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Home/Destinations/South Korea
From €9/day
Explore South Korea on your own schedule

Car rental in South Korea

Quick booking, flexible rental options, and easy pickup.

★★★★★★ 4.5 / 8,764 reviews
Rent a car in South Korea
✓ No hidden fees · ✓ Free cancellation

Popular cities in South Korea

Seoul
Seoul
Busan
Busan
Incheon
Incheon
Ulsan
Ulsan

Why drive in South Korea

Beyond Seoul s metro, a car opens up coastal drives and mountain roads at your own pace. Cruise from Busan along the east coast to Gyeongju and Sokcho, stopping at fishing ports, beaches and seaside temples away from busy hubs.

Inland, driving around Jeju or the Seoraksan and Jirisan areas makes it simpler to reach trailheads, tea fields and small hanok villages. Renting a car frees you from train schedules and lets you link cities and countryside in one trip.

At a glance
Drives onRight
Motorway tollCheck locally
CurrencySouth Korean Won (₩)
Min. rental age21 years

Good to know before you drive

The essentials for a smooth, ticket-free trip.

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Speed limits

Town50 km/h
Open road90 km/h
Motorway130 km/h
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Parking

Paid short-stay zones in city centres — buy a ticket and display it.

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Alcohol limit

Typically 0.05% blood-alcohol limit; lower for new drivers.

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Vignette / tolls

Check whether a motorway vignette or tolls apply — many rentals include one.

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No hidden fees
No card or admin charges — every cost shown up front.
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Free cancellation
Change or cancel free up to 24 hours before pick-up.
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Real people, every day of the year, in your language.

Practical Information for Drivers

Traffic Laws

  • To rent and drive a car, the driver must be at least 21 years old and have at least one year of driving experience;
  • In South Korea, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road;
  • Overtaking other vehicles is allowed only on the left;
  • At night and in poor visibility, dipped headlights must be used;
  • Both passengers (front and rear) and the driver must wear seat belts while the vehicle is in motion.

Parking

In South Korea there are both paid and free car parks. You can also stay in any hotel or guest house - they have their own parking spaces. These may be paid separately or included in the price for the client. Parking spaces are mainly located near offices, airports, supermarkets and other public places.

The cost of fuel

In South Korea, the cost of fuel is relatively low. In the country you can refuel with unleaded petrol with different octane ratings, as well as gas and diesel fuel.

  • The average cost of the most common grade of petrol is about two thousand won (South Korean currency);
  • Diesel fuel can be purchased at an average price of 1,800 won.

Rent a car in South Korea: the speed limit

In South Korea, the following speed limits apply:

  • The driver is allowed to drive in cities and small towns at a speed not exceeding 50 km/h;
  • The maximum speed on the motorway is 110 km/h;
  • Outside built-up areas, drivers are allowed to travel by car at speeds of up to 80 km/h.

What drivers say about South Korea

★★★★★★4.5
★★★★★ 5

"Hired a roomy SUV for our family trip around Busan. Easy pick-up, child seats ready, and the car was spotless. Kids were comfy and return took just minutes."

김
김민수
South Korea
★★★★★ 5

"Booked a compact car for a weekend trip with my husband. Staff were friendly and explained the insurance clearly. Car was clean, nearly new, and fuel efficient. Only minor issue was the GPS being slightly outdated, but overall the experience was smooth and stress-free."

이
이수진
South Korea
★★★★★ 5

"We rented a van for a week-long road trip with friends. Process was quick, staff spoke enough English to help us sort the paperwork, and the vehicle felt solid and safe on the highways. Bluetooth made music easy. Only small downside was a short wait at pick-up during a busy time."

박
박진호
South Korea
More reviews →

Renting in South Korea — FAQ

For South Korea it is sensible to book a rental car 2 to 4 weeks before your trip, especially for Seoul, Jeju Island and peak times such as cherry blossom, summer holidays and Chuseok. Last minute bookings are often possible, but choice of automatic cars and GPS/English navigation units may be limited and prices can rise sharply in busy periods.
Most South Korean rental firms place a hold on your card at pick-up and release it within 3 to 10 working days after you return the car, provided there is no new damage, fines or missing fuel. Your bank may then take extra time to show the funds as available, especially on international or debit cards.
The excess is the maximum amount you must pay if the car is damaged or stolen, even when basic insurance is included. In South Korea it typically ranges from about KRW 300,000 to KRW 1,000,000, depending on vehicle class. You can usually buy additional coverage to reduce this excess significantly, or sometimes to almost zero, for an extra daily fee.
Many South Korean suppliers prefer a major credit card for the deposit, but some accept debit cards or cash, and a few offer low- or no-deposit, no-credit-card deals on selected cars. Conditions vary by provider, so always check payment rules in the rental terms and ensure your card limit covers any required security hold.
Typical prices in South Korea for a small to mid-size car range around KRW 60,000 to KRW 110,000 per day, including basic insurance but excluding extras, tolls and fuel. Rates are often cheaper for longer rentals and can rise during weekends, holidays and on Jeju Island. Larger vehicles, SUVs and premium brands cost noticeably more.
Bookingcar lets you compare prices from many South Korean and international rental brands in one search, so you can quickly see which deal is cheapest for your travel dates, car type and mileage needs. By viewing clear side-by-side offers, you can choose the most economical option for South Korea without visiting multiple websites.
If you return your car late in South Korea, companies usually charge an additional hourly fee, which can quickly become the cost of a full extra rental day. Being very late may also void some insurance, especially after a grace period. Contact the rental office as soon as you know you will be delayed to minimise extra charges.
Common speed limits in South Korea are:
  • Urban and residential roads: about 30-50 km/h
  • General city roads and rural roads: around 60-80 km/h
  • Expressways and motorways: usually 100-120 km/h, with lower limits in tunnels or roadworks
Always follow local signs, as camera enforcement is very common and limits can change suddenly.
South Korea enforces traffic rules strictly, with camera-based fines and demerit points. Typical penalties include monetary fines that can reach several hundred thousand KRW for speeding or red-light offences. Serious violations, such as dangerous driving or driving under the influence, may lead to licence suspension, high fines and even imprisonment in severe cases.
The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in South Korea is 0.03%, which is lower than in many countries. Even a small amount of alcohol can push you over this limit, and penalties are severe, including heavy fines, licence suspension or cancellation, and possible imprisonment. The safest approach is simply not to drink at all before driving.
Fuel prices vary, but petrol in South Korea typically costs around KRW 1,600 to KRW 1,900 per litre, with diesel often slightly cheaper. Prices are higher at motorway service areas than in cities. Most stations are full-service, and you can usually pay by card or cash; some urban self-service pumps may offer a small discount per litre.
Yes, most major expressways in South Korea charge tolls on a per-use basis. You either collect paper tickets and pay at booths, or the car may have a Hi-Pass electronic tag that records tolls automatically, sometimes billed by the rental company afterwards. Check in advance whether the Hi-Pass device and card are included or cost extra.

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