Taichung Train Station Car Rental Guide: 4-Minute Walk to Pickup, Opening Hours & Train Station vs HSR

Taichung Train Station Car Rental Guide: 4-Minute Walk to Pickup, Opening Hours & Train Station vs HSR

If you arrive in Taichung by Taiwan Railway, the easiest plan is to pick up your car right outside Taichung Station. The Goodcars Taichung Train Station store is at No. 157, Jianguo Road, about a 4-minute walk from the station. This guide covers only the pickup: which way to exit, the opening hours and which pickup and return times you can book online, whether to choose this store or the Taichung HSR station, what to watch for when you drive out of downtown, and how the fees work. For where to go in Taichung, see Taichung Self-Drive Tour: 5 Routes; if you are coming by high-speed rail, see the Taichung HSR Car Rental Guide.

The historic red-brick station building stands right next to the new Taichung Station; our store is on the Jianguo Road side (Unsplash)

Who should pick up at Taichung Train Station?

Taichung Station is Taiwan Railway's main station in central Taiwan. The new elevated station opened in 2016, and a city bus transfer centre sits on its ground floor. Picking up here has two advantages: you are already in Taichung's old town, so there is no transfer; and staff hand over the car in person during opening hours, which helps if it is your first time renting in Taiwan. Note that online bookings cover pickup and return times between 09:00 and 21:00; the store lists self-service outside business hours (21:00–09:00), so if a late train means you need a night-time pickup, call first to confirm (+886-4-2201-0077).

• Arriving by Taiwan Railway (from the north, south, or the mountain/coast lines): this store is the natural choice.
• Staying at a hotel near the station or in the old town: walk over the next morning instead of parking a car at your hotel overnight.
• Arriving by high-speed rail (THSR): the THSR Taichung Station in Wuri is usually easier; see the Taichung HSR Car Rental Guide.
• Flying into Taichung Airport (RMQ): see the Taichung Airport Car Rental Guide.

From the platform to the store: No. 157 Jianguo Rd, about 4 minutes on foot

The new Taichung Station is an elevated station with three floors above ground: ticket gates and the main hall are on the 2nd floor, platforms are on the 3rd floor. The ground-floor exits are on two sides: Taiwan Boulevard / Jianguo Road (the station plaza) and Fuxing Road. Our store is on Jianguo Road, so leave by the Taiwan Boulevard / Jianguo Road side.

1. Exit the ticket gates in the 2nd-floor hall and go down towards Taiwan Boulevard / Jianguo Road (station plaza).
2. Open your map app and enter 台中市中區建國路157號. Google Maps walks you about 180 m towards Jianguo Road, then right onto Jianguo Road for about 70 m; the store is on your left. Total: about 250 m, 4 minutes.
3. Spot the store: the official store photo shows a blue-and-white "固得租車 good cars" sign over a garage-style shopfront. Our store map places it on Jianguo Road near the Chenggong Road junction, with the Taichung Railway Culture Park just to the south. During staffed hours, walk straight in and check in.

The new Taichung Station is elevated: ticket gates are on the 2nd floor, then head down towards Taiwan Boulevard / Jianguo Road (Unsplash; the photographer tagged it as Taichung Station)

The store sits inside Taichung's old town: Google Maps puts Miyahara (宮原眼科) about a 3-minute walk away (230 m). If you have time before or after your rental, you can explore on foot; for day trips and routes around Taichung, see Taichung Self-Drive Tour: 5 Routes.

Pickup and return times: book online for 09:00–21:00, call ahead for night-time

The store's online-bookable pickup and return times are 09:00–21:00, when staff are on site. It lists self-service outside business hours (21:00–09:00), but that can't be booked online — if you need a night-time pickup or return, call first to confirm (+886-4-2201-0077). Either way, finish your booking, document upload, payment and e-contract online before you arrive, and the handover will be quick.

The full self-service steps (book online → upload documents → pay and sign → pick up as instructed → take photos → return as instructed) are explained with pictures in our Self-Service Car Pickup & Return Guide. Whether a night-time pickup can be arranged, and where, is something to confirm with the store by phone first.

The elevated platforms at Taichung Station; online pickup times run until 21:00, so call ahead if you arrive on a later train (Unsplash)

Taichung Train Station vs Taichung HSR Station: which one?

Goodcars has one pickup point downtown and one at the high-speed rail station. The real difference is not how close each is to the sights, but which train you arrive on and whether you want a staffed handover or parking-lot self-service.

Between the two stations it is about a 19–23-minute drive (8–11 km). Heading for the freeways (Gaomei Wetlands, Sun Moon Lake), the HSR station is usually a few minutes quicker, and the gap can grow in daytime city traffic. In one line: arriving by Taiwan Railway and want a person to hand over the car → Taichung Train Station store; arriving by THSR, landing late at night or early morning, or heading straight onto the freeway → Taichung HSR Station. For the HSR pickup details, see the Taichung HSR Car Rental Guide.

