Taipei→Suao: hire a driver is the fastest, and iRent is the cheapest
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Distance：76 km ｜Travel time：77 mins
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Taipei to Suao - train, bus, taxi vs tripool: time & cost
There are many ways to travel from Taipei to Suao Township, Yilan County, but if you want to balance cost, time, and convenience without driving yourself, booking a private transfer is usually the best choice. You’ll find plenty of ride ads and chat groups online, but the top priority when choosing is legality. If the driver takes bookings directly rather than through a registered car company or travel agency, you could run into problems if stopped by the police. Vehicles whose license plates do not begin with T or R are essentially operating illegally (often referred to locally as unlicensed private cars). Before booking, it’s also wise to check online reviews of the company or platform—not only the average rating on Google Maps or Facebook, but also the number of reviews, since platforms with thousands of positive ratings are far more trustworthy than those with only a few dozen. Tripool is one such government-licensed ride-hailing platform in Taiwan. All fares from Taipei City to Suao are completely transparent, and payments are made securely through credit card or convenience store checkout, ensuring clear, traceable transactions and avoiding the disputes that often come with paying cash. Planning point-to-point transport? Let Tripool handle it. Punctual, professional, and polite. We provide non-smoking vehicles. 24/7 online booking for round-the-clock travel.
After analyzing the available data, we found the following alternatives to private charters or transfers. For the journey from Taipei to Suao, the fastest land transportation is Tripool private car transfer, but if you want a more budget-friendly choice, an iRent is the most cost-saving option for a group of 1-8 people. The data in the following table is based on a party of 1 and compares the pros and cons of a private car transfer, car rental, taxi, and high-speed rail. For a more complete analysis of transportation costs and time, please see the FAQ below. Additionally, for single travelers, Tripool also provides door-to-door carpooling service.
- 1–8 passengers
- Truly pickup anywhere
- Ride guaranteed
- No hidden fees
- Pre-booking only
- No cash
- Comfortable seating
- Tickets often sold out in peak season
- Multiple transfers needed
- Takes time and costs more
- Low-cost
- Flexible schedule
- Extra commute to car pick-up
- Time restrictions for pick-up and return
- Additional risk involved
- Requires same-day return or a multi-day rental
- Meets urgent needs
- No upfront payment
- Inconsistent quality
- Usually limited to 4 passengers
| Item | tripool | HSR | Car Rental | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Time | 75 mins | 110 mins | 80-105 mins | 80-90 mins |
| Price per Person | NT$2,010/person | NT$2,040/person | NT$1,200-1,700/person | NT$1,940-2,300/person |
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About tripool
tripool is a licensed smart ride platform offering shared rides, point-to-point transfers, charter services, and airport pickups. Whether you're traveling solo or with family, you’ll always find the most suitable way to get around.
In addition to Taiwan, we also offer airport transfers and private tours in Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand — ensuring your journey stays smooth and worry-free from the moment you land.
Save Up to 40%Our smart dispatch system reduces empty trips, helping you save up to 40% on fares—saving both money and time.
Flexible Cancellation, Zero StressPlans changed? No worries. Cancel within the allowed time and receive a full refund—completely stress-free.
Trusted by Real UsersEvery driver is carefully selected and trained. With over 500,000 rides served and a 99% satisfaction rate, we’ve earned travelers’ trust across Asia.
Our vehicles
5-Seater Sedan
Toyota Altis or similar
7-Seater MPV
Toyota Corolla Cross, RAV4, or similar
9-Seater Van
Volkswagen Caravelle, Ford Tourneo or similar
Trusted by industry leaders
- 晶鑽生醫股份有限公司
- 美商科高國際有限公司
- 台灣迪卡儂有限公司
- 香港商世邦魏理仕有限公司台灣分公司
- 國立臺灣大學
- 長榮海運股份有限公司
- 金車股份有限公司
- 狄卡科技股份有限公司
- 知識科技股份有限公司
- 富士軟片醫療產品股份有限公司
Suao private Transfer FAQs
- It is not recommended to take the High Speed Rail (HSR) from central Taipei to Suao. HSR is expensive, slow, and involves transfer hassles. Although there can be up to 103 trains from Taipei to Nangang a day, running from the first at 07:12 to the last at 23:52, once service ends for the night until early morning, alternative transportation is still required. Assuming you depart from Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, you may walk or take a bus—if available—to Taipei HSR station. Including walking to the platform, buying a ticket, and waiting for the train, it takes at least 25 minutes. Then, take a 7-9-minute (8 min on average) HSR ride from Taipei Station to Nangang HSR Station. The ticket price is NT$40 per person, followed by a 10-minute walk to exit the station, wait for a ride at the taxi stand, and after a trip of about 70 minutes with a fare of NT$2,000, you will arrive at your destination in Suao Township, Yilan County. The entire journey, including transfers, takes a total of 1 hour and 52 minutes. Assuming one person traveling alone, the total transportation cost is NT$2,040. In contrast, if you use Tripool for a door-to-door private car service, it will only cost NT$2,010, and the journey takes 1 hour and 17 minutes. Choosing the HSR over a private charter will not only cost at least an extra NT$30 in fares but also waste an additional 35 minutes on transfers and waiting. Book with Tripool now!
