VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 South Korea (Jeju): our listings here cover Jeju Island, reached by a short flight from Seoul, Busan and other cities, with the island airport (CJU) on the north coast.
Is It Worth Renting a Car in South Korea?
On Jeju, yes: public buses are slow and the sights are spread around the island, so most visitors rent a car for the Hallasan foothills, Seongsan Ilchulbong, the south coast and the west. On the Korean mainland, trains and the KTX high-speed network, buses and taxis are excellent, and a car is rarely needed for city trips; our listings do not cover mainland cities, so this guide focuses on Jeju.
Fly to Jeju, pick up the car at the airport (usually by shuttle to the agency yard) or have it delivered to the hotel, and plan the island in loops. Install a Korean map app before you arrive.
Where to Go: Car Rental by Airport and City
Pick the airport or city closest to where your trip starts. Each page lists pick-up options, drive times and local driving notes.
Airport Car Rental in South Korea: Where to Pick Up
All our South Korea offers are on Jeju Island, which is reached by air from the mainland. The island airport is on the north coast near Jeju City.
| Airport | Serves | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Jeju (CJU) | Jeju City, Seongsan, Seogwipo, Hallasan | The whole island |
How the hand-over works depends on the agency: some meet you in the arrivals hall or the car park, some use a nearby yard and a shuttle, and many deliver to a hotel. The search lets you choose with the "Specify location" option, and your voucher shows the manager's phone number and the meeting point. Many flights land late at night, so give the provider your flight number and confirm any out-of-hours fee.
No-Deposit Car Rental in South Korea: How It Really Works
A deposit is the amount a rental company blocks on your card until you return the car undamaged. Many agencies block it on a credit card. With basic insurance the excess — the part of any damage you pay yourself — can be large, so the deposit is large too. "No deposit" does not mean "no insurance": it usually means you buy a higher level of cover, and the provider then has far less to protect.
What the Search Filters Mean
The booking search lets you filter by the terms that matter most:
- No deposit — nothing is blocked on your card. Usually tied to full insurance
- Low deposit — a small hold, common on economy cars
- No credit card — the provider accepts another payment method for the deposit and the rental; the exact method is on the car card
- Full insurance — the higher cover level that cuts the excess to zero or close to it
- Free cancellation and unlimited mileage — shown on the car card, so you can check before you book
What Full Coverage Usually Does Not Include
Even with full coverage, local agencies typically exclude tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage, lost keys and any damage on unpaved or off-road surfaces. Fines, tolls and parking charges are not insurance matters at all: the agency bills them to you after the rental. Read the exclusions on the car card, not only the headline.
Tolls, Cameras and Traffic Fines
Jeju has no tolled expressways, so you do not need a Hi-pass card on the island. The mainland motorway network is tolled, but our listings do not cover it. What Jeju does have is cameras: fixed, mobile and average-speed cameras on roads that look empty, and camera-enforced bus lanes in the city. A fine reaches the agency weeks after you have left; the agency charges it to you, usually with a handling fee.
Documents You Need to Rent a Car in South Korea
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least one year; minimum age is typically 21 (some agencies ask for 23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Your home licence plus an International Driving Permit (IDP). South Korea accepts the IDP issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, but many other IDP types are not accepted, and some countries' licences need an official translation instead — ask the agency exactly what you need before you travel
- Passport and proof of entry as required
- The booking voucher, and a payment method that matches the offer
Driving in South Korea: Rules and Road Conditions
Rules in Short
- Traffic drives on the right; seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers and children need a suitable seat
- Traffic cameras are everywhere — fixed, mobile and average-speed (section) cameras — and fines are heavy, so keep to the signed limit even on empty roads
- Bus lanes (often painted blue or red) are enforced by camera in some zones and hours; do not enter unless the sign allows it
- Drink-driving limit is very low (about 0.03% blood alcohol) with severe penalties — do not drive after any alcohol
- Stop fully for red lights and watch for school zones, where limits are low and fines are higher
- No handheld phone while driving
Road Conditions
Roads on Jeju are well surfaced and signed in Korean and English, but junctions can be busy in Jeju City and rural lanes are narrow. Navigation works best with Naver Map or Kakao Map, because Google Maps driving directions are limited and in-car units are often in Korean. The mountain crossings over Hallasan slopes can be foggy and may close or need chains after snow. Between roughly August and September typhoons bring heavy rain and wind; check the forecast and do not drive through standing water. Rural roads are poorly lit at night.
Off-Road and Border Rules
- Insurance is not valid off-road, on beaches, dirt tracks or hiking trails, even with full coverage
- Hallasan has no summit road: park at a trailhead and hike
- Rental cars are usually not allowed on the ferries to Udo, Gapado and Marado: ask the agency first
- Ask the agency whether the car may leave the island; it usually may not
Which Car to Rent in South Korea
Popular Road Trips by Car
When Is the Best Time to Rent a Car in South Korea?
Jeju is lovely in spring (canola flowers and blossom) and in autumn, which are also the busiest and dearest times with the longest queues at the airport and the sights. Summer is hot and humid, and roughly August to September is typhoon season, when flights and roads can be disrupted. Winter is mild on the coast, but snow and ice can affect the mountain roads, so check conditions before crossing Hallasan.
Photograph the Car at Pick-Up
Check the body and interior with the agent present, film or photograph every scratch and make sure each one is written in the acceptance document. This is your best protection against a damage claim when you return the car. Do the same at return, including the fuel gauge and the odometer.
Local Agencies or International Chains?
Local agencies listed through comparison services often offer lower prices, flexible pick-up and a wider choice of no-deposit and no-credit-card terms. International brands are present at the main airports, but they usually charge more and require a credit card. For most travellers a well-reviewed local agency with a real-photo car card, clear insurance terms and free cancellation is good value. Compare the full-insurance total, not only the base rate.
Top Mistakes to Avoid
- Booking the cheapest base rate and finding a large deposit at the yard — compare the all-in price with full coverage
- Arriving with an IDP type or licence the agency does not accept — check before you fly
- Relying on Google Maps instead of Naver Map or Kakao Map
- Entering bus lanes or speeding on an empty road — cameras are everywhere
- Parking on yellow lines or in a fire lane
- Planning to take the car to Udo on the ferry without asking the agency
- Driving in a typhoon warning or after any alcohol (limit about 0.03%)
- Not photographing the car at pick-up and return