Does Localiza require an IDP in South Korea?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Localiza in South Korea: the policy in plain terms
Asks foreign renters to present a licence translation with their home licence at the counter across Brazil and Latin America. The largest car-rental company in Latin America.
South Korea commonly asks foreign drivers for an IDP issued in their home country alongside their national licence.
In South Korea specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in South Korea ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Localiza will typically ask for it at the counter. 1949 Geneva IDP requested at all rental desks.
Localiza runs a south america network; at its South Korea desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. South Korea drives on the right, uses the KRW, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the Localiza counter in South Korea
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the KRW deposit; South Korea drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in South Korea Localiza renters should know
- Extensive speed and red-light camera network.
- 0.03% alcohol limit; licence revoked above 0.08%.
- Bus lanes restricted during set hours.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
Localiza's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Localiza's minimum rental age is 18 (lowered from 21 across Brazil), but drivers under 21 must add the mandatory "Condutor Jovem" (Young Driver) surcharge at booking; the exact fee is set per rental/location and quoted at reservation rather than published as a flat amount.
A credit card (physical or contactless) in the reservation holder's or financial responsible party's name is required for a pre-authorization hold; debit cards are not accepted for the security guarantee. Customers without a credit card can instead pass a weekday business-hours credit evaluation, with daily rentals up to 28 days available for an approximately R$39.90 fee if approved.
Each additional driver must be registered on the contract and present a valid licence and ID at the counter; Localiza does not publish a flat additional-driver fee, charging it per rate plan and location at pickup. Localiza requires a valid full driver's licence but does not publish a fixed minimum holding period; instead the young-driver surcharge (under-21) is the gating control, so a valid current licence is the stated requirement.
Cross-border driving within Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) requires the mandatory "Carta Verde"/Green Card insurance and advance authorization, typically requested at booking; one-way rentals returning in a different country incur a one-way fee that is usually higher than the cross-border fee, so both must be arranged in advance.
Foreign customers must present a valid licence from a country in Brazil's "Reciprocity Agreement" plus a passport, and may drive for up to 180 days from their date of entry (respecting the original licence validity); entry must be proven with a passport stamp, boarding pass, or immigration approval document. An International Driving Permit is referenced under the applicable legislation for non-reciprocity or non-Roman-alphabet licences.
Once you collect the keys in South Korea
Expressways use the Hi-Pass electronic system; if your rental has a Hi-Pass transponder use the blue Hi-Pass lanes, otherwise take the cash/card hybrid lanes and never enter a Hi-Pass-only lane. A Seoul-Busan trip costs roughly 20,000-25,000 KRW and tolls are payable by cash, card or T-money.
Street parking is scarce and metered; pay at the meter or machine and reverse-parking is the local norm in narrow bays. Cities use paid public lots and underground mall garages (often 1,000-3,000 KRW per 30 min), and illegally parked cars in central Seoul are ticketed or towed.
Speeding fines commonly run 30,000-120,000+ KRW (school zones, 30 km/h, double fines from 2026), phone-without-handsfree and seatbelt are fined, and drink-driving at 0.03% BAC or above is severely punished. Camera fines are billed to the renter's card with an admin fee; some on-the-spot fines apply at stops.
Call 112 for police and 119 for ambulance/fire; for any injury or insurance claim file a police report and do not leave the scene. Photograph vehicle positions before moving, and avoid privately settling with the other party as fault is determined for insurance.
Full driving guide for South Korea →