Jeju is the one place in South Korea where we recommend a rental car without hesitation. Buses reach the main sights, but timetables thin out away from the coast, and a car turns a three-transfer journey into a 30-minute drive. This page covers everything that is specific to hiring a car on the island. For rules that apply nationwide, see our South Korea car rental guide and driving guide.
Quick start: compare Jeju car hire prices and book in advance. Booking ahead is almost always cheaper than the airport counter and avoids payment problems with non-Korean cards.
What You Need to Rent
- International Driving Permit (IDP) plus your original national licence. Both must be with you at pick-up. Get the IDP before you leave home.
- Age: most companies set a minimum of 21, and some want at least one year of holding the licence. Drivers under 26 may pay a surcharge or face restrictions on premium cars.
- Credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit.
- Passport for identity checks.
Non-IDP holders cannot rent from the legitimate companies, so do not rely on a desk making an exception. If you arrive without a permit, the realistic fallback is a taxi, the bus, or a guided day tour.
Airport Pick-Up Desks
Jeju International Airport (CJU) is the usual pick-up point. Rental companies do not sit inside the terminal. Most operate from shuttle-bus pick-up zones just outside arrivals, and you are driven to the depot a few minutes away. National brands such as Lotte Rent-a-Car and SK Rent-a-Car have English-language websites and staff. Smaller local firms can be 10-25% cheaper but may have limited English support.
Practical steps at the depot:
- Collect the contract and read the damage and insurance clauses.
- Photograph and film every panel, the wheels and the windscreen, including pre-existing scratches.
- Check the fuel or charge level matches the contract.
- Ask for an English-language navigation setup, or use your own phone. Google Maps is unreliable for driving directions in Korea, so Naver Map or Kakao Map are better; an eSIM lets you load them before you leave the airport.
Queues build in July-August and during the late March to early April blossom season. Book two to three weeks ahead at those times, and earlier for SUVs and EVs.
Approximate Daily Prices (2026)
| Vehicle | Approx. price per day |
|---|---|
| Economy (Morning, Ray) | KRW 40,000-55,000 |
| Mid-size sedan (Avante/K3) | KRW 55,000-75,000 |
| SUV (Tucson, Sportage) | KRW 80,000-120,000 |
| Electric (Ioniq 5, EV6, Niro EV) | KRW 90,000-130,000 |
These are mid-range, off-peak figures and move with demand. Weekends, public holidays and summer can add 30-60%. Longer rentals of five days or more often carry a discount.
Insurance Tiers
Korean rental companies usually sell cover in steps:
- Basic: included in the price, with a high excess (deductible) per accident, often in the hundreds of thousands of won.
- Standard or semi-full: lowers the excess to a smaller fixed amount.
- Full or “super” cover: reduces the excess to zero or close to it for collisions. Tyres, glass, undercarriage and key loss are sometimes excluded even then.
On Jeju, scratches from narrow village lanes, car park bollards and stone walls are the most common claims. We suggest taking the highest tier you can afford, particularly on a self-drive trip. A separate travel insurance policy does not usually cover damage to a rental car, so check before you decline the extra cover.
Electric Cars on Jeju
Jeju promotes EVs, and many rental fleets carry them. Chargers are common at attractions, convenience points and large car parks, so range anxiety is lower than on the mainland. Ask the desk what charging card or app comes with the car, and how to pay. Some firms include an initial charge, others bill the electricity at return. Return the car at the charge level stated in the contract to avoid fees. An EV costs more per day but often saves money on fuel over a three to five day trip.
Hallasan and Coastal Route Parking
- Hallasan trails: the Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trailhead car parks fill early on weekends and in autumn colour season. Arrive by 07:00 or take a taxi or bus. Summit permits need booking in advance, so see our Hallasan hiking guide.
- Mountain roads: the 1100 Road and 516 Road cross the island’s centre and are scenic. Fog and ice can close sections in winter, so check conditions and carry a charged phone.
- Seongsan Ilchulbong and Manjanggul: paid car parks, approximately KRW 1,000-2,500 per vehicle, as of 2026.
- West and south coast beaches: Hyeopjae and Hamdeok charge approximately KRW 2,000-3,000 in peak summer. Roadside spots disappear by mid-morning.
- Jeju City and Seogwipo centres: use designated car parks. Illegal roadside parking is ticketed by camera.
The coastal ring road (Route 1132) is easy to follow, and the whole island can be covered in two to three days. Our Jeju 3-day and Jeju 5-day itineraries are built around a self-drive loop.
One-Way Rentals and Returns
Jeju is a single island, so there is no true one-way hire to the mainland. Within the island, picking up at the airport and dropping at a Seogwipo or Jungmun branch is possible with many companies, sometimes with a drop-off fee. Ask when booking. Return the car at least 30 minutes before check-in for your flight, and refuel it before drop-off, because refuelling charges are far above the pump price. Do not plan to take the car on the Udo, Gapado or Marado ferries (see the FAQ).
Driving Tips
- Speed cameras are frequent, and speed limits are 60-80 km/h on most island roads. Fines are passed to the rental company and charged to your card.
- Lava-stone walls and narrow lanes make wide SUVs a hassle in villages.
- Drive carefully in rain and fog on mountain roads.
Where to Stay with a Car
Parking is the deciding factor in picking a base. Jungmun and the west coast resorts include free parking, while central Jeju City hotels may charge or have limited spaces. See our guide to where to stay in Jeju and search Jeju hotels with a parking filter, then browse tours and activities in Jeju for days when you prefer not to drive.
Is a Car Worth It?
If you plan more than two stops a day outside Jeju City, yes. If you only want the city, Hallasan and one or two coastal sights, the bus and taxi mix in our Jeju getting around guide is cheaper. For a full overview of the island, start at our Jeju Island guide.