In downtown Hualien, Dongdamen Night Market, Pine Garden, Qixingtan and the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park are all within walking or scooter distance. But Taroko National Park, the East Rift Valley and the attractions along the East Coast are spread far apart, and public transportation runs infrequently, so renting a car gives you far more flexibility. A compact car on gogoout starts at about NTD 899 per day, and with 3 or more people splitting the cost it works out cheaper than joining a day tour or hiring a private car. This article walks you through everything you need to know about renting a car in Hualien!
內容目錄
Do you really need to rent a car in Hualien?
How far you plan to roam is what decides it. Look first at where you want to go and what the weather is likely to be, then judge whether you need the flexibility of a self-drive trip.
Places you can reach without a car
The following spots are concentrated in downtown Hualien and are easy to reach on foot, by rental scooter, or by bus:
- Dongdamen Night Market: In the center of Hualien City, within walking distance of most downtown hotels.
- Pine Garden: A downtown park complex, easy to reach by bicycle or on foot.
- The Qixingtan seawall section: Served by buses and a bike path, so it’s easy to visit without a car.
- Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park: Next to the old station shopping district, with shops and food all within walking distance.
If you only plan to stay in downtown Hualien for a day or two, renting a car isn’t great value: a scooter or public transportation will do the job.
Places where you really need a car
The following attractions are far apart, with few bus connections or lots of transfers, so only a self-drive trip lets you plan your time freely:
| Attraction | Notes |
|---|---|
| Taroko National Park | The sights are scattered along Provincial Highway 8, and no single direct bus covers them all. |
| Qingshui Cliff Viewing Platform | Public transportation doesn’t stop here; only with your own car can you pull over to take photos and linger. |
| East Rift Valley (Yuli, Chishang, Luye Highland) | Drives between attractions often take 30 minutes or more, and buses are infrequent. |
| Along the East Coast (Baqi, Shitiping, Crescent Bay) | Spread out along Provincial Highway 11, with long distances between stops and time-consuming transfers. |
If your itinerary includes 2 or more attractions outside the city, renting a car is the bigger time-saver.
Scooter or car: which should you rent in Hualien?
Demand for scooter rentals in Hualien is actually on par with car rentals, so a scooter isn’t a second-best option: it comes down to which one fits your itinerary better.
When renting a scooter makes sense
- Short trips around the city: Dongdamen Night Market, Pine Garden and the Qixingtan seawall section, plus parking a scooter is far easier than parking a car.
- Traveling light with 1 or 2 people: You don’t have much luggage and don’t need to haul large bags around; you only move them when you arrive in and leave Hualien, and the rest of the time they have somewhere to sit.
- A half-day or one-day city tour: If your plans don’t take you out of Hualien City, or involve only a little long-distance driving, a scooter is still on the table.
When renting a car makes sense
- Heading to Taroko, the East Rift Valley or the East Coast: as noted above, public transportation options are limited on these routes, so driving yourself is far more flexible.
- Groups of 3 or more: with more people, splitting the cost of a car beats renting individual scooters, taking taxis or hiring a private car.
- Lots of luggage, or traveling with older relatives or kids: a car offers the space and safety a family trip needs.
- Bad weather in the forecast: the mountains around Taroko often get fog or rain in the afternoon, and staying warm and dry in a car beats riding a scooter in a rain poncho.
| Comparison | Scooter rental | Car rental |
|---|---|---|
| Reference daily rate | NTD 300-600 | NTD 899-2,300 |
| Group size | 1-2 people | 2-7 people |
| Taroko and the East Rift Valley | Tiring on some stretches | Accessible the whole way |
| Rainy days | Inconvenient | Not a problem |
| With kids or older relatives | Not suitable | Suitable |
How to plan your rental if you’re only visiting Hualien
Hualien only (2 days or less)
If your trip centers on downtown Hualien and the Taroko area, just pick up and drop off at the same location. There’s no need to arrange a one-way rental, which comes with an extra drop-off fee anyway.
For multi-day East Rift Valley trips, a one-way rental is the better deal
If you plan to travel all the way down to the East Rift Valley or Taitung, a one-way rental saves you the backtrack to Hualien City and makes the route flow much better.
Pick up in Hualien, drop off in Taitung: Start from downtown Hualien, head south along the East Rift Valley through Yuli, Chishang and Luye Highland, then return the car in Taitung and continue your journey from there, with no need to double back to Hualien. This is the clearest use case on this route.
Pick up in Taitung, drop off in Hualien (reverse): If your trip starts in Taitung and works north to finish in Hualien, you can simply flip the plan; the logic is the same.
