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Car Rental 2026 | Global Self-Drive Comparison

Compare across 200+ countries, 10,000+ cities. Hertz, Avis, Budget, Times instant comparison. New users get 8% discount.

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2026 Complete Guide to Self-Drive Car Rental

Self-driving is one of the best ways to deeply explore destinations, especially areas without railway coverage like Okinawa, Hokkaido, Jeju Island, and California. We compare car rental prices across 200+ countries and 10,000+ cities, covering top brands including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Times, and Toyota Rent a Car to find you excellent self-drive deals.

All prices shown include basic insurance (CDW), and most bookings support free cancellation. New Trip.com users get an exclusive 8% discount.

3 Essential Preparations for Self-Driving

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Japan Self-Drive (Highly Popular)

Okinawa Self-Drive
🇯🇵
Naha Airport pickup. Drive to Churaumi Aquarium, Kouri Bridge, Cape Manzamo, American Village. No railway — car is essential.
Naha AirportDrive on LeftIDP RequiredTop Pick
Daily rate from
HK$145
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook
Hokkaido Self-Drive
🇯🇵
New Chitose Airport. Furano lavender, Biei Blue Pond, Otaru Canal, Lake Toya. Summer flowers, winter snow.
New ChitoseDrive on LeftSnow Tyres WinterScenic Routes
Daily rate from
HK$175
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook
Osaka/Kyoto Self-Drive
🇯🇵
Kansai Airport. Kyoto Arashiyama, Nara Todai-ji, Arima Onsen, Shirahama. Deep Kansai exploration.
Kansai AirportDrive on LeftHighway ETCKansai Region
Daily rate from
HK$212
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook
Tokyo/Hakone Self-Drive
🇯🇵
Narita Airport. Hakone onsen, Mt Fuji Kawaguchi, Karuizawa, Izu Peninsula. Avoid central Tokyo driving.
Narita AirportDrive on LeftMt FujiHot Springs
Daily rate from
HK$212
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook
Fukuoka/Kyushu Self-Drive
🇯🇵
Fukuoka Airport. Yufuin Onsen, Mt Aso, Beppu Hell Springs, Kumamoto Castle. Excellent onsen road trip.
Fukuoka AirportDrive on LeftOnsen TourFood Trip
Daily rate from
HK$165
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook

South Korea Self-Drive

Jeju Island Self-Drive
🇰🇷
Jeju Airport. Island loop: Seongsan Ilchulbong, Udo, Jungmun, Hallasan. Full loop ~3 hours.
Jeju AirportDrive on LeftIsland LoopIDP Required
Daily rate from
HK$150
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook

Taiwan & Southeast Asia

Kaohsiung/Kenting Self-Drive
🇹🇼
Kaohsiung Airport. Kenting National Park, Cijin Coast, Pingtung Aquarium. Southern Taiwan sun coast.
Kaohsiung AirportDrive on LeftKenting BeachNight Markets
Daily rate from
HK$130
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook
Taipei/Hualien Self-Drive
🇹🇼
Taoyuan Airport. Taroko Gorge, Qingshui Cliffs, Jiufen, Yilan. Spectacular east coast.
Taoyuan AirportDrive on LeftTaroko GorgeSuhua Highway
Daily rate from
HK$140
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook
Bangkok Self-Drive
🇹🇭
Suvarnabhumi Airport. Hua Hin, Pattaya, Khao Yai National Park. Thailand highways in good condition.
SuvarnabhumiDrive on LeftHua HinKhao Yai
Daily rate from
HK$120
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook

Europe & Americas

LA / California Highway 1
🇺🇸
LAX pickup. Pacific Coast Highway (Big Sur), Santa Barbara, SF Golden Gate. One of the world's most iconic drives.
LAX AirportDrive on RightPCH Highway 1Iconic Route
Daily rate from
HK$250
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook
Iceland Ring Road
🇮🇸
Keflavik Airport. Ring Road: Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, glaciers, Northern Lights. Full loop 1,322km.
Keflavik AirportDrive on LeftRing RoadNorthern Lights
Daily rate from
HK$380
/day (incl. insurance)
Trip Klook
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Car Rental Tips

International Driving Permit

Japan & Korea accept HK licence + IDP. Most US states accept HK licence. Get IDP from Transport Dept (HK$80).

Insurance Essential

Basic CDW usually included. Add Full Cover (~HK$50-100/day) to reduce excess to zero.

