Korea is generally a good country for travelers because of its well-developed public transportation system. However, in areas other than large cities, it is better to travel by car than by public transportation. In particular, places like Jeju Island have active car rental services. Today, we will learn about ways for foreigners to rent cars in Korea.
There are several ways to rent a car in Korea, but I recommend renting from KLOOK. It supports multiple languages and the process is simple. In addition to car rental, KLOOK also offers many travel services, so I recommend installing it.
First, select Car Rental on the home screen. Then, enter the location where you will pick up the car and the rental period. Also, since the rental age varies by company or car type, you must set the driver's age. Depending on the age, there may not be a car available for rental. If you want to return the car to a different location than where you rented it, check the blue box. Additional costs may apply depending on the distance. Once you have finished setting, press Search.
If you search, various vehicles will appear. Please select the product you want by looking at the price and car type. Insurance should be at least basic, and the higher the price of insurance, the less your own burden will be. I recommend choosing a high-grade insurance just in case. In particular, Korea is sensitive to car accidents, so if an accident occurs, it can cost a lot of money.
This is the most important part before renting a car. You should carefully check the rental qualifications and required documents. Since there are slight differences for each product, you should be more careful because you may make mistakes. Basically, you need an ID (passport, etc.) and an international driver's license (IDP). You should check the example of an international driver's license (IDP) and bring the appropriate international driver's license (IDP). Also, please check the age limit and driving precautions. Click on an item to see more detailed information.
After completing the vehicle selection and making a reservation, the rental is complete. Payment can be made through the app or on site. Reservation confirmation can be checked in the reservation details. You can check the pickup location and reservation information again.
Traffic rules in Korea can feel very strict and tricky. In the cities, there are a lot of cars and the roads are complicated, so it can be difficult for foreigners. When driving, we recommend that you use navigation to get accurate traffic information.
- In Korea, traffic is on the right.
- There are speed cameras everywhere in Korea. Speed limits vary from 30 km to 100 km depending on the road, so please always drive with your navigation turned on.
- When there are traffic lights, you must always follow the directions of the traffic lights.
- Drunk driving is prohibited because drunk driving crackdowns and punishments are strict. If you have been drinking, you must call a designated driver through an app such as Kakao T.
There are some signs that can be confusing or important when driving in Korea. Most signs are easy to understand when you see them, but there are some that can be difficult to understand.
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Unprotected left turn: If the light is green, it means you can make a left turn without a left turn signal, provided you are aware of your surroundings. |
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No Entry: If the road is one-way or inaccessible to vehicles, there will be a No Entry sign. |
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U-turns allowed: In Korea, you can only make a U-turn if there is a U-turn sign. If there is no sign, you cannot make a U-turn. |
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Children's safety zone: This is mainly located around schools and is an area where children pass by frequently, so special care must be taken. The speed limit is usually 30 km/h. |
In regional cities, parking is often available on the street, and in tourist areas, parking lots are often available. However, in large cities, including metropolitan areas, parking is often difficult. If you park on the shoulder of the road, you may be ticketed for illegal parking and may even be towed. In this case, we recommend searching for a parking lot using a map app, and if there is no free parking lot, we recommend using a paid parking lot. However, if you are in a busy area, parking fees can be high, and it can be difficult to find a paid parking lot.
Korean highways can be entered and exited using an automatic payment card called hi-pass, and tolls are automatically paid. Therefore, you do not have to stop when passing through toll gates, and there is no traffic congestion. If you inform us when you rent a car that you will be using the highway, you will receive hi-pass, and the highway tolls will be paid with it. Details may vary depending on the car rental company, so please contact the company.
Korean highways are managed by state-run companies, so tolls are relatively low. There are slight differences depending on the section, but from Seoul to Busan, which is about 400 km, the toll is about 20,000 won. This can be calculated at about 5,000 won per 100 km.
In Korea, there are gas stations everywhere, so you don't have to worry about running out of gas. Even on highways, there are rest areas and gas stations at certain sections. There are two types of gas stations: self-service gas stations and regular gas stations, and the price difference is not that big. If you are not familiar with Korean and have no experience using self-service gas stations, it is safer to use regular gas stations. In Korea, the price of gasoline varies greatly by region and city. Gasoline is usually around 1,600 won per liter, but sometimes it goes up to 2,000 won. In particular, in Gangnam, the center of Seoul, the price difference can be more than 300 won compared to other places.