Renting a Car in Korea as a Foreigner: Permits, Rules and Jeju
Quick answer
- Yes, tourists can drive in Korea for up to 1 year from arrival with a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna convention, or a license Korea mutually recognizes. We found no official basis for driving on a US, Australian or UK license alone.
- Mainland China: Korea's licensing agency says China isn't a party to either convention. It accepts permits issued in Hong Kong and Macau. We found no official basis for mainland-issued licenses or permits.
- You drive on the right. The blood alcohol limit is 0.03%, everyone in the car must wear a seat belt, and children under 6 need a child seat.
Tourists can drive in Korea for up to 1 year from their arrival date with a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna convention, or a foreign license Korea mutually recognizes, and the law lets them rent a car on it. You drive on the right. Bring your IDP, your passport and your home license, since some rental companies ask for it.
Source: Road Traffic Act, Article 96 (Korean) and KTO — Driving in Korea; checked Nov 4, 2026.
This is a summary of the rules, not legal advice. We don't name rental companies, quote prices or recommend any coverage. KTO says costs vary by region, car type, season and company.
Can I drive on my license?
| Where your license is from | What official sources say |
|---|---|
| United States | Bring an IDP and your US license. AAA and AATA are the only two issuers the US government authorizes. We found no official basis for a US license alone |
| United Kingdom | You need both the 1949 IDP and your UK license in the car, GOV.UK says. Get it before you travel |
| Canada | You must carry an IDP or a Korean license, the Canadian government says |
| Singapore | An IDP for short trips, the Singapore embassy says |
| Japan | A Geneva-convention IDP, valid 1 year; it stops working if your Japanese license expires, the Japanese embassy says |
| Australia | Australia is on the UN list of 1949 convention parties. We couldn't open Australian government advice on this |
| Hong Kong, Macau | Permits issued there are accepted, the Korea Road Traffic Authority says |
| Mainland China | Not a party to either convention. We found no official basis for mainland-issued licenses or permits |
For other countries, the Korea Road Traffic Authority's page links to its lists of Geneva and Vienna countries.
- Time limit: the law allows driving for 1 year from the date you entered Korea, and the IDP itself has its own expiry date. Go by whichever ends first. That's our reading of the two rules.
- Vehicle types: you can only drive the classes shown on your permit.
- Carry it: the law requires you to have your permit with you when you drive and to show it if police ask.
- Driving without a valid permit: the penalty is up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to ₩3,000,000.
Source: Road Traffic Act, Articles 92, 96 and 152, Korea Road Traffic Authority (both Korean), USA.gov, GOV.UK, Canada, Singapore embassy and Japanese embassy; checked Nov 4, 2026.
Online "international licenses"
Being online isn't the test: who issued it is. In the US, AAA takes applications online, in person or by mail, and AATA takes them online. The Korea Road Traffic Authority says look-alike documents from unofficial issuers can't be used, and warns that they often say "INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENSE" on the cover. USA.gov warns that many other websites selling these are fraudulent.
Source: Korea Road Traffic Authority (Korean) and USA.gov; checked Nov 4, 2026.
Renting the car
- The law's check: rental companies must check the driver's qualification through a government system, and can't rent to someone who isn't licensed or for a vehicle class outside their license.
- Age and experience: KTO says major companies may ask for a minimum age of 21 and at least one year of driving experience. It describes these as company requirements, and they vary.
- Documents: KTO lists a valid IDP and passport as the basics, and says some companies also want your home-country license.
- Paying without a credit card: we found no legal rule. A KTO column lists a credit or debit card among the things to bring, so ask the company before you book.
- A driver instead: the law lets rental companies arrange a driver for foreign renters. Whether a company offers it is up to them.
Source: Passenger Transport Service Act, Articles 34 and 34-2 (Korean), and KTO; checked Nov 4, 2026.
What to check at the counter
The Korea Consumer Agency received 1,438 car rental complaints from 2023 to 2025. It asks renters to:
- Before signing: check the cancellation fee, the refund terms and the damage-waiver terms. A damage waiver is a company's scheme for reducing what you pay if you damage the car, by its own standards, so read what it leaves out.
- At pickup: inspect the outside and test that things work, and keep a record. Practical Law adds: photograph any damage and have it written on the contract.
- After an accident: tell the company on the spot and photograph the damage. If repairs are needed, agree on the garage with the company and ask for an estimate and a repair statement.
- At return: check the fuel settlement and bring the car back to the agreed place. Some electric cars count as returned only once plugged in.
Under the standard terms the agency cites, cancelling more than 24 hours ahead gets your deposit back, and cancelling within 24 hours costs 10% of the rental fee. Companies don't have to use the standard terms, so check yours.
KTO says rental prices typically include cover for injuries and third-party property, and that cover for the rental car itself may be included or optional. Ask what yours includes. We can't advise you on what to choose.
Source: Korea Consumer Agency, Practical Law (both Korean) and KTO; checked Nov 4, 2026.
At the airport
- Incheon: rental counters are between Exits 13 and 14 on the 1st floor of Terminal 1, and on B1, west side of the Transportation Center, at Terminal 2. Hours vary by company.
- Jeju: the airport's page says you take a shuttle from the rent-a-car house, with the shuttle stop outside Gate 5. Confirm the details with your company.
Source: Incheon Airport and Jeju Airport (Korean); checked Nov 4, 2026.
