5 Essential Tips To Rent A Car In Korea As A Foreigner
Renting a car in Korea can be a fantastic way to explore Korea’s beautiful scenery and hidden gems at your own pace. Korea’s public transportation system is great, but using a rental car gives you the flexibility to visit multiple destinations a day without the hassle of waiting for a bus or train.
In this guide, I will share my personal experiences and tips on how to rent a car in Korea as a foreigner based on insights from the foreign community and social media platforms.
5 Essential Tips
1. Finding a foreign-friendly rental car company
One of the first steps to rent a car in Korea is to find a rental car company for foreigners. While searching, I learned that foreigners highly recommend ‘Lotte Renta-Car,’ ‘AJ Renta-Car,’ and ‘klook,’ which has recently skyrocketed in popularity.
2. Check if you need any documents
To rent a car in Korea, you must have the following documents:
Verify that one of the signatories of the Geneva or Vienna Convention has issued an IDP.
- Passport:
A valid passport is required for identification.
Most rental companies require credit cards for payments and deposits.
3. Pre-book online
Booking a rental car online in advance will save you time and get you the best rates. Websites such as ‘Booking.com ‘ and ‘Expedia’ offer competitive prices and a wide range of vehicles. I personally booked a car using Booking.com , and the process was smooth and effortless.
4. Use the foreign community for recommendation
‘Joining a foreign community on platforms like Facebook’ and ‘Reddit’ can provide valuable insights and recommendations.
In particular, we found the ‘Expats’ Facebook group in South Korea helpful. Members often share their experiences and tips about rental cars, making it easier for them to find trusted rental car companies and avoid potential scams.
5. Consider using a rental app
**Rent apps like Kakao T** and **SoCar** are popular with locals and foreigners alike. These apps allow you to conveniently book, pick up, and return rental cars on your smartphone.
And to recommend the map app as a tip, there is a map app that I, who is Korean, also use when traveling. Especially, I used the Naver Map app on my trip to Jeju Island with my family, and the Naver Map app was the best app that really allowed me to know why I need to use this app in Korea.
Conclusion
Renting a car in Korea as a foreigner can be a simple and enjoyable experience by following these tips. Choosing a foreign-friendly rental company, getting the necessary documents, pre-booking online, leveraging the foreign community to recommend, and using the rental app will prepare you well for a road trip to Korea. Have a happy trip!
