Driving in South Korea: licences, car rental and road rules

Use this table to decide before you book. The licence column is the one that stops trips at the rental desk; the month column decides whether you want a car at all.

Decide the region first. A car makes sense on Jeju, where buses are slow and the island's sights ring the coast, and in Gangwon, where ski resorts, national parks and coastal towns sit off the rail line. It also helps in rural North Gyeongsang and South Jeolla if you want temples and villages on your own schedule. It makes little sense in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon or Gwangju, where the subway is fast, cheap and parking is expensive and scarce.

Sort the paperwork before you leave home. You need your physical home licence and an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Convention, which most motoring clubs issue in person for a small fee. Some nationalities and some 1968-Convention permits are not accepted, so confirm with the rental company in writing. Carry your passport too; rental desks ask for it.

Book the car for the right place. Airport pickups at Jeju (CJU) and Gimpo (GMP) are the easiest; Incheon (ICN) has rental counters but driving straight into Seoul traffic is a poor first hour. Jeju and Gangwon rentals sell out in cherry blossom, foliage and ski season, so reserve a week or more ahead. Ask whether the rate includes unlimited kilometres, insurance excess and a Hi-pass transponder.

Learn the rules that catch visitors. Traffic drives on the right. Speed cameras are everywhere, including average-speed sections on expressways, and fines are sent to the rental firm, which charges your card plus an admin fee weeks later. Red-light cameras work. The alcohol limit is 0.03%, lower than in most English-speaking countries, and roadside checks are common at night. Seat belts are required in all seats, and children need appropriate restraints.

Plan the drive itself. Expressways are fast, well signed in Korean and English, and have frequent service areas with clean toilets and cheap food. Tolls are modest; a Hi-pass unit in the windscreen lets you use the automatic lanes. Urban navigation is easier with a Korean map app, since some global apps give poor driving directions here. Parking in cities is the real cost: expect hourly rates in the thousands of won and full lots near popular districts.

Return the car with a full tank unless you prepaid fuel. Check the car for existing damage and photograph it before you drive off, and keep the rental agreement with the accident hotline in the glovebox. If you have an accident, call the police and the rental firm; do not move the cars until they say so.

A car is a tool for specific regions, not a default for South Korea. The KTX and SRT cover Seoul–Busan, Seoul–Gangneung and Seoul–Yeosu faster than driving, and city subways beat parking every time.

Winter driving in Gangwon and the mountains needs real experience: snow tyres or chains, slower speeds and a check on road closures before you set out. Summer's rainy season brings standing water and reduced visibility on expressways.

Fuel types matter. Petrol and diesel are widely available; LPG cars are common but some rental firms restrict them to certain drivers or routes, so ask. Electric cars work well on Jeju and around Seoul, where charging is dense, but plan charging on long rural legs.