Zuoying Car Rental Guide: Pick Up at Kaohsiung's HSR Zuoying Station (Self-Service Parking Lot) and Choose the Right Kaohsiung Pickup Point

Zuoying Car Rental Guide: Pick Up at Kaohsiung's HSR Zuoying Station (Self-Service Parking Lot) and Choose the Right Kaohsiung Pickup Point

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) ends at Zuoying Station (高鐵左營站), Kaohsiung's high-speed rail stop. It sits in Zuoying District, north of downtown Kaohsiung, and shares one transport hub with TRA Xinzuoying Station and the Kaohsiung MRT Red Line's Zuoying Station (R16). If your plans include Kenting, Fo Guang Shan, Qishan or simply downtown Kaohsiung, the easiest move is to collect a car right at the station instead of hauling your luggage onto a metro or bus.

On the GoodCars booking page this location is called "HSR Kaohsiung Station" (高雄左營高鐵站), and it works as a self-service parking-lot pickup: our staff park your car in a designated lot, you walk over from the station and drive off, and when you return it you simply leave the key inside. This guide covers which "Zuoying" station is which, how pickup and return work, which of Kaohsiung's three GoodCars pickup points suits your trip, drive times from the HSR station and how pricing works. For sightseeing ideas, see Explore Kaohsiung from Zuoying HSR Station.

Zuoying's landmark Dragon and Tiger Pagodas on Lotus Pond, about 8–15 minutes' drive from the HSR station (Unsplash; location tagged Kaohsiung)

First: Which "Zuoying" Station Is Which?

Station names are the most common stumbling block for first-time visitors. High-speed rail, TRA and the metro each have a Zuoying stop with a slightly different name, and TRA has one more "Zuoying" station in a different part of the district:

In short: THSR Zuoying, TRA Xinzuoying and MRT Zuoying form one hub, and the pickup lot is on the HSR side. Only Zuoying–Jiucheng is somewhere else.

GoodCars HSR Kaohsiung Station: Location Details and How Pickup Works

Step off the high-speed train, walk to the designated lot and drive away (illustrative image, not the actual GoodCars pickup lot)

Pickup in 5 steps

• 1. Book online: on the booking page, choose "HSR Kaohsiung Station", your pickup/return times and a car. Set the pickup time a little after your train arrives so you have time to leave the station and walk to the lot.
• 2. Finish the paperwork before you travel: follow the system and your confirmation message to upload documents, pay and sign the e-contract.
• 3. Check your confirmation message: staff park the car in the designated lot in advance; the lot location and car details are in your booking confirmation.
• 4. Walk around the car and take photos: photograph all sides and the odometer — the fuel charge is based on the difference between pickup and return readings. Check that the fuel card is in the car.
• 5. Set your navigation and go: downtown is reached on surface roads; for Qishan, Fo Guang Shan, the airport or Kenting, follow your navigation onto the freeway or expressway.

Return in 3 steps

• Drive back to the designated lot at THSR Zuoying: set your destination to 高鐵左營站 and park where your confirmation message tells you.
• Photograph and leave the key: switch off, take pictures of the bodywork and the odometer reading, and leave the key on board.
• Close the doors and go: staff lock the car remotely through the system, so there's no need to find anyone to hand the key to.

New to GoodCars self-service? Document upload, the e-contract, photo checks and what to do if something goes wrong are covered in the Self-Service Car Pickup & Return Guide.

Kaohsiung's 3 Pickup Points: Zuoying HSR, Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) or Kaohsiung Railway Station?

GoodCars has three pickup points in Kaohsiung. The best way to choose is simply how you arrive in Kaohsiung:

Drive times between them and to Kenting (Google Maps, traffic permitting):

• THSR Zuoying → Kaohsiung Main Station: about 17–30 minutes (about 7 km). Kaohsiung Main Station → Pier-2 Art Center: about 12–20 minutes.
• THSR Zuoying → Kaohsiung International Airport: about 20–35 minutes (about 18 km via National Freeway 1).
• To Kenting Street: about 1 h 45 min to 2 h 15 min from THSR Zuoying, and about 1 h 40 min to 2 h from the airport. The difference is small, so there's no need to switch to the airport just because you're heading to Kenting — choose by how you arrive.

Picking up at the airport instead? See Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) Car Rental. For an overview of renting in Kaohsiung, see Kaohsiung Car Rental.

Drive Times from THSR Zuoying Station

These times come from Google Maps driving routes starting at THSR Zuoying Station, checked on the evening of Friday 25 September 2026 when traffic was light. Daytime, weekends and public holidays are usually slower, so the upper figures have been widened; actual times depend on traffic. We don't repeat the sightseeing details here — each row links to the guide that covers that place best.

The pagodas of Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, about 25–40 minutes from THSR Zuoying via National Freeway 10 (illustrative image)

North and east: easy half-day trips

Lotus Pond is the closest stop to the station — a gentle first drive while you get used to the car. Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and Qishan Old Street both lie in the direction of National Freeway 10 and fit into the same half day. Downtown sights such as Pier-2 and Cijin are best enjoyed by parking once and exploring on foot. For what to see and eat, read Explore Kaohsiung from Zuoying HSR Station and Kaohsiung: 5 self-drive routes.

Heading south to Donggang or Kenting: 3 things to know

• Xiaoliuqiu: the ferry leaves from Donggang pier. Sailings, pier parking and getting around the island are covered in the Xiaoliuqiu car rental guide.
• Kenting: about two hours each way, so plan at least one night. To combine Kaohsiung, Kenting and Xiaoliuqiu in one trip, follow the Kaohsiung–Kenting–Liuqiu 3-day itinerary.
• Fuel on long drives: glance at the fuel gauge before you set off; if you need fuel on the way, pay with the car's fuel card — no out-of-pocket cost.

