Car in the Shop? Renting a Replacement Car in Taiwan: How Long, What It Costs & Claiming It After an Accident

Car in the Shop? Renting a Replacement Car in Taiwan: How Long, What It Costs & Claiming It After an Accident

Your car is at the body shop after a collision, booked in for a major service, stuck at the garage after a breakdown tow, drying out after a typhoon flood, or you have sold your old car and the new one is not ready yet. For the next few days you still need to get to work and pick up the kids. This guide is for people who live in Taiwan and need a replacement car while their own car is being repaired: how long to rent for, whether you can claim the rental cost from the other driver when they caused the accident, what your own insurance covers, which documents to keep, and how to book a car near home or work.

While your car is in the shop, daily life does not have to stop (Unsplash, illustrative)

When do you need a replacement car, and for how long?

The repair shop's estimate is what counts. We do not estimate repair times. For reference only: in GoodCars' own domestic booking data (January 2025 to July 2026), weekday pickups of 3–14 days returned to the same store averaged about 4 days.

The other driver caused the accident: can you claim the rental cost?

Usually yes, within limits. Taiwanese courts generally accept rental costs for a necessary and reasonable period. You will need to show that you really needed a car during the repair, that the rental period matches the actual repair time, and that the amount was reasonable. Keep the rental agreement, invoice, repair estimate and proof of the repair dates.

The legal basis (Laws & Regulations Database of the R.O.C., 全國法規資料庫)

• Civil Code Article 184 (民法第184條): a person who wrongfully damages another person's rights, intentionally or negligently, must pay compensation.
• Civil Code Article 191-2 (民法第191條之2): the driver of a motor vehicle that causes damage while in use must compensate for it, unless they took reasonable care to prevent it.
• Civil Code Article 196 (民法第196條): when property is wrongfully damaged, the owner may claim the loss in value.
• Civil Code Articles 213 and 216 (民法第213條、第216條): compensation aims to restore the previous position, covering both the losses suffered and the gains lost. Courts usually treat the loss of use of a car during repair under these rules.
• Civil Code Article 217 (民法第217條): if you were also partly at fault, the court may reduce the compensation, so shared blame usually means a smaller share of the rental cost.

What the courts have said

• Taiwan High Court, Tainan Branch, Civil Judgment 108 Shang-Yi No. 388 (臺灣高等法院臺南分院108年度上易字第388號民事判決): the owner needed a car daily for work and family and produced the repair order, a vehicle custody agreement, rental receipts and work attendance records. The court held that the rental cost was necessary to restore his position and that the daily rate matched the market. However, it allowed 60 of the 69 days claimed, based on the shop's statement of how long the car was actually in the shop.
• Taiwan Taipei District Court, Xindian Summary Division, Civil Judgment 107 Dian-Jian No. 1505 (臺灣臺北地方法院107年度店簡字第1505號民事判決): no proof of an actual rental was shown. The court still recognised the loss of use of the car but calculated it over a reasonable repair period of 4 days, so it awarded far less than the amount claimed.

Who pays: the other driver's insurance

• Compulsory insurance does not pay for car damage or rentals. Under the Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance Act, Article 27 (強制汽車責任保險法第27條), it only pays for medical costs, disability and death.
• Voluntary third-party liability insurance (property damage). Under the Financial Supervisory Commission's standard private car insurance contract (金管會「自用汽車保險定型化契約範本」), the insurer pays when its policyholder is legally liable for damage to someone else's property, including "other property damage the third party may legally claim", up to the policy limit. If the other driver has this cover, ask them to notify their insurer.
• Direct claim against the insurer. The same standard contract allows the injured party to claim directly from the other driver's insurer once liability is fixed by a final court judgment, a written settlement, or mediation.
• No voluntary cover, or no agreement: you claim from the driver personally, through mediation or a civil lawsuit.

Does your own insurance cover a replacement car?