One-way rental companies to consider in Hualien
gogoout works with one-way rental providers (愛旺租車 (I-Wang Car Rental), 直航租車 (Zhihang Car Rental), 關山租車 (Guanshan Car Rental), 小馬租車 (Pony Car Rental)), with fees ranging from TWD 300 to 2500 depending on the distance between pickup and drop-off and the length of the rental. Feel free to contact gogoout customer service before booking to ask about this special request.
What size car should you rent in Hualien?
The number of people in your group is the most direct guide to choosing a car type, and factoring in your luggage makes the decision even more accurate.
| Group size | Recommended vehicle type | Model names |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 people | Scooter / compact car With light luggage, a small car saves more on fuel | MITSUBISHI COLT+、SUZUKI SWIFT、TOYOTA YARIS |
| 3-5 people | 5-seat sedan More generous rear-seat space and trunk capacity | TOYOTA YARIS CROSS / ALTIS、NISSAN KICKS |
| 6-9 people | 7-seater / 9-seater Book at least 2 weeks ahead; these sell out quickly in peak season. | TOYOTA WISH、HYUNDAI CUSTIN / STARIA |
How is the cost of a Hualien car rental calculated?
The daily rate for a car rental in Hualien varies with the vehicle type, insurance options and rental length. Here’s a look at current reference prices for Hualien vehicles on gogoout.
Daily rate ranges by vehicle type
| Vehicle type | Reference daily rate | Example models |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car (sedan) | NTD 899-1,300 | MITSUBISHI LANCER / COLT+、TOYOTA VIOS、YARIS |
| SUV, 7-seater | NTD 1,500-2,700 | TOYOTA WISH、HONDA HR-V |
| Large passenger vans (9-seater, etc.) | NTD 3,200-4,000 | HYUNDAI STAREX、Volkswagen CARAVELLE |
Hualien vehicles on gogoout currently start from NTD 899 (depending on the cars listed at the time; we recommend going by the results of your own search)
How parking fees work
Parking in downtown Hualien is relatively cheap compared with Taipei, and is mainly concentrated in these spots:
- Street parking spaces in downtown Hualien: Hourly rates vary by street, and spaces are available near most attractions.
- Parking lots around Taroko: The Taroko Visitor Center has parking spaces, but they are limited, so arrive early in peak season.
- Qixingtan and Dongdamen Night Market area: Spaces get tight in peak travel season, so try to avoid arriving at midday or around dinnertime.
We recommend using “ParkingLoud,” which lets you quickly compare the parking lots currently operating in your area along with their rates (some information isn’t updated in real time).
Sample cost split between passengers
Take a compact sedan as an example (market rate NTD 1,200 per day, fuel not included):
With 4 people traveling together, that’s about NTD 300 each, plus roughly NTD 300-500 in fuel for a round trip to Taroko. Total transportation comes to under NTD 500 per person, which beats joining a day tour or taking separate taxis.
How to read the insurance costs
When you rent with gogoout, the price you see already includes the basic insurance the rental company provides, but coverage isn’t the same at every company, so consider adding extra rental insurance based on your needs. In general, added rental insurance runs about NTD 200-500 per day depending on the vehicle type; the exact amount is the quote shown in the add-on insurance details on the booking page.
Where should you pick up your car in Hualien?
There are two common pickup points in downtown Hualien. Which one you choose depends on how you arrive and on the pickup and drop-off options the rental company offers:
Hualien Train Station
The area around Hualien Train Station is where rental companies cluster. gogoout’s partners here include 全能租車 (Chuan Neng Car Rental), 久和租車 (Jiu He Car Rental), 花蓮兆豐租車 (Hualien Chao Feng Car Rental), 富豪聯合租賃 (Fu Hao United Leasing), 小馬租車 (Pony Car Rental), 直航租車 (Zhi Hang Car Rental), 愛旺租車 (Ai Wang Car Rental) and 長城國際租賃 (Great Wall International Leasing). With so many within walking distance, this is the first pickup point for most travelers arriving in Hualien.
Hualien Airport
If you’re arriving in Hualien on a domestic flight, some companies also offer airport shuttle service or on-site pickup, but not every partner currently provides it. Check directly with the rental company or gogoout customer service before booking so you don’t arrive and discover you need to arrange your own transportation into town to pick up the car.
How do you check the latest road conditions for self-driving in Hualien?
This is the step most easily overlooked when planning a Hualien self-drive trip, even though it should be the first thing you confirm.
Are the Taroko trails open now?
