SSANCAR › FAQ › Importing Korean Used Cars into Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Lithuania and Other EU Countries
Country rules for importing Korean used cars into the EU
Country-by-country notes for Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Lithuania and the Baltics, Czechia, Romania and Bulgaria: taxes, approval procedures and the ports dealers use.
Key facts
- Germany: 10% duty + 19% VAT, §21 StVZO approval (EUR 330-580), ports Bremerhaven and Hamburg — the EU entry point SSANCAR uses for most European orders.
- Poland: 10% duty + excise 3.1% (up to 2.0 L) or 18.6% (over 2.0 L) + 23% VAT; excise declaration within 30 days; ports Gdansk/Gdynia or via Germany.
- Netherlands: 21% VAT + BPM based on CO2; RDW individual inspection; EV importers must prove a battery-recycling contribution from April 2026.
- Lithuania/Klaipeda: 21% VAT, common entry point for cars bound for Ukraine, Belarus-adjacent markets excluded.
Can I import a used car from Korea to Germany?
Yes. Germany is the most common EU entry point for Korean used cars: ships arrive at Bremerhaven or Hamburg in 32-38 days, the importer pays 10% duty and 19% import VAT on the CIF value, and the car is registered after a §21 StVZO full appraisal by TÜV or DEKRA (about EUR 330-580). SSANCAR's German partner agency near Munich can handle customs, TÜV and onward transport. Required papers: customs clearance certificate, Korean de-registration certificate with translation, invoice, §21 report and eVB insurance number.
Can I import a used car from Korea to Poland?
Yes. A Polish importer pays 10% customs duty, excise (akcyza) of 3.1% for engines up to 2.0 litres or 18.6% above (1.55% for hybrids up to 2.0 litres; BEVs and PHEVs up to 2.0 litres exempt until 2029) and 23% VAT, then files the AKC-U excise declaration within 30 days, obtains sworn translations and passes a technical inspection (badanie techniczne) at a district station. Cars arrive via Gdansk or via Bremerhaven/Hamburg and road transport. A draft law (UC95) would add a national individual-approval step from late 2026 or 2027; it was not yet in force in October 2026.
Can I import a used car from Korea to the Netherlands?
Yes. Dutch importers pay 10% duty and 21% VAT at Rotterdam, then BPM registration tax based on CO2 emissions (for 2026, EVs pay a flat BPM base of EUR 687) and pass an RDW individual inspection, which commonly requires a rear fog light and lighting or software adjustments. Since 1 April 2026 EV importers must show proof of a battery-recycling contribution. Korea-only trims of Genesis, Hyundai and Kia are a selling point for Dutch specialist importers.
Can I import a used car from Korea to Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia?
Yes. Klaipeda in Lithuania is a major entry port for Korean cars (40-50 days ocean transit) because of its car terminals and its role as a transit hub for Ukraine and Central Asia. Lithuania charges 10% duty and 21% VAT, with EU individual approval done at local technical services; Latvia and Estonia also apply 21% and 22% VAT respectively. Baltic dealers frequently clear cars in Lithuania and sell them on to Poland or Germany with EU status.
Is it worth importing a Hyundai or Kia from Korea when the same model is sold in Europe?
Often yes, for three reasons: Korean-market cars are 30-40% cheaper, they are typically higher-spec (Korean trims add leather, ventilated seats, larger engines and Korea-only models such as the Grandeur, Palisade, Genesis G80/GV80 and Carnival), and European demand for 3-6-year-old SUVs exceeds supply. The 10% duty, VAT, individual approval (EUR 300-600) and freight of around USD 1,500-2,000 must be covered by that gap, which works best on cars priced above USD 12,000 FOB.
Can I import a used car from Korea to Romania or Bulgaria?
Yes. Both apply 10% EU duty and import VAT (Romania 21% from 2025, Bulgaria 20%), with individual approval through the national type-approval authority (RAR in Romania, IAAA in Bulgaria). Cars usually arrive at Constanta (Romania) or via Koper (Slovenia) and Thessaloniki (Greece). Constanta has been congested since 2022 with 5-7-day clearance times because of Ukraine-bound cargo.
Can I import a used car from Korea to Czechia, Slovakia or Hungary?
Yes, but these landlocked countries clear the car at a seaport first — Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Koper or Gdansk — pay 10% duty and import VAT there or under transit (T1) at home, then complete individual approval (Czech 'schválení technické způsobilosti jednotlivě dovezeného vozidla', Hungarian NKH individual approval). VAT is 21% in Czechia, 23% in Slovakia and 27% in Hungary; Czech dealers often clear in Germany to pay 19% VAT and account for acquisition VAT at home.
Can I import a used car from Korea to Italy, Spain or France?
Yes, through Koper, Genoa, Barcelona, Valencia or Le Havre, with 10% duty and local VAT (Italy 22%, Spain 21%, France 20%) and national single-vehicle approval. Spain additionally charges registration tax (IEDMT) of 0-14.75% based on CO2, and France a CO2 malus for first registration. Volumes from Korea to these markets are small; most Southern European dealers buy Korean cars already registered in Germany to avoid the approval step.
Which EU country is the cheapest place to clear a Korean used car?
Germany (19% VAT) and Lithuania or the Netherlands (21%) are usually cheapest for VAT, while Hungary (27%), Croatia (25%) and Sweden/Denmark (25%) are most expensive; customs duty is 10% everywhere. The real difference is the approval step: Germany's §21 process is well documented and accepted EU-wide, which is why SSANCAR routes most European orders through Bremerhaven or Hamburg. Using customs procedure 42 lets you clear in Germany and pay VAT in your own country.
Do I need an EORI number to import a car from Korea into the EU?
Yes. Every business importing into the EU needs an EORI number issued by its national customs authority; it is free and usually issued within 1-3 working days online. Your customs broker uses it on the import declaration together with SSANCAR's invoice, the bill of lading and the Korean export documents. Private individuals without an EORI can import only through a broker, which is another reason SSANCAR sells to registered businesses.