Ministry of Transportation Amends Regulations to Tackle Irregularities in Taxi License Fees, Imposing Fines Up to NT$90,000 and License Revocation
Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation (MOT) today announced a major amendment to regulations aimed at curbing improper collection of 'kaohang' (affiliate) license fees by taxi companies and prohibiting coercive practices on drivers. Violators could face fines up to NT$90,000 and the revocation of their operating licenses, marking a significant step to protect taxi drivers' rights and ensure fair competition in the industry.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 17:08
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 17:32 (23 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 21:24 (3h 52m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Qiaowen, Taipei, April 24) Following reports of taxi companies improperly collecting "kaohang" (affiliate) license fees, with some charging up to NT$350,000, drivers have reported being forced to purchase vehicles, obtain car loans, and insurance from designated parties. The Ministry of Transportation (MOT) announced today that it will amend regulations to prohibit such improper fees. Violators will face fines of up to NT$90,000 and may have their operating licenses revoked.
Taiwan has approximately 100,000 taxi licenses nationwide, with about 93,000 vehicles already registered, leaving roughly 6,000 vacant licenses. The MOT has received numerous complaints regarding taxi companies improperly collecting "kaohang" license fees, with Taichung being the most severe case, charging up to NT$350,000. The MOT held a meeting today to discuss proposed amendments to Article 91-1 of the Motor Vehicle Transportation Management Regulations and Article 6 of the Motor Vehicle Transportation Business Review Regulations, inviting relevant authorities and taxi representatives to participate.
Liu Hongzhang, chairman of the National Association for Automobile Drivers' Rights, told the media that the passive response from relevant authorities in Tainan and Kaohsiung over the past two years has exacerbated the chaos, leaving many drivers struggling to survive. Currently, new drivers often need to prepare NT$100,000 to NT$200,000 to enter the industry.
Guo Guofeng, a driver from Tainan, pointed out that some taxi companies require drivers to purchase vehicles, secure loans, and obtain insurance through designated channels, creating a "one-stop shop" scheme. He gave an example: a hybrid car with a market price of about NT$760,000, when purchased and financed through a taxi company, required a down payment of NT$60,000 to NT$80,000, followed by monthly payments of NT$25,000 for 60 months, totaling over NT$1.5 million. This means the taxi company profited hundreds of thousands of NT dollars from the transaction.
Guo Guofeng called for the amendments to clearly protect drivers' right to choose, prohibiting companies from forcing drivers to buy cars from them, and imposing strict penalties, such as license revocation, on non-compliant taxi companies.
Driver Wu Huaxing noted that because taxi companies control license resources, most drivers who wish to operate and carry passengers must affiliate with them, creating room for exploitation. He suggested that if drivers could apply for licenses directly from the government and the cooperative system remained open, such problems could be reduced.
According to the draft amendments to the Motor Vehicle Transportation Management Regulations, taxi companies will be explicitly prohibited from requiring drivers to purchase operating vehicles, obtain vehicle loans, or buy specific insurance from designated parties; from requiring drivers to participate in specific taxi passenger transport services; and from collecting unapproved fees, fees not stipulated in contracts, or other improper charges from drivers.
The MOT explained in a written statement that the current discussion on regulatory amendments focuses on three main points. First, in response to drivers' associations' concerns about improper charges by taxi companies, or unreasonable practices that restrict drivers' freedom of choice, such as being forced to purchase vehicles, obtain car loans, insurance, or join designated fleets from specific parties, these actions will be explicitly prohibited.
Second, regarding the collection of "kaohang" (affiliate) fees by taxi companies, the MOT stated that these fees must be approved by local highway authorities and published on their official websites. Taxi companies must also retain receipts for inspection by the authorities to enhance transparency and management of fees and protect drivers' rights.
Third, for the extension of vacant license quotas, the MOT stated that a review committee mechanism established by local highway authorities would be required for approval.
The MOT noted that if taxi companies violate the Motor Vehicle Transportation Management Regulations in the future, they may be subject to fines ranging from NT$9,000 to NT$90,000 under Article 77, Paragraph 1 of the Highway Act. Depending on the severity of the circumstances, partial business operations may be suspended, and in the most severe cases, their operating licenses may be revoked.