- If you have a Taiwanese driver's license, are confident in your driving skills, and you do not need to rest in the car (since you will be the one driving), and most importantly, if you plan to make a same-day round trip, then iRent, which allows you to pick up and drop off a car on the street in the Taipei City area, is likely your cheapest option. After registering on the iRent app, you can rent a small car for NT$115-205 per hour with an additional charge of NT$3.2 per kilometer. The estimated cost from Taipei (Zhongzheng District) to Suao is between NT$1200 and NT$1700 (the price difference depends on weekday/weekend rates, car model, and how soon you make the return trip after reaching your destination). Although the estimate already includes potential eTag tolls and a roadside parking fee of NT$40 per hour, you are responsible for any additional car insurance and potential traffic fines. Furthermore, iRent by Hotai only offers basic models like the Toyota Yaris, Prius C, and Vios—functional, yes, but far from the comfort you'd expect for anything beyond a grocery run. If your group has more than four people, larger 7-seater or 9-seater vehicles are not available. Moreover, the most common complaint about self-service car-sharing services is the vehicle's condition; you might open the door to find trash left by the previous user or unrepaired dents. Every rental feels like opening a blind box—sometimes fine, sometimes frustrating. Additionally, you might occasionally face issues like the previous user not returning the car on time for your reservation, or being unable to find a parking spot when you need to return it. This poses a significant risk for those in a hurry or traveling with other passengers. Finally, while picking up and dropping off the car on the street seems convenient, it is restricted to specific operational zones. The available parking spots may still be some distance away from your actual departure or arrival point, making it very inconvenient in rainy weather or when carrying luggage.
- If you choose to take a taxi directly, in the Taipei City area, you can use apps to hail a cab from 55688 Taiwan Taxi, Uber, Line Go, Yoxi, etc., and if you cannot hail a cab on the street, you can also consider calling taxi fleets, such as 聖欽衛星車隊, 聯展計程車, 國華衛星車隊 to try to book a ride. Based on the meter, the estimated fare is between NT$1,940 and 2,300, which is not significantly different from Tripool. By comparison, Tripool offers a fixed, transparent fare that will not change due to traffic or detours. However, when considering the return trip, in Yilan County there are only about 750 licensed taxis. This is about 2% of the number of taxis in Taipei City, and its density is just 0.9% of the Taipei/New Taipei metro area, making it 120 times more difficult to hail a cab there. Considering all factors, Tripool is your best choice for traveling from Taipei to Suao in terms of both price and service quality.
- Among these options, Uber is the only one with broad and reliable coverage in Taiwan, available in major cities such as Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Grab does not operate in Taiwan. Didi previously entered the market but has since exited. Bolt has just launched in Taiwan and is currently limited to Taipei. Lyft is not available in Taiwan. If you are choosing among these five, Uber is by far the most practical and widely used option in Taiwan. However, for longer intercity transfers, airport rides, or day trips, tripool is often a better choice—offering transparent pricing, professional drivers, and coverage across Taiwan.
- If you are looking for a private car or a taxi from Taipei to Suao, input the pick-up and drop-off locations (or addresses) on our website. You will get an actual quote in just three seconds. Follow the yellow buttons, fill up your travel information, and choose the payment methods. Once you get the order ID, you will get an SMS and a confirmation email, and your order is all set. We will provide the driver's contact and the car information one day before the ride at 8 PM. We will fulfill your reservation 100%, guaranteeing that our driver will show up. It's recommended to finish the booking one day before noon. Tripool still accepts orders by 6 PM if you have an urgent request, and the latest order can come in by four hours in advance.
- There are many gypsy cabs or illegal taxis in Line and Facebook groups. Their fares are cheap but with many risks. If the cabs are pulled over by polices, passengers cannot continue the trip. If there is an accident, none of the insurance companies will settle a claim. Worst of all, illegal drivers may conduct crimes without any trace. Don't put your life at risk for just saving a few bucks. On the other hand, tripool contracts with legal drivers without any criminal record. All vehicles provide up to $5 million in insurance. The easiest way to distinguish a legal vehicle is the car plate number. Unless the initial character of the car plate number is either T or R, the car is 100% illegal for taxi service.
- Tripool will send a receipt through the third-party system one week after the ride. If passengers need to claim reimbursement for travel expenses, there is a blank to fill with the company's title and tax ID. It's legal, and there is no extra 5% for the receipt. Once the receipt is received via email, it can be printed out for reimbursement or saved as a PDF.
- Some drivers in Line and Facebook groups claim that they can offer private transportation services with a group of more than 8 in a single van, but their services are illegal. According to Taiwan traffic laws, a van can only accommodate nine people maximum, including a driver. Excluding a driver, the maximum number of passengers is 8. If your group is 9 or more and you prefer to travel together in one vehicle, a bus is the only legal option. Some 9-seater van drivers modify their cars and add one or two extra chairs. If these modified vans are detected by the polices on the street, your trip will be terminated immediately. Worst of all, there are additional risks for accidents. And insurance is definitely not covering it. Don't risk your family's and friends' life for a lower price. If your group is no more than 10, we recommend hiring a 9-seater van and a 5-seater sedan. It is cheaper than booking a bus on most occasions. But if your group is more than 12, hiring a bus may be ideal. However, there are few exceptions, such as traveling to mountain areas or narrow lanes. It is better to consult our online service before booking.
Besides from Taipei to Suao , there are other popular routes, such as…
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Distance：76 km ｜Travel time：77 mins
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