Renting a Car in Jeju: The Complete 2026 Guide

Why rent a car in Jeju?

Jeju is a volcanic island roughly 73km wide, and its best bits are scattered around the edges: beaches in the west, waterfalls and coastal walks in the south, sunrise peaks in the east, and Hallasan, Korea’s highest mountain, in the middle. Public transport exists, but buses are slow, indirect and a real time-sink once you leave Jeju City — and many of the island’s most loved cafes, viewpoints and restaurants simply aren’t near a useful stop.

A car changes the trip completely. You can chase good weather, reach a quiet beach before the crowds, drive up for sunrise, and eat where you actually want to rather than where the bus happens to go. If you’ve read our vegan food guide to South Korea, you’ll know Jeju’s best plant-based spots — Five Seventh, And Yu Cafe — are spread across the island and genuinely hard to reach without your own wheels. The same is true for almost everything worth seeing here.

The one rule to sort before you fly: your IDP

This is the single most important thing in this guide, so read it carefully. To legally drive — and to rent — in South Korea as a foreign visitor, you need two documents together: your valid home country driver’s licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP).

LOTTE’s international-driver FAQ accepts recognised Geneva or Vienna convention IDPs. Obtain the correct original permit through an authorised issuer before travelling; a scan, translation or privately sold “international licence” is not an equivalent document.

How to get your IDP (it’s easy and cheap)

Apply through the authorised permit issuer for your licence. Confirm which convention document is issued, its validity, the permitted vehicle class and delivery time. Avoid websites selling unofficial international driving licences.

Check the selected rental company’s requirements before paying, then carry the original documents when collecting and driving. If your permit or licence is not accepted, plan buses, taxis or a driver instead. Document requirements checked against LOTTE’s published pages on 8 October 2026.

Where to book a rental car in Jeju

Most visitors arrange pickup near Jeju International Airport (CJU). Some companies use shuttles to off-airport depots. Compare the same pickup hours, vehicle class, deposit, mileage, cover and cancellation terms across direct suppliers and booking platforms.

DiscoverCars is one way to compare participating suppliers for your dates. Compare its final quote with a direct rental-company quote, such as LOTTE Rent-a-Car. Available suppliers, included cover and cancellation rights vary by rate; read the selected supplier’s conditions before paying.

What it actually costs

Rental prices move a lot with season and demand, so treat these as a planning guide rather than a quote. As a rough idea:

*Before insurance, fuel and tolls. Peak summer and holiday periods run higher. Always compare live prices.

Budget for the cover you choose, any deposit or excess, fuel or charging and parking. Compare the whole trip with buses, taxis or a driver; the cheapest rental headline is not necessarily the lowest total cost.

Rental insurance in Jeju, explained simply

Insurance is where rental costs can balloon or bite you, so it’s worth understanding the layers:

• Mandatory liability insurance — required by Korean law, covers injury and damage you cause to others. This is typically built into the rental.
• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) — reduces your liability for damage to the rental car itself. Basic CDW usually still leaves a hefty excess (deductible).
• Higher-level CDW: may reduce the excess further, but the name does not establish what is covered. Read the actual exclusions and maximum liability.

Supplier CDW and broker excess reimbursement work differently. CDW changes your liability under the rental contract. A reimbursement product may require you to pay the supplier first and submit a claim afterwards. Check the deposit, excess, claim evidence and whether tyres, glass, underbody, loss of use or negligent driving are excluded in the specific policy. Photograph existing damage at pickup and return.

Driving in Jeju: rules and tips for foreigners

The good news: Jeju is one of the more relaxed places to drive in Korea. The island is small, roads are well maintained, major signs include English, and the coastal ring road makes navigation simple. Still, a few things are worth knowing before you set off.

• Drive on the right, steering wheel on the left — same as the US and continental Europe.
• Speed and traffic cameras are everywhere. Korea enforces limits with automated cameras, and tickets follow you to the rental company. Your navigation app will usually beep to warn you — heed it.
• Speed limits are generally 50–60 km/h in town and 80 km/h on bigger roads, but always follow posted signs.
• Local driving can be assertive. Expect sudden lane changes, scooters weaving, and tour buses on narrow coastal roads. Drive defensively and don’t rush.
• Do not drink and drive. Arrange a taxi or another driver if you will be drinking.
• Use a Korean navigation app. Google Maps doesn’t do driving directions in Korea — use Naver Map or KakaoMap, which also flag speed cameras.

Parking, fuel and tolls

Parking is generally easy and cheap by big-city standards. Most major attractions, beaches and trailheads have dedicated car parks, often free or a few thousand won. In Jeju City and busy spots it’s tighter, so a smaller car helps.

Fuel stations are plentiful; most are full-service, where an attendant fills the tank for you — just say the amount or “가득” (gadeuk, “full”). If you rent an EV, Jeju has some of the best charging coverage in Korea, with fast chargers at attractions and convenience stores.

Tolls are minimal on Jeju itself (there’s no expressway like the mainland), so you won’t deal with much. If your car has a Hi-Pass transponder, small charges are handled automatically; otherwise it’s rarely an issue on the island.

A simple way to plan your loop

Because the island is essentially a ring, the easiest mental model is to pick a direction and work around the coast, dipping inland for Hallasan or the mid-island attractions. A rough rhythm that works well:

• West: beaches (Hyeopjae, Geumneung), Hallim Park, sunset coast — and And Yu Cafe if you’re after vegan food.
• South: waterfalls (Cheonjiyeon, Jeongbang), Seogwipo, the Jusangjeolli cliffs.
• East: Seongsan Ilchulbong (sunrise peak), Udo island ferry, quieter beaches.
• Centre: Hallasan trailheads for a day hike if the weather’s clear.

For a full day-by-day plan that combines this with the rest of the country, see our 14-day South Korea itinerary.

Jeju car rental FAQ