How to Import a Car from Korea: Steps, Cost and Timeline (2026)

Why Korea?

South Korea is the world's fifth-largest car exporter and its used-car market is huge and fast-moving: Koreans replace their cars every 3–5 years, so the auctions are full of recent, low-mileage cars priced well below their equivalents in the Gulf, Europe or Latin America. Every auction car also comes with an official inspection report — accidents, replaced panels and verified mileage — so you know exactly what you're buying before you pay.

Step 1: Choose the car

Browse the live auction on our site (200,000+ cars) and filter by brand, price, year and mileage. Pay attention to three things: the actual model year (form year) rather than the registration year, the mileage in kilometres, and the fuel type — diesel and hybrid cars face different rules in some countries. Not sure which model yet? Start with the best Korean cars by budget.

If you don't find the right car, set a Telegram alert and we'll message you the moment a matching car enters the auction.

Step 2: Inspection report and final price

We send you the official inspection report (accidents, replaced or repainted panels, engine and gearbox condition) with the full photo set, and a written final price landed at your port: auction price + Korean export fees and inland transport + ocean freight + our commission. No surprises later.

Step 3: Deposit and purchase

You pay a deposit by bank transfer; we buy the car at auction and start the export de-registration — usually 3–5 working days — which produces the official export certificate your customs office needs.

Step 4: Shipping

We ship from Busan or Incheon in one of two ways: RoRo — the car is driven onto the vessel; cheaper, faster to load and fine for most cars — or a container, which gives more protection and suits luxury cars or two cars shipped together. Sailing to the Gulf takes about 20–35 days; to North Africa and Latin America 30–45 days. You receive the bill of lading and the vessel tracking number.

The two methods are compared in detail in RoRo vs container, and sailing times to each Gulf country are in our guide to shipping cars to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.

Step 5: Customs clearance and collection

On arrival your customs broker presents the documents (export certificate, invoice, bill of lading, inspection report), pays the local duties, and you collect the car. We recommend talking to your broker before purchase to confirm any country-specific requirements (age limits, specification, local inspection).

Importing into Saudi Arabia? The ports, documents and collection steps are in importing cars from Korea to Saudi Arabia.

What it costs and how long it takes

Example: a car bought at auction for $10,000 comes to about $12,150 at a Gulf arrival port: Korean export fees $450 + RoRo freight for a sedan-size car $1,200 + our commission $500 (indicative rates, updated 2026-07). Your country's customs duty and taxes come on top and depend on the country and the car. Every line is explained in the worked landed-cost example; for your own car, enter its price in the import cost calculator.

The whole process typically takes 4–8 weeks from payment to collection: 3–5 working days for export de-registration, 20–45 days at sea depending on the destination, and a few days for clearance.

Common mistakes to avoid

Buying without reading the inspection report. Ignoring your country's age and specification rules. Paying an unknown middleman in full before seeing documents. Choosing the cheapest shipping for a luxury car without marine insurance. Comparing auction prices instead of landed prices — always use the cost calculator.

Frequently asked questions