Book Early, Save More

2-4 weeks ahead is 30-50% cheaper. Peak season book 1 month early. Trip.com offers free cancellation.

Japan ETC Card

Japan highways need ETC card. Rent with your car. Tourists can use Expressway Pass for discounts.

One-Way Rental

Trip.com supports one-way. Same city different branch usually free. Different cities HK$200-1,000.

Fuel & Return

Most are Full-to-Full. Japan fuel ~HK$10/litre. Keep fuel receipt when returning.

Partner Car Rental Brands

🚗Hertz
🚗Avis
🚗Budget
🚗Times (Japan)
🚗Nippon Rent-A-Car
🚗Toyota Rent a Car
🚗Europcar
🚗Sixt
🚗Enterprise
🚗Ho Ing (Taiwan)

Car Rental Price Overview

Destination Compact/day SUV/day Driving Side IDP Needed?
🇯🇵 OkinawaHK$145+HK$280fromLeft (RHD)Yes
🇯🇵 HokkaidoHK$175fromHK$320fromLeft (RHD)Yes
🇯🇵 OsakaHK$212fromHK$350fromLeft (RHD)Yes
🇰🇷 JejuHK$150fromHK$280fromRight (LHD)Yes
🇹🇼 KaohsiungHK$130fromHK$250fromRight (LHD)Yes
🇹🇭 BangkokHK$120+HK$220fromLeft (RHD)Yes
🇺🇸 Los AngelesHK$250fromHK$450fromRight (LHD)HK Licence OK
🇮🇸 IcelandHK$380fromHK$580fromRight (LHD)Yes

* Prices for reference. Click "Search" for latest Trip.com prices.

Self-Drive Destination Guide

Okinawa — Hong Kong's Favourite

Okinawa is HK's top self-drive spot. No railway makes rental essential. Naha Airport has Times, Toyota, Nippon — easy pickup. Roads are excellent, 50-80km/h limits, beginner-friendly. Route: Churaumi → Kouri Island → Manzamo → American Village → Kokusai Street. Japan drives left — HK drivers adapt fast with RHD. Get IDP from Transport Dept, HK$80.

Hokkaido — Scenic Road Trip

Hokkaido has some of Japan's finest driving — wide roads, little traffic, stunning views. Summer (Jun-Aug) lavender, autumn (Sep-Oct) foliage, winter (Dec-Mar) snow. Winter requires snow tyres (provided automatically). Route: Chitose → Furano → Biei → Asahikawa → Otaru → Sapporo, ~5 days.

Jeju Island — Easiest Self-Drive

Jeju's full loop is only ~3 hours — a very relaxed self-drive. Easy Jeju Airport pickup, Korea drives right like most countries. Top spots: Seongsan, Udo (ferry), Jungmun, Hallasan. Korean highways use Hi-pass or cash tolls.

California Hwy 1 — Legendary Drive

PCH is one of the world's most iconic drives, 650km LA to SF along the Pacific. Must-stop: Big Sur, Monterey, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara. Allow 3-5 days. US drives right, self-service gas, most highways toll-free.

Top Self-Drive Picks by Traveller Type

First-Time Self-Drivers — Okinawa is Perfect

Never driven abroad before? Okinawa is the ideal starter. Excellent road conditions, light traffic, 50-80km/h speed limits — very low stress. Japan drives on the left just like Hong Kong, so HK drivers with right-hand-drive experience adapt instantly. Okinawa has no railway, making car rental the only practical transport. Rent a compact car (Toyota Vitz) for easy parking. Times and Toyota Rent a Car offer airport shuttle buses at Naha Airport.

Family Road Trips — Hokkaido & Jeju

Travelling with kids? Hokkaido (summer flower fields + zoo) and Jeju Island (easy island loop + teddy bear museum) are top picks. Rent a 7-seater or SUV for space. Japanese rental companies offer child safety seats (~HK$30-50/day) — add when booking. Plan fewer stops per day and allow rest time for the little ones.

Couples & Honeymoon — California & Iceland

California's Highway 1 is one of the world's most romantic road trips — Pacific coastline from LA to SF with stunning views. Iceland's Ring Road offers Northern Lights, glaciers, and geysers — a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For honeymoons, rent a convertible (California) or SUV (Iceland) and embrace the freedom of the open road.

