Job Discussion Forums

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

We're finally in Taiwan!
Living in Ping Jen in Taoyuan county near Taipei and the schools that I'm teaching at are a pretty good hike on foot from where we are staying.
I'd really like to get a motorbike a.s.a.p but have been told a number of different / conflicting things re: licensing.

You can't get a scooter / motorbike without an ARC
You can buy one but don't need a license for 50 c.c scooters.
You don't NEED a license for a scooter as the police will generally leave foreigners alone.
You must have a license for a motorbike..

I'd really like to get a motorbike (not a scooter) of about 250 c.c; not too big but powerful enough that we can go up into the mountains and ride around. I'm used to riding bikes a lot bigger than this but I'll take what I can realistically get.

Anybody have any info re: what I would have to do / where I can get one from?

Thanks

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

sbettinson · Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Taichung

Basic rule of thumb is you need a license for any sort of motorbike. Enforcement of the law varies though. Some policemen wave you on, and some will whack the the full 6,000NT fine on you if you don't have one.

As for specifics you can just take a written test for a 50cc scooter (correct me if I am wrong.) and if you want bigger than that you need to do a road test. The road test is a bit of a joke from what I gather, albeit many people do fail on the part where you need to drive straight between two lines.

If you want a licence then you need to take a trip to the Ministry of Vehicles and get one. Take a Chinese speaker with you if you don't speak Chinese as English is often limited in such offices. I know it is in Taichung where I live.

I would put my hand up in a small amount of disgrace and say I have been here two years and have yet to take a licence. Many others will also be towing just behind. It's actually pretty dumb and I have no good excuse for not getting one. Unless you are working here illegally then your excuse would be you don't have ARC etc to legally apply for one.

Do a seach for licences on this forum and I think you should find links to practice tests and information links for foreigners about the licence process. I used to have them saved, but my computer died recently and I lost them all.

Good luck.

BigWally

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

Great info guys.
Thanks a lot; so to summarise concisely:

I should have a license but may not be able to get one because I won't have enough eligible time on my ARC when I (eventually) get it.

Guess I'll just buy something privately and cross my fingers... Rolling Eyes

BigWally · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:44 am Post subject:

You got it. Surprised

trukesehammer · Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 168 Location: The Vatican

250cc, are you kidding? If you really want such a big bike (although size is relative here), then you're probably looking at one of these bad boys...

Venox

Last time I checked, they run about $174,000 brand new and around $85,000 used.

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

DAMN!!
That is expensive AND ugly; a truly terrible combination.
I saw a couple of 400 c.c bikes in Taoyuan on the weekend but I'm not willing to spend that much for the privilege of riding one.

You're right; size is relative in many ways.
In Canada I had a 1000 c.c sportbike (Yamaha R1)...right now I'm really missing it
Sad

Dr_Zoidberg

trukesehammer · Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 168 Location: The Vatican

yamahuh · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 1033 Location: Karaoke Hell

EVERYTHING is relative, even ugly.
I just came from the mainland where if you're fat, bald and 50 you can still find a beautiful 20 year old to share your life with .. (not that there's anything wrong with that).
As far as bikes go this is what I left behind...

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/17sept01yamaha2002r1.html

Somehow the thought of a 50 c.c scooter just isn't making getting goosebumps of excitement... Wink

lou_la · Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Bristol

You need to have a whole year on your ARC?? Damn, mine's from Jan 4 to Dec 31... is there ANY way to convince them otherwise? I really need to get even just the paper license for the scooter I'm FINALLY getting this weekend - I have no form of driving license what so ever, don't really want to drive around without one, even if it is just a 50cc.

BigWally · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:23 pm Post subject:

I dunno how you'll do it, I even had the lady from the "foreigner applicants" desk, helping me in English, and she couldn't figure any way around it...if you get it done, let us know where you did...

atiff · Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 66

It is true you currently need 1 year on your ARC (from the day you apply for the license) to be able to get it. I was in Taiwan before the law got changed in this regard (in 2004, IIRC) and to be honest, the law doesn't make any sense with regards to foreign teachers.

However, you can always TRY apply for it anyway. I have known a couple of teachers who have managed to go and get it done anyway, even with less than one year on their ARC - perhaps the clerk was new or something.

The best advice I can give is, if you are staying for a second year, prepare yourself thoroughly for the test and as soon as your ARC is renewed, go get it done. At Hess, we renew ARCs a little early (a matter of practicality for us) so our renewing teachers have about 12.5 months on their ARC - most other schools should be able to do this too.