Where to get a driver's license health exam? An overview of health exam rules for license exams, annual exams for commercial drivers aged 60 and over, and senior license renewal
The physical examination for applying for or renewing a driver's license, pursuant to Article 64 of Taiwan's Road Traffic Safety Rules, may be performed at public hospitals, health agencies, hospitals designated by the highway supervisory authorities, or clinics or groups designated by the supervisory authorities (health examination agencies). The list of agencies can be searched by county/city on the Directorate-General of Highways' 'Motor Vehicle Supervision Service Network'; as of September 12, 2026, a total of 107 were listed nationwide. For commercial drivers aged 60 or older, the rules differ: under Article 64-1, they must undergo a health examination once a year at a hospital accredited by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, with additional tests for blood pressure, chest X-ray, and electrocardiogram. The following is a compilation of health examination standards, age regulations, and search methods for various types of driver's licenses; it is a neutral compilation of public information. Please confirm the items actually accepted with the institution first.
What does the health exam for taking a driver's license test check? What are the passing standards?
Under Article 64 of Taiwan's Road Traffic Safety Rules, the passing standards for the physical examination and fitness test for general automobile and motorcycle drivers are as follows:
- Vision: uncorrected visual acuity of 0.6 or better in both eyes and 0.5 or better in each eye; or corrected visual acuity of 0.8 or better in both eyes and 0.6 or better in each eye
- Color discrimination: able to distinguish red, yellow, and green; hearing: able to distinguish sounds; limbs: intact with no defects, and whole-body and limb joint movement is agile
- No epilepsy (except for those who have had no seizures for at least the past 2 years and have a physician's diagnostic certificate) or other diseases sufficient to affect driving, and no alcohol, anesthetic, or stimulant intoxication
- Physical fitness test: visual field of at least 150 degrees in each eye (at least 120 degrees in each eye for those aged 60 or older), and no night blindness
- Those who have already passed a health examination when applying for a learner's driving permit are exempt from further examination within one year
Where can I get a driver's license health exam? How do I find a health examination agency?
Article 64 stipulates that driver's license health exams shall be performed by the following units. The most direct way to check is the 'Health Examination Agency Query' on the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' Directorate-General of Highways 'Motor Vehicle Supervision Service Network,' which lists names, telephone numbers, addresses, and whether they accept health exams for commercial drivers aged 60 and over by county/city:
- Public hospitals, health agencies, or hospitals designated by the motor vehicle supervision authority
- A motor vehicle supervision authority with attached examination equipment and certified qualified medical personnel, or clinics or organizations designated by the supervision authority (i.e., 'health examination agencies')
- As of the query on September 12, 2026, there were 107 driver license health examination agencies across Taiwan: Taichung City 23, Taoyuan City 12, Tainan City 11, Hsinchu City 10, Changhua County 10, New Taipei City 9, Kaohsiung City 8, Taipei City 4, Hsinchu County 4, Keelung City 3, Nantou County 3; Yilan County, Chiayi City, Yunlin County, and Hualien County 2 each; Kinmen County and Pingtung County 1 each.
- Miaoli County, Chiayi County, Taitung County, Penghu County, and Lienchiang County had no agencies in the list on the date of query; please contact the local public hospital or motor vehicles office.
- The list is subject to change; some agencies are marked as temporarily not accepting applications, appointment-only, or not offering cognitive function tests for older adults; please confirm by phone before going.
At what age do commercial driver's licenses require annual health exams? What is the difference between the rules for ages 60, 65, and 68?
Commercial driver's licenses are renewed every 6 years; upon reaching a certain age, renewal or extension of validity requires a health examination certificate (Articles 52, 52-1, and 64-1):
- Aged 60 and over: undergo a health examination once a year at a hospital accredited by the Ministry of Health and Welfare; if qualified, receive a new license valid for 1 year or an annual extension annotation, until age 65.
- Professional drivers of small vehicles over age 65: those who have not had their driver's license suspended in the previous year and pass the health examination may renew their license or obtain an extension annotation annually, until age 68.
- Professional drivers of small vehicles over age 68 and professional drivers of large vehicles over age 65 employed by motor transport businesses: in addition to the health examination, they must pass a cognitive function test or provide proof of no dementia; small vehicles until age 70, large vehicles until age 68.
- Additional examination items for those aged 60 and over: blood pressure (systolic pressure below 160 mmHg and diastolic pressure below 100 mmHg), chest X-ray, and electrocardiogram, and exclusion of poorly controlled diabetes, heart disease insufficient to respond to emergencies, epilepsy, stroke, etc.; for the above higher age groups, additionally a sleep quality (PSQI) questionnaire, exercise electrocardiogram, and urine, blood, and biochemical tests.
Do regular driver's licenses require periodic renewal? Is a health exam required for renewal at ages 70 and 75?
General (ordinary) driver's licenses have been exempt from periodic renewal since July 1, 2013, but separate regulations apply to elderly drivers, and starting May 31, 2026, renewal at age 70 is added (Article 52-2):
- From May 31, 2026, ordinary driver's licenses newly issued or already held by persons under age 70 are valid until age 70.