Deep Explorers — Kyushu & Taiwan Loop

For immersive travel, self-driving is unbeatable. Kyushu from Fukuoka: Yufuin Onsen → Mt Aso → Beppu Hell Springs → Kumamoto Castle, a 5-day hot springs journey. Taiwan loop from Taipei: Suhua Highway → Taroko → Hualien → Kenting → Kaohsiung → Alishan → Sun Moon Lake → Taipei, 7-10 days for a full island circuit.

Seasonal Self-Drive Tips

  • Japan Cherry Blossom (Mar-Apr) — Self-drive Osaka/Kyoto for cherry blossom viewing, including spots unreachable by train. Book 1 month ahead.
  • Hokkaido Summer (Jun-Aug) — Furano lavender + Biei hills, the ideal driving season. Cars book fast — reserve 6 weeks early.
  • Hokkaido Winter (Dec-Mar) — Spectacular snow but requires snow tyres (auto-provided). Avoid night driving, allow extra travel time.
  • Okinawa Summer (Jul-Aug) — Peak beach season, very high demand. Book 1 month ahead. Watch for typhoon season (Aug-Sep).
  • Iceland Summer (Jun-Aug) — 24-hour daylight (midnight sun), perfect for Ring Road. Winter roads may be closed — summer only for beginners.
  • California Year-Round — Mild weather year-round. Avoid Thanksgiving and Christmas when prices and demand spike.

Car Rental FAQs

Q: What documents do I need to rent in Japan?
You need: (1) Valid HK licence (2) IDP from Transport Dept, HK$80 (3) Passport (4) Credit card for deposit. Japan doesn't accept Chinese licences. IDP valid 1 year.
Q: How much is car rental in Japan per day?
Compact (e.g. Toyota Vitz) HK$145-212/day, SUV HK$280-350/day, 7-seater HK$350-500/day. Incl. CDW. Highway tolls extra — rent ETC card. Fuel ~HK$10/litre.
Q: Which car rental insurance should I get?
Basic CDW/LDW usually included. Add Full Cover/Super CDW (~HK$50-100/day) to reduce excess to zero. Some Trip.com packages include full cover.
Q: Is one-way rental (different drop-off) extra?
Same city different branch usually free. Different cities (e.g. Osaka pickup, Tokyo drop-off) charge HK$200-1,000 by distance. Confirm when booking.
Q: Is it safe to drive in Hokkaido in winter?
Safe with precautions: (1) Snow tyres mandatory (auto-provided winter) (2) Avoid night driving (3) Reduce speed (4) Allow extra time. Hokkaido snow clearing is efficient, main roads clear year-round.
Q: Do I need an IDP for Jeju Island?
Yes. HK licence + IDP works in Korea. Easy Jeju Airport pickup. Korea drives right. Zero tolerance for drink driving — 0.03% BAC is illegal.
Q: Can I cancel for free?
Most Trip.com rentals offer free cancel 48hr before pickup. Look for "Free Cancellation" tag. Some discounted bookings may be non-refundable.
Q: Any new user discounts?
Yes! New users get 8% coupon valid 15 days. Users who booked flights/hotels get exclusive car rental discounts.
Q: Is driving on the left in Japan difficult for HK drivers?
HK drivers adapt instantly! Japan drives on the left with right-hand-drive (RHD) cars — identical to Hong Kong. Indicator and wiper positions are the same. Main adjustment is turning at intersections and highway merging. Practice in suburban areas on day one. Okinawa and Hokkaido have light traffic — ideal for beginners.
Q: Do I need a credit card to rent a car?
Yes. You need the main driver's credit card for deposit pre-authorisation (typically HK$3,000-10,000). Debit cards are usually not accepted. Bring a Visa or Mastercard — some smaller Japanese companies don't accept American Express.
Q: How does the Japan ETC highway card work?
Japanese highways use ETC electronic toll cards. Rent one with your car (~HK$30/day). Foreign tourists can buy an Expressway Pass (fixed-day unlimited use) for better value. Ask at the rental counter for current options.
Q: Which destination has the cheapest car rental?
Bangkok is among the cheapest at HK$120+/day, followed by Kaohsiung (HK$130+) and Okinawa (HK$145+). Europe/US is pricier — LA HK$250+, Iceland HK$380+. Japan overall offers excellent value with fuel also cheaper than Hong Kong.
Information is for reference only. Actual prices subject to booking platform. This page contains affiliate links — booking may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.