Under the FSC standard contract, vehicle damage insurance (車體損失險) covers rescue costs, towing and repair costs. It does not cover a replacement car. Some insurers offer a separate rental-car add-on (代車費用附加條款; names differ by insurer), usually only on top of damage cover and with daily and day-count limits. Check your policy or ask your agent. Typhoon and flood damage is also excluded from standard damage cover unless you bought the relevant add-on.

After an accident: take photos, keep every receipt, then arrange a replacement car (Unsplash, illustrative, not a GoodCars vehicle)

Documents to keep for a claim

Police record timings follow the Regulations Governing Road Traffic Accident Handling, Article 13 (道路交通事故處理辦法第13條). Records can also be requested online through the National Police Agency's accident records system (道路交通事故資料申請系統).

Keep your rental, repair and accident paperwork in one place from day one (Unsplash, illustrative)

Booking tips: any similar car, same-store return, weekday pickup

• Book a similar class of car. A 5-seat economy car (Vios or Yaris class) is enough for most commutes, and a similar class also helps show the rental cost was reasonable. See our 5-seater and 7–9 seater pages. Availability at each store is shown on the booking page.
• Pick up and return at the same store close to your home, office or repair shop.
• Weekday pickups are usually easier to book than weekends, when leisure demand peaks. Live availability on the booking page is what counts.
• Picking up after work is fine: online bookings at the six stores above run from 09:00 to 21:00. To pick up or return between 21:00 and 09:00, call the store in advance and they will arrange it for you.
• Documents and payment: Taiwanese nationals need their national ID card and a valid driving licence, and can pay by card or in cash (at self-service parking-lot stations, pay online during booking). Foreign residents: bring the ID, driving licence and credit card shown on the booking page; if you drive on a foreign licence, check our Taiwan car rental guide. Deposit terms are shown on the booking page. Our pickup and return guide walks through the steps from booking to return.

What it costs: rent + mileage fee + fuel card

• Rent depends on the car and dates. See live prices on the booking page.
• Mileage fee is based on the kilometres you actually drive, with no distance cap.
• Fuel card: every car comes with a GoodCars fuel card. Pay at the pump with the card, so you never pay for fuel yourself (fuel cost is built into the mileage fee), and you do not need to top up before returning the car.
• Forgot the fuel card? Keep a valid receipt from within your rental period and it can be offset against that rental's mileage fee (up to the full amount).
• Freeway ETC tolls are charged separately.

Details: mileage fee page and how much car rental costs in Taiwan.

If the repair takes longer, contact your pickup store about extending (Unsplash, illustrative)

Waiting months, not days?

• Waiting for a new car for several months: see car subscription or ask about monthly and long-term rental.
• Wondering whether to own a car at all: renting vs owning a car.

FAQ

How many days should I rent for?

Go by the repair shop's estimate. For reference, similar GoodCars rentals averaged about 4 days. If you plan to claim, match the rental to the actual repair period.

The shop needs more time. Can I extend?

Contact your pickup store as early as possible. The car may already be booked by someone else, so extensions and their cost are confirmed by the store.

Is there a deposit?

Deposit terms are shown on the booking page. Taiwanese nationals can pay by card or in cash (at self-service parking-lot stations, pay online during booking).

Will the other driver's insurance pay for my rental?

Compulsory insurance will not. Voluntary third-party property cover may, to the extent the other driver is legally liable. Courts generally accept a necessary and reasonable rental period backed by receipts and repair records, but payment is not guaranteed. Please consult your insurer or a lawyer.

What if I caused the accident?

The other driver may claim their rental costs from you. If you have third-party cover, tell your insurer promptly. Your own damage cover pays for your repairs but usually not your own rental, unless you bought a rental-car add-on. If both sides were at fault, compensation may be split under Civil Code Article 217 (民法第217條). Please consult your insurer or a lawyer.

Can I rent while waiting for a new car?

Yes. A regular rental works for a few days to two weeks. For longer waits, look at subscription or monthly rental.

My car is ready early. Can I return the rental early?

Contact your pickup store first. The store will explain how an early return is charged.