The MOT stated that it will continue to review the license issuance mechanism in conjunction with the planning for universal taxis. (Editor: Lin Shuhui) 1150424
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(Central News Agency reporter Huang Qiaowen, Taipei, April 24) Following reports of taxi companies improperly collecting "kaohang" (affiliate) license fees, with some charging up to NT$350,000, drivers have reported being forced to purchase vehicles, obtain car loans, and insurance from designated parties. The Ministry of Transportation (MOT) announced today that it will amend regulations to prohibit such improper fees. Violators will face fines of up to NT$90,000 and may have their operating licenses revoked.
Taiwan has approximately 100,000 taxi licenses nationwide, with about 93,000 vehicles already registered, leaving roughly 6,000 vacant licenses. The MOT has received numerous complaints regarding taxi companies improperly collecting "kaohang" license fees, with Taichung being the most severe case, charging up to NT$350,000. The MOT held a meeting today to discuss proposed amendments to Article 91-1 of the Motor Vehicle Transportation Management Regulations and Article 6 of the Motor Vehicle Transportation Business Review Regulations, inviting relevant authorities and taxi representatives to participate.
Liu Hongzhang, chairman of the National Association for Automobile Drivers' Rights, told the media that the passive response from relevant authorities in Tainan and Kaohsiung over the past two years has exacerbated the chaos, leaving many drivers struggling to survive. Currently, new drivers often need to prepare NT$100,000 to NT$200,000 to enter the industry.
Guo Guofeng, a driver from Tainan, pointed out that some taxi companies require drivers to purchase vehicles, secure loans, and obtain insurance through designated channels, creating a "one-stop shop" scheme. He gave an example: a hybrid car with a market price of about NT$760,000, when purchased and financed through a taxi company, required a down payment of NT$60,000 to NT$80,000, followed by monthly payments of NT$25,000 for 60 months, totaling over NT$1.5 million. This means the taxi company profited hundreds of thousands of NT dollars from the transaction.
Guo Guofeng called for the amendments to clearly protect drivers' right to choose, prohibiting companies from forcing drivers to buy cars from them, and imposing strict penalties, such as license revocation, on non-compliant taxi companies.
Driver Wu Huaxing noted that because taxi companies control license resources, most drivers who wish to operate and carry passengers must affiliate with them, creating room for exploitation. He suggested that if drivers could apply for licenses directly from the government and the cooperative system remained open, such problems could be reduced.
According to the draft amendments to the Motor Vehicle Transportation Management Regulations, taxi companies will be explicitly prohibited from requiring drivers to purchase operating vehicles, obtain vehicle loans, or buy specific insurance from designated parties; from requiring drivers to participate in specific taxi passenger transport services; and from collecting unapproved fees, fees not stipulated in contracts, or other improper charges from drivers.
The MOT explained in a written statement that the current discussion on regulatory amendments focuses on three main points. First, in response to drivers' associations' concerns about improper charges by taxi companies, or unreasonable practices that restrict drivers' freedom of choice, such as being forced to purchase vehicles, obtain car loans, insurance, or join designated fleets from specific parties, these actions will be explicitly prohibited.
Second, regarding the collection of "kaohang" (affiliate) fees by taxi companies, the MOT stated that these fees must be approved by local highway authorities and published on their official websites. Taxi companies must also retain receipts for inspection by the authorities to enhance transparency and management of fees and protect drivers' rights.
Third, for the extension of vacant license quotas, the MOT stated that a review committee mechanism established by local highway authorities would be required for approval.
The MOT noted that if taxi companies violate the Motor Vehicle Transportation Management Regulations in the future, they may be subject to fines ranging from NT$9,000 to NT$90,000 under Article 77, Paragraph 1 of the Highway Act. Depending on the severity of the circumstances, partial business operations may be suspended, and in the most severe cases, their operating licenses may be revoked.
The MOT stated that it will continue to review the license issuance mechanism in conjunction with the planning for universal taxis. (Editor: Lin Shuhui) 1150424
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.