The coast at Kenting, from about 1 h 45 min by car from THSR Zuoying (Unsplash; location tagged Kenting, Hengchun, Pingtung)

Driving in Kaohsiung: Quick Tips for Visitors

• Traffic drives on the right in Taiwan; if you usually drive on the left, take the first few kilometres slowly.
• Scooters are everywhere: check your mirrors and blind spot before turning right or opening a door.
• Freeway tolls are electronic (ETC): there are no toll booths to stop at; tolls are settled separately (see the pickup & return guide).
• Save the return address: add 高鐵左營站 to your Google Maps favourites at pickup, so the drive back is one tap away.

How Pricing Works (Rules Only — See the Website for Prices)

GoodCars charges a rental fee plus a fuel charge. Your total mainly depends on:

• Rental fee: based on the car, rental length, weekday/holiday and booking time; the booking page shows the live price.
• Fuel charge: charged per kilometre actually driven, and there is no cap on how far you drive. The cost of fuel is already included in the fuel charge.
• Dedicated fuel card: every car comes with a fuel card, so you never pay for fuel yourself, and you don't need to stop at a petrol station before returning the car.
• Forgot to use the card? If you paid for fuel yourself, keep the receipt — it can be fully offset against your fuel charge.
• Freeway tolls (ETC): settled separately, as explained in the pickup & return guide.

Per-kilometre rates are published by car type on the fuel charge page. For a rough budget, see How Much Does Car Rental Cost in Taiwan?

Which Car Should You Choose?

• 1–3 people, light luggage: a 5-seat economy car (Toyota Vios or Yaris class), easy to park downtown.
• 4–5 people or a long drive to Kenting: a 5-seat crossover (such as the Toyota Yaris Cross) with more boot space.
• 6–9 people: a 7–9 seater — our website lists the Toyota Wish, Luxgen M7, Volkswagen Touran, Hyundai Staria and Starex, among others.

These are examples from our 5-seater and 7–9 seater pages; what you can book at HSR Kaohsiung Station on your dates is shown on the booking page. Book larger cars early for public holidays.

FAQ

Q1. What's the difference between THSR Zuoying, Xinzuoying and Zuoying–Jiucheng? Where do I pick up the car?

THSR Zuoying, TRA Xinzuoying and the MRT Red Line's Zuoying station are connected and form one hub. TRA Zuoying–Jiucheng is a separate station in the old-town area. GoodCars' pickup point is HSR Kaohsiung Station, a designated parking lot at THSR Zuoying Station.

Q2. What documents do I need?

Most foreign visitors need their home-country driving licence, an International Driving Permit (IDP) and their passport. Japanese visitors can drive on a Japanese licence with an official Chinese translation (not an IDP) under the Taiwan–Japan reciprocal arrangement. Taiwan residents need their original driving licence and an ID document, and can pay by credit card or cash (at self-service parking-lot stations, pay online during booking); foreign visitors need a credit card in the booker's name. The full rundown for international visitors is in our Taiwan car rental guide for foreign travellers.

Q3. I'm arriving on a late train. Can I still pick up the car?

Yes. Pickup and return can be booked between 00:00 and 23:55, and pickup is self-service at the parking lot — just set your pickup time after your train arrives. THSR Zuoying Station is open 05:25–24:00; check last-train times on the THSR website. If you can't find the car, call +886 7 801 1122.

Q4. Where exactly is the parking lot?

Officially, "staff will drive the car to a designated parking lot, and you can walk to the lot to pick it up". The lot and car details are in your booking confirmation — please follow it, as there is more than one car park around the HSR station.

Q5. Can I pick up in Zuoying and return the car in Tainan or Taichung?

Yes, one-way rentals are available: choose "Drop car off at different location" when you book and set Tainan, Taichung or another location as your return point. The one-way fee varies by location, so check the live quote on our website. For ideas, see One-Way Car Rental in Taiwan: 10 Routes; heading north to Tainan, see the Tainan HSR Station guide.

Q6. Can I rent a 7–9 seater, a scooter or a van at HSR Zuoying?

7–9 seaters: HSR Kaohsiung Station has 7–9 seater booking plans (models on our 7–9 seater page); availability on your dates is shown on the booking page. Scooters and vans: the booking system currently has neither at HSR Zuoying. Of Kaohsiung's three pickup points, only Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) offers scooter and van plans, in small numbers — check the booking page. Scooters are refuelled by the rider. See Scooter Rental Recommendations for more.

Q7. Should I visit a petrol station before returning the car?

No. Cars come with a dedicated fuel card and the fuel cost is already in the fuel charge, so there's no need for a detour to a petrol station. If you paid for fuel yourself along the way, keep the receipt — it can be fully offset against your fuel charge.

Arrive by HSR, Drive Straight Out of Zuoying

THSR Zuoying is the southern end of Taiwan's high-speed line and a hub where TRA and the Kaohsiung MRT meet. Rather than dragging your bags onto another train, pick up your car right there: GoodCars HSR Kaohsiung Station is a self-service parking-lot pickup a short walk from the station, and at return you just leave the key in the car. You pay a rental fee plus a fuel charge, with a dedicated fuel card included so you never pay for fuel yourself. Remember to navigate to 高鐵左營站, plan your days with the drive-time table above, and spend the rest of your time on Kaohsiung and Kenting.