SSANCAR › FAQ › Buying Used Cars from Korea: Who Can Buy and How It Works
How to buy used cars from Korea through SSANCAR
Who can buy from SSANCAR, how the order process works, how long it takes, and what makes Korean used cars attractive for European dealers.
Key facts
- SSANCAR sells only to registered businesses and sole traders — not to private individuals.
- Order to port departure: about 1 week for stock cars, 1-2 weeks for auction cars, 2-4 weeks for special orders.
- Korean used cars are typically 30-40% cheaper than comparable cars in Europe and average about 15,000 km per year.
- Support is in English, Spanish, Albanian, Russian and other languages via WhatsApp +82 10 9144 4455.
Can a private individual buy a used car from Korea through SSANCAR?
No. SSANCAR is a business-to-business exporter and sells only to registered companies and sole traders (for example an EU VAT-registered dealer or a Polish CEIDG sole proprietorship). Private buyers are referred to an existing SSANCAR dealer in their own country. This is because a single car is rarely economical once shipping (USD 750-2,000 for RoRo), 10% EU duty, import VAT and individual type approval are added, and because SSANCAR's value lies in sourcing, inspection and logistics that a dealer can repeat every month.
How does buying a used car from Korea work step by step?
Buying through SSANCAR takes 13 steps and roughly 6-8 weeks from order to arrival in Europe. (1) Choose a car from SSANCAR stock, the daily auctions or dealer lots. (2) Receive a pro-forma invoice. (3) Pay the deposit, typically 10%. (4) SSANCAR buys the car from the dealer or wins it at auction. (5) Pay the second instalment, typically 50%. (6) The car is brought to SSANCAR's yard, photographed and de-registered for export. (7) Shipping date is fixed. (8) The car is loaded on a RoRo vessel or in a container. (9) Pay the balance, typically 40%, one week before arrival (the exact split is on your pro-forma invoice and varies by country and buyer). (10) Bill of lading and export documents are sent. (11) The car arrives at the port. (12) Any damage claim is checked within 10 days. (13) Original documents are couriered by DHL.
How long does it take to receive a used car from Korea in Europe?
Expect 6-8 weeks from order to arrival at a European port. Stock cars are ready to ship in about 1 week, auction cars in 1-2 weeks and special orders in 2-4 weeks; the de-registration and customs export declaration take 2-3 working days. Ocean transit from Pyeongtaek or Incheon is then 32-38 days to Bremerhaven, Zeebrugge or Hamburg and 38-45 days to Durres (Albania). Suez Canal disruptions have added 8-14 days in some months of 2024-2026.
Why are Korean used cars cheaper than used cars in Europe?
Korean used cars are typically 30-40% cheaper than the same model in Europe because Korea has a large, fast-turning domestic market (about 2.5 million used-car transactions a year), short average ownership, low annual mileage (around 15,000 km) and strong depreciation after 3-5 years. Hyundai, Kia and Genesis dominate the domestic fleet, so supply of Tucson, Sportage, Sorento, Santa Fe and Carnival is deep. Korea's used-car exports reached a record USD 8.87 billion in 2025 (+75% year on year, MOTIE).
Which Korean used cars sell best in Europe?
The best-selling Korean used models exported to Europe are the Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe, Sonata and Grandeur, the Kia Sportage, Sorento, Carnival and K5, and Genesis G70/G80/GV70/GV80. In Albania and Kosovo, SUVs under 10 years old dominate because of the 10-year import age limit. Korean-market Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche Cayenne models are also exported from Korea, often with higher trim levels than European-spec cars. Hybrids were the fastest-growing segment in 2025 (+307% export value, Jan-Nov, KITA).
Are Korean used cars left-hand drive?
Yes. All cars sold in South Korea are left-hand drive, so they can be registered in every EU country, the Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova without conversion. Right-hand-drive markets (UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus) are not served by SSANCAR.
What is the minimum order to buy from SSANCAR?
There is no minimum: one car can be ordered and shipped by RoRo. However, shipping cost per car drops sharply at 3-4 cars, because a 40ft high-cube container carries 3 sedans or 2-3 SUVs (4 small cars) for roughly USD 3,900 plus about USD 80 per car for lashing. Most SSANCAR dealers order 3-10 cars per month.
Can SSANCAR find a specific car for me, for example a 2021 Kia Sorento Hybrid?
Yes. SSANCAR sources specific models from its own stock, from Korea's four main auction houses (Hyundai Glovis, Lotte, Autohub and SK Rent-a-Car auctions, about 5,000 cars a week) and from the dealer complexes in Siheung, Incheon and Suwon. A special order usually takes 2-4 weeks to locate and buy. You can also set a free Search Alert on ssancar.com to be emailed daily or weekly when a matching car is listed.
In which languages can I talk to SSANCAR?
SSANCAR's sales team works in English, Spanish, Albanian, Russian, Arabic and Korean, and a WhatsApp buyer desk (+82 10 9144 4455) is staffed around the clock, including Korean night hours. Office hours in Siheung are 09:00-18:00 Korea time (UTC+9), which is 01:00-10:00 in Berlin and Warsaw.
How can I verify that SSANCAR is a real Korean exporter?
SSANCAR Co., Ltd. (주식회사 싼카) can be verified by its Korean business registration number 662-81-00898 on the National Tax Service Hometax site, D-U-N-S number 695047446, Korea International Trade Association (KITA) membership, and its registered office at A-dong 328, 163 Sangidaehak-ro, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do. The company received the USD 20 Million Export Tower at Korea's 62nd Trade Day (2025). Payments are made only to the corporate account in the company's name at Shinhan Bank (SWIFT SHBKKRSE); SSANCAR never changes bank details by email or chat.