Top 5 best scooter rentals in Taipei

Taipei rewards anyone willing to get on two wheels. Wind through the traffic on a scooter and within twenty minutes you can be climbing the hairpin bends of Yangmingshan National Park, soaking in a hillside hot spring, or watching the sun drop behind Taipei 101 from the ridge at Elephant Mountain. This is a city built for it — and it's yours to explore the moment you decide to rent a scooter in Taipei.

Taipei's streets were practically designed with scooters in mind. Traffic is dense and cars crawl through it, but scooters have their own lanes, their own waiting boxes at intersections, and a clear run past the congestion. The city's best sights are also spread wide — from coastal cliffs to mountain tea houses — well beyond a comfortable walk or a convenient train transfer. A scooter also opens up the classic day-trip loops out to Jiufen and Yehliu that are slow and fiddly by bus, so scooter rental in Taipei genuinely changes what a visit looks like.

Top 10 things to see in Taipei by scooter

1. Yangmingshan National Park — mountain roads with hairpin bends just north of the city, hot springs, and views over the Taipei basin, a classic scooter loop.
2. Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) — a short ride to the trailhead for the postcard skyline view of Taipei 101 at sunset.
3. Beitou Hot Springs — an easy ride from downtown to a thermal valley with public and private hot spring baths.
4. Jiufen Old Street — a winding coastal mountain road out to the lantern-lit hillside town famous for its teahouses.
5. Shifen Waterfall & Shifen Old Street — a scenic ride into the Pingxi valley to release sky lanterns and see Taiwan's widest waterfall.
6. Tamsui (Danshui) Riverside — a flat coastal ride along the Tamsui River to the old port town for sunset over the estuary.
7. Yehliu Geopark — a north-coast ride to see the wind-eroded "Queen's Head" rock formations along the sea.
8. Bitan (Green Lake), Xindian — a popular river-valley ride south of the city for boating and riverside cafes.
9. Maokong — a steep climb to a tea-growing area with terraced views, best paired with the gondola for the return trip.
10. Wulai — a longer mountain ride south of the city for waterfalls and hot springs, a favourite day-trip route for locals and visitors alike.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Taipei?

You'll need a motorcycle-class licence — a regular car licence is not enough. As a foreign visitor, carry a valid International Driving Permit endorsed for motorcycles along with your home licence, or a Taiwanese licence if you hold one. The minimum age is generally 18, though some shops set their own higher limit, so check when you book. A deposit is standard practice, usually as cash or a card hold; agree the amount and return conditions in writing, and avoid leaving your passport as security.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Taipei?

Prices move with the season. A basic gearless scooter runs roughly 170-250 TWD per day in low season, while standard 50-125cc models typically cost 400-700 TWD per day in high season. Larger or newer scooters (150cc and up) run from around 800-1,200 TWD per day.

• Prices climb in December-February and again in July-August, the busiest travel months.
• Rates ease off in March-May and September-November, when demand is lower.
• Multi-day rentals often come with a discount, especially on premium models.

When to book a rental scooter in Taipei?

High season runs July-August and around the Lunar New Year in late January or February, when domestic travel peaks and good scooters get booked out early. Low season falls in December-February outside the New Year holiday, plus the wetter stretch of May-June, with softer prices throughout. For the best riding weather, aim for October-November or March-April — dry, mild, and clear of both the typhoon season and the crowds. Book a few days ahead in high season; low season is far more forgiving.

Local traffic rules in Taipei

Taiwan drives on the right. Helmets are compulsory for the rider and every passenger, and police do enforce it with on-the-spot fines. Scooters must keep their headlights on at all times, day or night, and stick to the marked outside lane and scooter waiting areas at junctions — at many big intersections you'll need to make a two-stage left turn rather than cutting across traffic directly. Speed limits sit around 40-50 km/h in town and lower again on mountain roads, so follow the posted signs rather than guessing. Drink-driving limits are strict, with heavy fines and licence suspension for anyone over the limit, so leave the scooter parked if you've been drinking.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!