Rules of the road
| The rule | |
|---|---|
| Side of the road | Drive on the right; the driver's seat is on the left |
| Alcohol | Illegal from 0.03% blood alcohol |
| Seat belts | Every seat; the driver must make sure passengers wear them |
| Children | Under 6 need a child restraint |
| Phone | No hand-held use unless stopped or in an emergency; a mounted navigation screen is allowed, but set it while stopped |
| Right turn on red | Stop first, then turn only if you don't block other traffic. No turn if a right-turn signal is red |
| Crosswalks | Stop if someone is crossing or about to cross |
| School zones | Limits can be set at 30 km/h or lower. At crosswalks with no signal, always stop |
| Speed | Follow the posted limit; expressway limits differ by road, vehicle and conditions |
| Expressway bus lane | Only cars with 9 or more seats and vans; those with 12 seats or fewer need 6 or more people aboard |
Driving at a BAC of 0.03% or above is illegal. Penalties depend on the BAC and circumstances, and repeat offences within the law's 10-year period carry higher penalties. Never estimate whether you can drive from the number of drinks. Some parts of the Road Traffic Act change in 2026 and 2027, so check the current law if you're reading this later.
Source: Road Traffic Act, Articles 11, 12, 13, 25, 27, 44, 49, 50 and 148-2, enforcement rules, Article 19 and Annex 2, and enforcement decree, Annex 1 (all Korean); checked Nov 4, 2026.
Tolls and navigation
- Tolls: take a ticket when you enter an expressway and pay at the exit, or pay automatically with a Hi-pass device if the car has one. KTO's main page says cash at the booth, and a KTO column says cash or a credit card, so keep some cash.
- Blue lanes are Hi-pass. If your car has no device, stay out of them. If you drive through one by mistake, KTO says to ask your rental company how to pay.
- Navigation: KTO says Google Maps navigation doesn't work in Korea and points to Naver Map (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese) and Kakao Map (Korean, English). See our Naver Map guide.
Source: KTO; checked Nov 4, 2026.
If you have an accident
The law says to stop right away, help anyone who's hurt, and give your details to the other person. You must report to police unless only vehicles were damaged and you've made the road safe. Then tell your rental company. Police are 112 and fire and ambulance are 119: see our emergency guide. The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline (+82-2-1330) can help in English.
We couldn't find an official guide on how foreign visitors pay traffic fines. Ask your rental company.
Source: Road Traffic Act, Article 54 (Korean); checked Nov 4, 2026.
Driving on Jeju
- Book ahead: Jeju's special law lets the province limit new rental registrations, and the Fair Trade Commission has said the island's short-term rental market is restricted this way. Our suggestion: don't count on finding a car on arrival.
- Mountain roads in winter: the Hallasan park office tells drivers to check the 1100 and 5.16 roads on the Jeju police road page for closures and ice. The page may not be live, so if it looks out of date, call 1330 or ask your rental company.
- Snow chains: we couldn't find an official rule. Ask your company whether it supplies them.
- Without a car: see our Jeju travel guide for buses.
Source: Jeju Special Act, Article 427-2, Fair Trade Commission, Hallasan National Park FAQ and Jeju Police (all Korean); checked Nov 4, 2026.
FAQ
Can tourists drive in South Korea?
Yes, for up to 1 year from arrival with a valid IDP under the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna convention, or a foreign license Korea mutually recognizes. The law allows renting a car on it.
Can I drive in Korea with a US license?
We found no official basis for a US license alone. Bring an IDP from AAA or AATA, the two issuers the US government authorizes, along with your US license.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Korea?
The right. The driver's seat is on the left, and distances and speeds are in kilometers.
Is an online International Driving Permit valid in Korea?
It depends on who issued it, not how you applied. Korea's licensing agency says look-alike documents from unofficial issuers can't be used.
How old do I have to be to rent a car in Korea?
KTO says major companies may ask for a minimum age of 21 and one year of driving experience. These vary by company, so check before you book.
Can I rent a car on Jeju without a credit card?
We found no official rule. It depends on the company, so ask before you book.
- Korea Law Information Center — Road Traffic Act (effective Oct 13, 2026, Korean)
- Korea Law Information Center — Passenger Transport Service Act (effective Jul 1, 2026, Korean)
- Korea Law Information Center — Road Traffic Act enforcement rules (effective Aug 24, 2026, Korean)
- Korea Law Information Center — Road Traffic Act enforcement decree (effective Oct 2, 2026, Korean)
- Korea Road Traffic Authority — International driving permits (Korean)
- Korea Tourism Organization — Driving in Korea (last updated Oct 8, 2026)
- USA.gov — International Driving Permits (Apr 14, 2026)
- GOV.UK — South Korea travel advice
- Government of Canada — South Korea travel advice
- Embassy of Singapore in Seoul — Driving license (Jun 25, 2026)
- Embassy of Japan in Korea — Driving (Mar 20, 2025, Japanese)
- Korea Consumer Agency — Car rental advisory (Aug 5, 2026, Korean)
- Easy to Find Practical Law — Renting a car (Oct 15, 2026, Korean)
- Incheon Airport — Car rental
- Jeju Airport — Car rental (Korean)
- Hallasan National Park — FAQ on road checks (Korean)
- Jeju Police — Road conditions (Korean)
- Korea Law Information Center — Jeju Special Act (effective Oct 13, 2026, Korean)
- Fair Trade Commission briefing on Jeju car rental (Korean)
Last checked Nov 4, 2026. Details can change — please confirm with the official source before you travel.
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