Rent-a-Car

Most Korean car rental companies rent to foreigners who meet two conditions: age 21 or older with at least one year of driving experience, and a valid Korean or international driver's license. Note that exchanged foreign licenses count — the one-year driving experience requirement does not apply to licenses changed from a foreign license to Korean (for vehicles with 9 passengers or less).

Major Rental Companies

• SK Rent-a-car: 1599-9111, homepage.skcarrental.com (Korean and English)
• Lotte Rent-a-car: 1588-1230, www.lotterentacar.net (Korean and English)

Prices vary significantly between companies. Compare rates before booking. Search "렌터카" or "렌터카회사" on Korean portal sites for more options.

Car Sharing

Car sharing differs from traditional rental in several ways: it is membership-only, rates are calculated by the hour or minute (not daily), and it is designed for short-term use. This makes it practical for errands or short trips without committing to a full-day rental.

Major Car Sharing Services

• Green Car: 080-2000-3000, www.greencar.co.kr (Korean)
• Socar: 1661-3315, www.socar.kr (Korean)

Vehicle Registration

Anyone who purchases a vehicle in Korea must register it. Operating an unregistered vehicle can result in imprisonment up to two years or a fine up to 20,000,000 KRW.

New Vehicle Registration

File an application at the City Hall, Si/Gun/Gu Office, or Vehicle Registration Office, or through the National Car Management Portal (www.car365.go.kr).

Documents needed: alien registration certificate, copy of passport, application form, certificate of manufacturer (for new vehicles), certificate of insurance subscription.

Used Vehicle Transfer

Transfer registration deadline: within 15 days of purchase. Before paying, check with the transportation administration department whether the car has been seized for unpaid taxes or fines.

Documents: mandatory insurance certificate, car registration, driving distance information, IDs of both buyer and seller.

Vehicle Insurance

Insurance is mandatory for any foreigner who owns and operates a vehicle in Korea. Failure to purchase mandatory insurance results in an administrative fine up to 3,000,000 KRW. Operating without insurance can lead to imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to 10,000,000 KRW.

Compare policies at the General Insurance Association of Korea: kpub.knia.or.kr

Regular Vehicle Inspection

Passenger vehicles must undergo regular inspection every two years starting from the fourth year after initial registration. The inspection window is 31 days before and after the expiry date.

Fines for missing inspection: 40,000 KRW within 30 days, plus 20,000 KRW every 3 days beyond 30 days (up to 114 days), and 600,000 KRW beyond 115 days.

Vehicle Scrapping

Scrapping must be done at authorized junkyards listed with the government. Requesting scrapping through an unlisted company can cause problems — the scrapping certificate cannot be issued and registration cannot be canceled, potentially leading to automobile tax delinquency and insurance fines.

Documents: car registration, alien registration card. If using an agent, a seal certificate is also required.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles require registration at the Transportation Administration Division of your district office. You need your alien registration certificate, the manufacturer's certificate, and proof of insurance. Insurance is mandatory — the same rules as automobiles apply.

License requirements: 125cc or greater needs a Level II motorcycle license (age 18+). Under 125cc can be driven with a Level I/II ordinary vehicle license. Motorcycles are not allowed on expressways.

Chauffeur Services (대리운전)

If you cannot drive your car (for example, after drinking), you can hire a chauffeur to drive your car home. This is very common in Korea between 9 PM and 1 AM. Search for "대리운전" online or download a chauffeur service app. Fees depend on distance.