One-Way Car Rental in Taiwan: 10 Best Routes, Costs & Tips

One-Way Car Rental in Taiwan: 10 Best Routes, Costs & Everything You Need to Know

Planning a one-direction road trip through Taiwan? A one-way car rental — picking up in one city and dropping off in another — is the smartest way to explore Taiwan without backtracking. Goodcars Taiwan operates 20 locations island-wide, making it easy to plan one-way drives from Taipei to Hualien, Taoyuan Airport to Kaohsiung, or a full circumnavigation. This guide covers the 10 most popular one-way routes, cost estimates, booking steps, and key tips.

What Is a One-Way Car Rental?

A one-way rental means picking up your car at one Goodcars location and returning it at a different location. This eliminates the need to reverse your entire route and pairs perfectly with Taiwan's excellent rail network — drive one way, take the train the other. It's ideal for:

• Island circumnavigation — drive clockwise or counter-clockwise around Taiwan
• East Coast route — take the train east, drive back through the scenic Rift Valley
• Airport arrival/departure — land at Taoyuan, drive south, fly home from Kaohsiung
• Business travel — multi-city stops without constant backtracking

How One-Way Rental Pricing Works

One-way rental cost = base daily rate × days + one-way surcharge. The surcharge varies by distance between pickup and drop-off locations:

• Adjacent locations (e.g., Taipei Station ↔ Banqiao): NT$0–200 surcharge
• Regional routes (e.g., Taipei ↔ Taichung): NT$300–600 surcharge
• Long-distance routes (e.g., Taipei ↔ Hualien, Taipei ↔ Kaohsiung): NT$500–1,500 surcharge

The online booking system shows the exact one-way surcharge before you confirm — no hidden fees.

10 Best One-Way Routes in Taiwan

Route 1 | Taipei → Hualien

Drive via National Freeway 5 and the Suhua Improvement (Suhua-Kai), passing Jiufen, Ruifang, and Jiaoxi hot springs before arriving in Hualien. Explore Taroko Gorge, Qixingtan beach, and the city. Return to Taipei by train.

📍 Pickup: Taipei | Drop-off: Hualien | Recommended stay: 2–3 days

Route 2 | Taipei → Taitung (via East Rift Valley)

Taiwan's most scenic drive. Head south through Hualien, Ruisui Ranch, Yuli, Chishang's Brown Avenue, and Guanshan before reaching Taitung. Return by train or continue the loop. Allow 3–4 days.

📍 Pickup: Taipei/Hualien | Drop-off: Taitung | Recommended stay: 3–4 days

Route 3 | Taipei → Kenting (Southern Taiwan)

Drive the length of Taiwan's west coast: Taipei → Taichung → Tainan → Kaohsiung → Kenting. The full drive is 5–6 hours non-stop, or break it up over 4–5 days. Return from Kaohsiung Zuoying by HSR.

📍 Pickup: Taipei | Drop-off: Kaohsiung Zuoying | Recommended stay: 4–5 days

Route 4 | Taoyuan Airport → Kaohsiung

The top route for international visitors. Land at Taoyuan TPE, pick up your Goodcars rental, drive south visiting Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung — then drop off at Kaohsiung Airport or Zuoying HSR. Perfect for fly-in/fly-out itineraries.

📍 Pickup: Taoyuan Airport | Drop-off: Kaohsiung | Recommended stay: 5–7 days

Route 5 | Kaohsiung → Taitung (South Link Highway)

Drive Highway 9 or the South Link route through Hengchun Peninsula, Fangliao, and Jinlun hot springs. The coastal scenery is spectacular. A 2-day trip ending in Taitung with a train or flight back.

📍 Pickup: Kaohsiung Zuoying | Drop-off: Taitung | Recommended stay: 2–3 days

Route 6 | Yilan → Hualien (East Coast Drive)

Pick up in Jiaoxi or Luodong (Yilan), drive the Suhua Improvement highway south with the Pacific Ocean on one side and towering cliffs on the other. Just 1.5 hours but one of Taiwan's most dramatic drives.

📍 Pickup: Yilan Jiaoxi | Drop-off: Hualien | Recommended stay: 1–2 days

Route 7 | Taichung → Chiayi (Alishan)

Pick up at Taichung HSR (Wuri), drive south to Chiayi and up to Alishan. Experience Fenqihu lunch boxes, the cypress forest, and sunrise above the clouds. Drop off in Chiayi and take HSR home.

📍 Pickup: Taichung Wuri | Drop-off: Chiayi | Recommended stay: 2–3 days

Route 8 | Tainan → Kaohsiung (Twin Cities)

A relaxed southern food and culture trip. Pick up at Tainan Guiren HSR, explore Tainan's historic sites and street food, then drive 40 minutes to drop off in Kaohsiung. Perfect for a 2-day mini break.

📍 Pickup: Tainan Guiren | Drop-off: Kaohsiung | Recommended stay: 1–2 days

Route 9 | Taipei → Yilan

Through the Xueshan Tunnel (just 1 hour from Taipei), explore Jiaoxi hot springs, Dongshan River, Luodong Night Market, and Taipingshan. Drop off in Yilan and take the train back to Taipei.

📍 Pickup: Taipei | Drop-off: Yilan Jiaoxi/Luodong | Recommended stay: 1–2 days

Route 10 | Full Island Circumnavigation (7–10 days)

The ultimate one-way rental: clockwise (Taipei → Hualien → Taitung → Kaohsiung → Tainan → Taichung → Taipei) or counter-clockwise. Return to your starting point or drop off at the airport. Allow 7–10 days for a complete loop.

📍 Pickup: Taipei | Drop-off: Taipei/Taoyuan Airport | Recommended stay: 7–10 days

Cost Estimates by Route

Key Tips for One-Way Rentals

• Book early: One-way vehicle allocation is limited. During summer and public holidays, book 2–4 weeks ahead.
• Check the surcharge upfront: The system shows it before payment — no surprises at pickup.
• Return on time: Late returns are charged per minute. Allow travel buffer, especially for east coast routes.
• Fuel policy: Goodcars provides a fuel card. Return the car with the same fuel level as at pickup.
• Insurance: Strongly recommend full coverage (CDW + third-party liability) for long-distance one-way trips.
• International license: Foreign drivers must carry a valid IDP plus their original national license.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do I always pay a one-way surcharge?

Not always. Nearby locations in the same metro area (e.g., Taipei Station and Banqiao) may have zero or minimal surcharge. The farther apart the pickup and drop-off, the higher the fee. The online tool shows it instantly.

Q2: Can foreign visitors do one-way rentals?

Yes. Bring your passport, valid IDP (International Driving Permit), and original national license. The process is the same as a regular rental — just select different pickup and drop-off locations when booking.

Q3: Can I change my drop-off location after booking?

Contact Goodcars customer service as early as possible. Last-minute changes on the road may not be possible due to vehicle logistics. Any price difference in surcharge will be adjusted.

Q4: Are there restrictions on the Suhua Highway (east coast)?

The Suhua Improvement (Suhua-Kai) is open to passenger cars. Large vehicles are prohibited. During typhoon season, it may be temporarily closed — always check official highway announcements before departure.

Q5: Is a 7-seater available for one-way routes?

Goodcars offers SIENTA (7-seat) and other models for one-way routes, subject to availability at specific locations. Check the online booking system and book early during peak season.

Q6: What's the cheapest one-way route?

Short urban one-way routes like Tainan → Kaohsiung or Taipei → Yilan typically have the lowest surcharges. Use the Goodcars online calculator to compare routes and find the best value for your itinerary.