What Does Importing a Car from Korea Really Cost? A Worked Example

The cost lines

1) Auction price. 2) Korean fees: export de-registration, auction fees, inland transport to the port and shipping preparation — usually $400–600 combined. 3) Ocean freight: RoRo to the Gulf roughly $900–1,500 for a normal car depending on port and size; container costs more. 4) Marine insurance (optional): about 1–1.5% of the value. 5) Our commission: a fixed, published rate. 6) In your country: customs duty, taxes, port and broker fees — these differ completely between countries.

Example: a $10,000 car to the Gulf

Auction price 10,000 + Korean fees 500 + RoRo freight 1,200 + insurance 120 + commission (say 5%) 500 = about $12,320 landed at the port (CIF). Then your country's duty (for example 5% in Gulf states on the value, plus port fees) — a final cost in the region of $13,000–13,500. Compare that with the same car in your local market.

What pushes the cost up

Large vehicles (SUVs, vans) pay more freight because shipping is charged by volume. A container for a single car costs more than RoRo. Distant destinations or ones without a direct line (Central Asia, some African ports). Slow customs clearance adds port storage fees (demurrage).

How to get the exact number

Use the cost calculator on the site for an instant estimate, then ask for a written quote — we give you the final price landed at your port before any payment, and the numbers don't change unless you change the car or the shipping method.

Frequently asked questions