Getting a Car as a Foreigner in Korea(Long-term rental): Things you must know, and what you will need.

 

I am currently working in the long-term car rental industry in Korea, and these are some of the key information that you need to check out if you are planning to get a car in South Korea as a foreigner.

 

1. Your International Driving Permit runs out sooner than you think

An IDP issued under the Geneva or Vienna Convention lets you drive in Korea for one year from your date of entry. It cannot be renewed here.

Two things people get wrong:

• An IDP alone is not valid. You must carry your home country license and your passport with it at all times.
• If the name spelling or signature on your IDP doesn't match your passport, it can be treated as invalid.

If you're staying longer than a year, you'll need a Korean license.

 

2. Exchanging your foreign license (외국운전면허증 교환발급)

You cannot drive in Korea on a foreign license alone, but you can apply to exchange it for a Korean one.

Where: any national driver's license examination office (운전면허시험장) — there are 27 nationwide. You must apply in person; proxy applications are not accepted.

Documents (foreign nationals):

• Original foreign license
• Passport
• Your Residence Card
• 3 color photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, taken within the last 6 months
• Embassy confirmation letter or Apostille certificate for your license — this is required in all cases, not just some countries
• Certificate of entry and exit records (출입국사실증명서), covering from your birth year to the present

The confirmation letter or Apostille must have been issued within one year of your application. If it shows signs of having been separated — staple marks, broken bindings — it can be rejected.

The requirement people fail on: your passport and entry/exit records must show that you actually stayed in the issuing country, including 90 days or more. If that can't be confirmed, the exchange is refused. A license obtained during a short trip generally won't qualify.

Tests:

• License from a country Korea recognizes → physical/aptitude test only
• License from a non-recognized country → physical/aptitude test plus a written test (40 multiple-choice questions, available in Korean, English, Chinese or Vietnamese)

There is no driving or course test in either case. One exception worth knowing: Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Nevada licenses require the written test even though the US is a recognized country.

Two things to note:

• Exchange gives you a Class 2 ordinary license (2종 보통) only. The exceptions are Belgium, Poland, Spain, Italy and Ireland, whose licenses convert to the equivalent class.
• Only a valid full license can be exchanged. Temporary, learner, provisional and probationary licenses, and permits or certificates, cannot.

Fees: issuance 15,000 KRW (mobile IC) or 10,000 KRW (standard); written test 10,000 KRW if applicable; physical examination 7,000 KRW for ordinary licenses, paid separately.

The recognized-country list is set by National Police Agency notice and does change — check your own country before you prepare documents.

 

3. Buying vs. long-term rental

 

4. Insurance is the part that saves you the most hassle

If you buy a car, insurance is a separate process: you shop for a policy, sign up on your own, and pay that premium separately from everything else — in Korean, usually, and annually.

With long-term rental, insurance is already built into the monthly fee, nothing to arrange. 

 

5. "What if I leave Korea before the contract ends?"

A fair question — long-term rental contracts typically run 36 to 60 months, which is longer than many visa cycles.

In my company's case (Lotte Rental) we have a plan that allows you to turn in the car anytime you want without a penalty despite the original contract period(minimum holding period of 1 year).

Rental plans will vary depending on the service provider you choose.

 

6. Documents you'll be asked for

For a long-term rental contract, screening generally requires:

1. Certificate of Alien Registration (외국인등록 사실증명) or Certificate of Domestic Residence Report (국내거소신고 사실증명서) — or a copy of your Alien Registration Card, Domestic Residence Report Card, or Permanent Residence Card, both sides
2. A copy of your visa
3. Your Korean driver's license
4. Proof of economic activity and income

Requirements can differ by company and by contract length, so confirm before you gather everything.

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I am happy to answer any questions in the comment and also if you are curious about the Lotte Rental's long-term car rental plans, feel free to contact me via Whatsapp. +82 10 2514 8918