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Driving & cars

IDP or a Korean license, buying a car, insurance and the rules — driving here, sorted.

In short

Staying under a year? Drive on an International Driving Permit (IDP) from home — 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 (just a health check).
You'll surrender your original license during conversion (reclaimable when you leave Korea). A Korean license also works as handy ID.
Every car needs mandatory liability insurance, regular safety inspections, and — use Naver/Kakao Map, not Google, to navigate.

Public transport covers most needs, but a car unlocks weekend trips, rural areas, and life with kids or pets. 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 — 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 — just 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 — note 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 — especially in school zones (어린이 보호구역), where penalties are severe.
Pedestrians have right of way — you must fully stop at crosswalks.
Drink-driving limit is 0.03% BAC — 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 — 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 — confirm 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.

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