawang beses sa loob ng 10 taon ay papatawan ng pinakamataas na multa. Kung ito ay pangatlo o higit pang pagkakataon, ang parusa ay lalong bibigatan base sa halaga ng huling multa.

Sa madaling salita, kung ang ikalawang paglabag ay nangyari sa loob ng 10 taon, ang mga kotse ay direktang mumultahan ng NT$60,000 at ang mga motor ay NT$36,000. Para sa ikatlong paglabag, bukod sa halaga ng nakaraang multa, may dagdag na NT$12,000 para sa parehong kotse at motor. Halimbawa, kung ang huling multa sa motor ay NT$36,000, ang ikatlong huli ay magiging NT$48,000. Walang limitasyon para sa mga repeat offenders; ang ikaapat na huli ay magiging NT$60,000, at tuloy-tuloy pa ito.

Pagkalkula para sa repeat offenders pinalawig sa 10 taon; dagdag na parusa simula sa pang-3 beses

Sinabi ng Highway Bureau na ang bilang ng mga kaso ng pagmamaneho nang walang lisensya ay patuloy na tumataas sa mga nakalipas na taon. Ayon sa istatistika, noong 2025, mayroong humigit-kumulang 20,000 kaso ng mga menor de edad at 260,000 kaso ng mga matatanda na nagmamaneho nang walang lisensya. Kasabay ng pag-amyenda sa mga regulasyon ng safety seminar, nagdagdag ang Highway Bureau ng “Unlicensed Driving Violation Class.” Ang kurso ay tumatagal ng 3 oras, na may bayad na NT$200 bawat oras. Sakop ng kurso ang “Pagkilala sa mga Panganib sa Kalsada,” “Mga Instruksyon sa Pagkuha ng Lisensya,” at “Mga Regulasyon sa Trapiko (kabilang ang mga legal na pananagutan).” Bukod sa pagtulong sa mga lumabag na bumalik sa legal na pagmamaneho, itinuturo din dito ang tungkol sa mga pananagutang sibil at kriminal, at kasama rin ang tamang paggamit ng driver-assistance systems.

Ayon sa Highway Bureau, base sa Article 24, Paragraph 3 ng Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act, ang mga hindi sisipot sa seminar nang walang sapat na dahilan ay mumultahan ng NT$1,800. Kung hindi pa rin sisipot matapos ang muling pag-abiso sa loob ng limitadong oras at lumampas na ng anim na buwan, ang mga driver ng kotse ay sususpindihin ang lisensya ng anim na buwan (at bawal kumuha ng exam), at ang mga may-ari ng sasakyan ay sususpindihin ang plaka ng sasakyan ng anim na buwan.

Ipinaliwanag ni Wu Ji-juan, pinuno ng Supervision Division ng Highway Bureau, na para sa mga paglabag ng mga dayuhan, bukod sa multa ayon sa batas, makikipagtulungan ang Highway Bureau sa National Immigration Agency (NIA) upang makakuha ng impormasyon para sa pagpapadala ng abiso para sa seminar. Maaaring gamitin ng mga lumabag ang QR code sa abiso para magpa-appointment sa seminar. Bukod sa 37 na motor vehicle offices sa buong Taiwan, mayroon ding 60 na awtorisadong institusyon (tulad ng driving schools) kung saan maaaring dumalo. Bagama’t sa Mandarin lamang ang seminar sa ngayon, may ibibigay na mga paalala at impormasyon tungkol sa exam, kabilang ang mga bersyon sa iba’t ibang wika ng mga mock at actual exam questions.

Nanawagan ang Highway Bureau sa publiko na ang dating multa na NT$6,000–NT$24,000 ay wala na ngayong limitasyon. Napakataas ng kapalit ng pagmamaneho nang walang lisensya. Inaasahan na sa pamamagitan ng mga bagong seminar, magagabayan ang mga tao na kumuha ng lisensya sa tamang paraan upang matiyak ang kaligtasan sa kalsada.

Dagdag pa rito, binago rin ng Ministry of Transportation ang “Road Traffic Safety Rules.” Para sa mga driver na ang lisensya ay nabawi, nakansela, o bawal kumuha ng lisensya, hindi maaaring gumamit ang mga dayuhan ng reciprocity agreement para makaiwas sa mga regulasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalit ng dayuhang lisensya sa lokal na lisensya.

Hindi maaaring iwasan ng mga dayuhan ang regulasyon sa lisensya gamit ang reciprocity

Ang bilang ng mga dayuhan sa Taiwan ay patuloy na tumataas. Ayon sa National Immigration Agency, noong katapusan ng Disyembre ng nakaraang taon, ang mga foreign nationals na legal na naninirahan sa Taiwan ay lumampas na sa isang milyon. Gayunpaman, ang bilang ng mga nasasaktan sa aksidente sa trapiko na kinasasangkutan ng mga dayuhan ay tumaas mula 6,213 noong 2019 hanggang 13,004 noong 2024, kung saan motor at micro-electric two-wheel vehicles ang pinakamarami.

Ang bilang ng mga dayuhan na kumukuha ng road test para sa motor ay tumaas din mula 14,236 noong 2019 hanggang sa peak na 30,493 noong 2022. Noong 2023 at 2024, mayroon pa ring higit sa 28,000 at 26,000 na aplikante, ngunit ang passing rate ay nananatili sa humigit-kumulang 60% lamang.