Left-Hand Drive vs Right-Hand Drive Countries: Which Side of the Road Do Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Australia Drive On?

Left-Hand Drive vs Right-Hand Drive Countries: Which Side of the Road Do Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Australia Drive On?

A "Drive on left" reminder for visitors on Australia's Great Ocean Road (Unsplash, photo by Thandy Yung)

Planning a road trip abroad, or visiting Taiwan from a country that drives on the other side? This guide puts the destinations travellers ask about most into one table. Every row states both where the steering wheel is and which side of the road traffic keeps to, followed by the mistakes drivers make most often when they switch sides.

Get the Terms Right: What "Left-Hand Drive" and "Right-Hand Drive" Mean

"Left-hand drive" and "drive on the left" sound alike but mean opposite things, which is why so many people mix them up. Left-hand drive (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD) describe where the steering wheel sits; "drive on the left / right" describes which side of the road you use:

Left-Hand Drive vs Right-Hand Drive by Country

The table is split into two groups: same as Taiwan, and opposite to Taiwan. Each row reflects normal public roads in that country. The last column links to GoodCars' Taiwan driving guide for travellers from that country.

Compiled from national transport authorities, tourism boards and government travel advice (checked November 2026). "Steering wheel" means the usual position in local cars and rental cars; in Malaysia all traffic keeps to the left. Always follow local road signs and official guidance.

The one-line version

Among popular road-trip destinations, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland are RHD (steering wheel on the right, drive on the left). Taiwan, South Korea, the US, Canada and mainland Europe are LHD (steering wheel on the left, drive on the right).

5 Things That Catch Drivers Out When Switching Sides

Most drivers get used to the new side of the road within a short while. The real risks are habits that kick in without thinking:

1. Short and wide turns swap. When you drive on the left, a left turn is the short turn and a right turn crosses oncoming traffic; when you drive on the right, it is the reverse. After every turn, check you have ended up in the correct lane.
2. Roundabouts go the other way. In drive-on-the-left countries, roundabouts run clockwise and you normally give way to traffic from the right; in drive-on-the-right places such as Taiwan, they run anticlockwise.
3. The indicator and wiper stalks may be swapped. Many RHD cars (Japanese cars, for example) have the indicator stalk on the right of the steering wheel, so switching on the wipers instead of the indicator is a classic first-day mistake. Positions vary by model, so try them before you set off.
4. The overtaking lane changes sides. On motorways in drive-on-the-left countries, the right-hand lane is for overtaking; in drive-on-the-right countries, it is the left-hand lane. Move back after you pass.
5. Pulling out is the riskiest moment. Leaving a car park or petrol station with no car ahead to follow, your instincts pull you to your home-country side. Say "keep left" (or "keep right") out loud before you pull away.

A roundabout in Phoenix Park, Dublin. Ireland drives on the left, so traffic circulates clockwise (Unsplash, photo by Lucas Miguel)

Coming to Taiwan from a Drive-on-the-Left Country

If you drive in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia or the UK, Taiwan will feel mirrored: LHD cars, driving on the right, roundabouts anticlockwise and the overtaking lane on the left. Before your trip, these GoodCars guides cover the details:

• Driving in Taiwan: complete traffic rules guide for foreign drivers
• Taiwan International Driving Permit (IDP) guide
• Renting a car in Taiwan with a Japanese driver's licence
• Guides by country: Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, UK, Korea, USA, Canada, Germany

Driving in Japan: RHD, Drive on the Left

Japan is RHD (steering wheel on the right, drive on the left). Besides the five points above, Japan has a few junction rules that differ from Taiwan's; our complete guide to renting a car in Japan covers driving rules, licence documents, insurance and ETC cards in one place.

A Hokkaido road after rain (Unsplash, photo by Gabriele Girelli, for illustration)

GoodCars also acts as an agent for local car rental companies in Japan, with online booking at Narita Airport, Kinshicho Station (Tokyo), Chiba Station, New Chitose Airport (Hokkaido), Fukuoka Airport and Naha Airport (Okinawa):

• Narita Airport
• Kinshicho Station
• Chiba Station
• New Chitose Airport
• Fukuoka Airport
• Naha Airport

FAQ

Q1. Is Taiwan left-hand drive or right-hand drive?

Taiwan is left-hand drive: the steering wheel is on the left and you drive on the right.

Q2. Does South Korea drive on the left or the right?

South Korea is LHD and drives on the right, the same as Taiwan.

Q3. Does Singapore drive on the left or the right?

Singapore is RHD and drives on the left, the opposite of Taiwan. Neighbouring Malaysia also drives on the left.

Q4. Does Australia drive on the left?

Yes. Australia is RHD and drives on the left, as does New Zealand.

Q5. Does Japan drive on the left?

Yes. Japan is RHD (steering wheel on the right) and drives on the left.

Q6. Is "right-hand drive" the same as "driving on the right"?

No, they are opposites. A right-hand drive car has the steering wheel on the right and is used in countries that drive on the left; a left-hand drive car is used in countries that drive on the right.

Conclusion

Check the table before you go: Taiwan, South Korea, the US, Canada and mainland Europe are LHD (steering wheel on the left, drive on the right); Japan, Southeast Asia's Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland are RHD (steering wheel on the right, drive on the left). If you have to switch sides, watch your turns, roundabouts, stalks, overtaking lane and every pull-out, and most drivers settle in within half a day.