- On reaching age 70: must pass the health examination under Article 64 and complete a road traffic safety course; receive a license valid until age 75; application may be made from 1 month before expiration to within 2 years after expiration.
- Those who had reached age 70 but were under age 75 on May 31, 2026: must renew their license within 2 years in accordance with the above provisions; failure to do so is deemed overdue, and they may not drive.
- Age 75 or older: thereafter, license renewal every 3 years; must pass a health examination, and pass a cognitive function test or provide proof of no moderate or above dementia; from May 31, 2026, must also complete a road traffic safety course
- The cognitive function test is administered by public hospitals, health authorities, or hospitals, clinics, or organizations designated by the motor vehicle office (Article 52-1)
How does a driver's license health examination differ from a labor health examination and a self-paid health examination?
The three differ in purpose and legal basis:
- Driver's license health examination: assesses fitness to drive under Taiwan's Road Traffic Safety Regulations; items mainly include visual acuity, color vision, hearing, and limb mobility; for professional drivers aged 60 or older, blood pressure, chest X-ray, and electrocardiogram are additionally tested
- Labor health examination: arranged and paid for by the employer under the Occupational Safety and Health Act; it is a general health examination during employment (see this site's "Labor Health Examination Regulations")
- Self-paid health examination: items selected by individuals based on age and risk; broader in scope and unrelated to driver's license qualification
FAQ
Where can I get a driver's license health examination? Can a clinic next to the motor vehicles office do it?
Yes, provided it is on the designated list of the motor vehicle authorities. Under Article 64 of Taiwan's Road Traffic Safety Rules, a driver's license health examination may be performed at a public hospital, a health authority, a hospital designated by the motor vehicle authorities, or a clinic or organization (health examination agency) designated by the motor vehicle authorities. To check whether it is on the list, go to the Directorate-General of Highways, Ministry of Transportation and Communications' 'Motor Vehicle Services Online' 'Health Examination Agency Search' and search by county/city; as of a search on September 12, 2026, there were 107 nationwide.
Which hospital should be visited for the health examination for a professional driver's license for persons aged 65 and over?
Professional drivers aged 60 or over must, under Article 64-1, undergo a health examination once a year at a 'hospital accredited by the Ministry of Health and Welfare'; general health examination agencies do not necessarily accept them. The agency list on Motor Vehicle Services Online has a column indicating whether it accepts health examinations for professional drivers aged 60 or over: as of a search on September 12, 2026, 4 of the 107 indicated acceptance (3 in Hsinchu City and 1 in Changhua County, all hospitals). For other areas, refer to the list of accredited hospitals published by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and call the hospital first to confirm whether it provides the service.
At what age does a professional driver's license require an annual health examination?
Age 60 or over. Under Articles 52 and 64-1 of Taiwan's Road Traffic Safety Rules, professional drivers must undergo a health examination once a year starting at age 60. After passing, they are issued a new license valid for 1 year or receive an annual extension annotation, until age 65. Professional drivers of small vehicles over age 65 may, under the regulations, have this extended to age 68; professional drivers of small vehicles over age 68, and professional drivers of large vehicles over age 65 employed by the automobile transport industry, must additionally undergo a cognitive function test or provide proof of no dementia, with small vehicles up to age 70 and large vehicles up to age 68.
What does a driver's license health examination check? What vision level is required to pass?
Under Article 64, the vision standard is uncorrected visual acuity of 0.6 or above in both eyes and 0.5 or above in each eye, or corrected visual acuity of 0.8 or above in both eyes and 0.6 or above in each eye. Other items include color discrimination (red, yellow, green), hearing, movement of the limbs and joints, absence of diseases that affect driving such as epilepsy, and, in the physical fitness test, visual fields (150 degrees or more in each eye; 120 degrees or more in each eye for those aged 60 or over) and absence of night blindness. Those who have already passed a health examination when applying for a learner driver permit are exempt from another examination within one year.
Is a new health examination required for a driver's license at age 70 and over?
Yes. Under Article 52-2, from May 31, 2026, the validity period of an ordinary driver's license lasts until age 70; at age 70, the holder must pass a health examination and complete a road traffic safety course, and is issued a license valid until age 75. From age 75, the license must be renewed once every full 3 years, requiring a passed health examination and either passing a cognitive function test or providing proof of absence of moderate or greater dementia, and completion of the course. Those who were already 70 but under 75 on May 31, 2026, must renew their license within 2 years.
What is the cost of a driver's license health examination?
This site does not include driver's license health examination fees charged by individual institutions and does not compare prices; fees should be based on the institution's announcement or confirmed by telephone. You can first use the 'Health Examination Agency Search' on Motor Vehicle Services Online to find the telephone number of an agency in your county or city, or contact a public hospital, and then ask about examination items, fees, and whether an appointment is required.
This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only, not Medical advice, and does not constitute any diagnostic commitment.