After the 2024 earthquake, many trails and road sections in Taroko National Park are being rebuilt in phases, and attractions are reopening gradually and only in part (the Lushui Recreation Area, for example, partially reopened in early 2026). The scope and timing of openings keep changing rather than being restored all at once. Before you set out, check the “Road and Trail Openings” page on the Taroko National Park Headquarters website, or call the official inquiry line to confirm the latest status, so you don’t plan a trip only to find the site closed.
What if the Suhua Highway is closed by a typhoon?
The Suhua Highway (Provincial Highway 9) often closes during typhoon season due to falling rocks and landslides, so check the Directorate General of Highways’ “1968” real-time traffic service (official Line account or website) before you go.
How far in advance should you book for the best deal?
Based on gogoout booking data, demand for rental cars in Hualien varies noticeably by time of year:
- Ordinary weekdays: Book 7-14 days ahead and you’ll still have a decent selection of vehicles.
- Summer vacation (July-August): This is Hualien’s peak travel season, so book larger vehicles like 7-seaters 2-3 weeks in advance.
- Long weekends and Lunar New Year: Hualien is a popular domestic holiday destination, so book at least 2-3 weeks ahead. Otherwise your choices shrink and rates tend to run higher than on weekdays.
Booking early doesn’t necessarily cost more; higher prices usually come from peak season and holiday demand. Some gogoout partners offer free cancellation plans, so you can lock in a car now and still cancel flexibly if your plans change.
Can you trust the reviews of rental companies?
Most Hualien rental companies have ratings on Google Maps, but the reviews come from all sorts of sources and it’s hard to judge how genuine they are. Sometimes you’ll run into sponsored ratings, or even paid fake reviews.
Are the rental experiences shared on Dcard and PTT reliable?
Many people search communities like Dcard and PTT for real experiences with “Hualien car rental recommendations” before deciding. That habit makes sense, but it’s often hard to tell whether a community post is sponsored. Reviews on gogoout can only be left by renters who completed a booking and actually picked up the car; without a pickup record, you can’t post. Ratings are broken down into overall experience, booking process, staff attitude, vehicle cleanliness and more. Compared with community posts whose origins are hard to verify, these reviews map much better onto the pickup experience you’ll actually have.
How to book a Hualien car rental on gogoout
- Search for a vehicle:
Go to the gogoout Hualien car rental page and enter your pickup location (Hualien Train Station, Hualien Airport, etc.) along with your pickup and return dates and times.
- Compare cars and insurance options
The system lists every car available to book in Hualien, and you can filter by number of seats, vehicle type, price range and features to compare them all at once.
- Fill in your details and complete the booking
Once you’ve picked a car, enter the driver’s details and pay by credit card. A booking confirmation email will be sent to your inbox with the shop’s contact details and pickup instructions.
Hualien car rental FAQ
You’ll need your original, valid Taiwanese driver’s license, your original ID card, and the credit card used for the booking. International visitors need their home-country driver’s license, a Chinese translation of that license, and their passport. Some shops may have additional requirements, so it’s best to check the pickup instructions on the car’s page before booking.
It depends on the rental company and the return location. Picking up in Hualien and returning in Taitung is currently the most common arrangement, and shops charge an extra fee based on the distance. We recommend contacting gogoout customer service before you book so they can suggest suitable shops and vehicles for your pickup and return locations.
You need a light or heavy motorcycle license. Without the matching license you can’t rent, so check which license class the car or scooter you’ve chosen requires before booking.
Not all partner shops in Hualien offer airport transfers, so check with the shop or customer service before booking. If your shop doesn’t offer an airport transfer, you can take a taxi or bus into downtown Hualien and pick up the car there.
Most shops have set pickup and return hours from morning to evening, and 24-hour pickup and return isn’t currently available. You may want to look at companies that offer curbside pickup and return instead.
The price shown for each car on gogoout already includes the shop’s basic insurance, but coverage varies from shop to shop. Depending on your itinerary, consider adding extra Taiwan rental insurance. The mountain roads around Taroko have plenty of curves, so extra coverage makes self-driving more relaxing.
If a natural disaster such as an earthquake or typhoon or another force majeure event means you need to change your plans, contact gogoout customer service and they’ll help you work out a new date or arrangement with the shop, so you don’t have to deal with the shop yourself.
That wraps up the Hualien car rental information gogoout has put together for you, a complete planning guide to self-driving in Hualien, covering whether you need a car at all, how to choose between a scooter and a car, cost comparisons and one-way rental arrangements. We hope it helps your Hualien trip go smoothly.
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This article was translated by AI from the original Chinese version.