Sources: pickup modes and hours from Goodcars' official store data; drive times from Google Maps driving directions (from 台中市中區建國路157號 and THSR Taichung Station, checked on the evening of Friday 25 September 2026), shown as a range across suggested routes. Actual times depend on traffic. Freeway routes incur ETC tolls.

The old Taichung Station platform keeps a retired train and the red-brick station house, right beside the new station (Unsplash; tagged by the photographer as the old Taichung Train Station)

Driving out of downtown: 3 things to know

• Stay out of the bus-only lanes: the bus bays at the station's ground-floor transfer centre (Platforms A–D) and the bus lanes on Taiwan Boulevard, from Wuquan Road westwards to Yingcai Road in Shalu (with a short gap), are closed to all vehicles except buses and emergency vehicles, and drivers who stray in can be fined. If your navigation sends you along Taiwan Boulevard, use the general traffic lanes.
• Parking in the old town: streets around the station are busy, so if you need to stop, use a paid car park. How parking and payment work in Taiwan: Parking in Taiwan: Complete Guide.
• Freeway tolls: ETC tolls from freeway driving are settled separately under our official rules; how Taiwan's freeway tolls work is covered in the Taiwan ETC Highway Toll Guide.

For coast, mountain or Nantou day trips, see Taichung Self-Drive Tour: 5 Routes; for Sun Moon Lake, see the Sun Moon Lake Self-Drive Guide.

How the price works: rental fee + mileage fee + a fuel card

Pricing at the Taichung Train Station store works the same as at every Goodcars location, with just two parts: a rental fee and a mileage fee.

• Rental fee: depends on the car and the dates (weekdays, weekends and public holidays differ); live prices are on the booking page.
• Mileage fee: you pay for the kilometres you drive, and there is no cap on distance. Drive the city, the coast and the mountains as much as you like.
• Dedicated fuel card: every car comes with its own fuel card. When you need fuel, pay with the card, so you never pay for fuel yourself (fuel is already covered by the mileage fee), and you don't need to top up before returning the car.
• Paid for fuel yourself by mistake? Keep the receipt and the full amount is credited against your mileage fee.
• Tolls: freeway ETC tolls are settled separately under our official rules.

See how the mileage fee is calculated on our mileage fee page, and for typical costs by car type and when to book, read How Much Does Car Rental Cost in Taiwan?

Which car? For two to four people sticking to the city and flat roads, a five-seat compact such as a Vios or Yaris is plenty and easy to park in the old town. For five or more people or lots of luggage, choose a 7- to 9-seater. See the fleet on our 5-seater and 7–9-seater pages; which cars are available at this store on your dates is shown on the booking page.

FAQ

Q1. What documents do I need to rent a car at Taichung Train Station?

Foreign visitors: your passport and your home-country driving licence; most nationalities also need an International Driving Permit (IDP). Japanese licence holders are covered by a Taiwan–Japan agreement and can drive with their Japanese licence plus an official Chinese translation instead of an IDP. Taiwan residents: national ID card, a valid driving licence and a credit card in the renter's name. You can upload your documents as soon as your booking is confirmed, which speeds up pickup.

Q2. My train gets in after 9 pm. Can I still pick up a car?

Not through online booking: the Taichung Train Station store's online-bookable pickup and return times are 09:00–21:00. The store lists self-service outside business hours (21:00–09:00); if you need a night-time pickup, call first to confirm (+886-4-2201-0077). If you are arriving by THSR in the middle of the night, the Taichung HSR Station can be booked from 00:00 to 23:55.

Q3. Can I pick up at Taichung Train Station and return at Taichung HSR Station?

Goodcars supports one-way rentals between different locations. Choose your pickup and return points on the booking page to see availability and price; any one-way fee is shown on the booking page. Rules and popular routes: One-Way Car Rental in Taiwan: 10 Best Routes.

Q4. Can I rent a scooter at this store?

The official store listing mentions scooter rental in Taichung, but whether scooters are available, and which models, is shown on the booking page at the time you book. Tips for renting a scooter: Scooter Rental Recommendations.

Q5. We are a family. Can we get a 7- to 9-seater?

Our fleet includes 7- to 9-seaters (see the 7–9-seater page), but each store has a different mix, so check the booking page for your dates. Large cars go first during public holidays and summer, so book as soon as you know your group size.

Q6. Do I have to add fuel before I drop the car off?

No. Fuel is already covered by the mileage fee; if you need fuel on the road, use the car's fuel card. There is no need to top up before returning; just bring the car back to the store on time (for a night-time return, call the store first to confirm).

Q7. What if I can't find the store?

The store is at 台中市中區建國路157號 (No. 157 Jianguo Rd), about 250 m or a 4-minute walk from Taichung Station. Navigating to the Chinese address is the most reliable way; if you are still lost, call +886-4-2201-0077.