Driving & cars

IDP or a Korean license, buying a car, insurance and road rules.

In short

Staying under a year? Drive on an International Driving Permit (IDP) from home, and carry it with your original license.
Living here long-term? Convert your foreign license to a Korean one. If your country has an agreement, you skip the driving test and only do a health check.
You'll surrender your original license during conversion (reclaimable when you leave Korea). A Korean license is also useful as ID.
Every car needs mandatory liability insurance and regular safety inspections. For directions, use Naver/Kakao Map instead of Google.

Public transport covers most needs, but a car makes weekend trips, rural areas and life with kids or pets a lot easier. Here's how driving, licensing and ownership work for foreigners.

Do you need a Korean license?

International Driving Permit (IDP)	License conversion
Best for tourists / stays under 1 year. Valid up to 1 year from entry (or visa expiry). Must carry your original license too.	Best for residents (1 year+). Exchange your home license for a Korean one. It's more convenient for insurance and as ID.

Get the IDP before you arrive. It's issued by your home country's authority (e.g. AAA in the US) and acts as a translation of your license. Korea recognizes the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; some countries only issue the 1968 Vienna version, so check yours in advance. Chinese, Taiwanese and Indonesian IDPs are not accepted (though Hong Kong / Macau licenses are).

Converting your license

Whether you skip the test depends on your country:

Countries with a reciprocity agreement: exchange without the driving test. You only need documents + a basic health check (vision/hearing).
No agreement: take the written test (40 multiple-choice, available in English/Chinese/Vietnamese) and usually a practical test. Study on the KOROAD (Korea Road Traffic Authority) site.

Documents to bring:

Original foreign license (valid) + a copy
Passport with entry/exit stamps + a Certificate of Entry & Exit (from a 주민센터 or immigration office)
Your ARC (foreigner registration completed)
Three passport photos (3.5×4.5cm, within 6 months)
Apostille of your license from your home country (if it's an Apostille Convention member), or an embassy Certificate of Authenticity. Many embassies (US/UK) no longer issue these, so get the Apostille from home
Notarized translation if your license isn't in English or Korean

Go to a licensing office

A driver's license exam office (운전면허시험장) or a "Global Driving License Center" (in Seoul: Gangnam, Seobu, Dobong). Appointments generally not required, but check wait times.

Submit + health check + fee

Hand in documents, do the on-site health check, pay (~₩8,500–15,000). You surrender your foreign license.

Collect your Korean license

Often done in ~2–3 hours if paperwork is ready. You can reclaim your original license at the same office before leaving Korea (bring your flight ticket + Korean license).

Buying (or renting) a car

Renting needs a valid IDP (Geneva/Vienna) or Korean license. Rental usually bundles the mandatory insurance; consider adding comprehensive (own-vehicle) and driver coverage.
Buying (new or used): you register the vehicle in your name (your ARC works as ID), take out insurance, and pay acquisition/registration tax. Used-car marketplaces (e.g. Encar) are common; have a mechanic check used cars.
Mandatory liability insurance is legally required for every car (covers others' injury/property). Add comprehensive for your own vehicle.
Safety inspection (정기검사): new cars every ~2 years, older cars annually. Keep the sticker visible.

Rules & habits to know

Drive on the right. Minimum driving age 18.
Speed & red-light cameras are everywhere and fines are automatic. Be extra careful in school zones (어린이 보호구역), where penalties are severe.
Pedestrians have right of way, and you must fully stop at crosswalks.
Drink-driving limit is 0.03% BAC, which is very low. Penalties are heavy (fines, license loss, even jail).
Phone use requires hands-free. Get a Hi-Pass device/card for automatic expressway tolls.
Low-emission zones exist (especially central Seoul). Older high-emission cars can be restricted or fined.
Use Naver Map or KakaoMap for navigation (Google Maps driving directions are limited). For EVs, apps like EV Infra / Kakao T Charging show live chargers.

If you have an accident: stop and check everyone's safety, call 112 (police), notify your insurer (and rental company if renting), photograph the scene and damage, and get checked by a doctor even for minor injuries.

Common questions

Can I just use my home license?

Only with an IDP alongside it, for up to a year. After that, convert to a Korean license.

Will I have to retake the driving test?

Not if your country has a reciprocity agreement. Then it's documents + a health check. Otherwise, a written (and often practical) test, available in English.

Do I get my original license back?

Yes. You can reclaim it at the same office before you leave Korea, with your flight ticket and Korean license.

Is car insurance mandatory?

Yes. Liability insurance is legally required for every vehicle. Add comprehensive coverage for your own car.

Sources: KOROAD (Korea Road Traffic Authority / safedriving.or.kr), US Embassy Seoul driving guidance, Road Traffic Act Art. 84 (license surrender), and current 2026 foreigner driving guides. Conventions: 1949 Geneva / 1968 Vienna.

Last verified: July 2026. Reciprocity lists, fees and rules change, so check with KOROAD or your embassy before applying. General information, not legal advice.

Thinking of getting a car?

Ask others about license conversion or buying used. Post in the community and tag it Transport.

Ask the community →