How long does it take to ship a car from the USA to South Korea?

14 days port-to-port from California, 35 days from New York or Florida, and 41 to 44 days from Texas. Air freight takes 3 to 10 days, with rates that vary by vehicle and timing. Add time for US export clearance, container loading, and Korean customs processing.

Can I drive an American left-hand-drive car in South Korea?

Yes. South Korea drives on the right side of the road, the same as the United States, so American vehicles need no steering or lighting conversion.

How long must I have owned my car to import it into South Korea as household goods?

The vehicle must be registered in your name for at least 3 months before your move, limited to one vehicle per family with seating for fewer than 10.

Car Shipping from the USA to South Korea 미국에서 한국으로

Ship a Car to South Korea from the USA: 0% Duty on US-Built Cars

Q: How much does it cost to ship a car to South Korea?

Consolidated container shipping runs $2,350 to $3,125 per vehicle depending on route: New York to Busan is $2,350, California to Busan $2,500, Texas to Busan $2,900, and Florida to Busan $3,075, with Incheon slightly higher. Korean destination charges are paid on arrival. Dedicated containers, RoRo, and air freight are quoted per route.

Q: Can I ship a classic car to South Korea?

Yes. Vehicles over 30 years old that are unmodified and no longer in production qualify for reduced taxation and simplified registration in South Korea.

Q: Can I ship a motorcycle to South Korea?

Yes. Motorcycles ship crated in containers: a 20ft container holds up to 8 bikes and a 40ft up to 16. US Forces Korea permits one 2-wheeled vehicle per licensed driver in addition to a household's car.

Q: Can you ship an RV, camper, boat, or heavy machinery to South Korea?

Yes. West Coast Shipping's RoRo service covers campers, RVs, boats, and heavy machinery that don't fit a container, sailing to Busan or Incheon. Rates are quoted per unit based on dimensions.

American-built vehicles clear Korean customs at 0% import duty under the KORUS free trade agreement. On a $30,000 car, that keeps roughly $2,800 in taxes and duty in your pocket versus a foreign-built vehicle.

Since 2007, West Coast Shipping has moved vehicles from US homes, auctions, and dealers to Busan and Incheon. Cars load at our own warehouses, with departures from New York, California, Texas, and Florida, consolidated container rates from $2,350 per vehicle, and California sailings landing in as little as 14 days. PCS orders to Korea? We handle the vehicles the government entitlement does not.

Get instant rates → Military & PCS moves →

Instant USA → South Korea shipping rates

Confirm your rate and start shipping by completing our shipping form.

How much does it cost to ship a car to South Korea?

One service does most of the work on this route. The rest are quoted to your exact vehicle.

Shared (consolidated) container

$2,350–$3,125 per vehicle, by route

Your car shares a container with others heading to the same port, loaded and blocked by our own warehouse team.

New York to Busan from $2,350; California lands in 14 days
Personal belongings can travel inside the car
Full route-and-rate matrix below, all 8 routes

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Sports car strapped and blocked inside a shipping container by West Coast Shipping

Dedicated 20ft / 40ft container

The container to yourself: one high-value car in a 20ft, or 2–4 vehicles and household goods in a 40ft.

RoRo

Roll-on/roll-off for running vehicles, plus what a container can't hold: campers, RVs, boats, and heavy machinery.

Air freight

3–10 days for urgent moves and exotics. Rates change with vehicle size, route, and timing.

Every quote includes US export customs clearance and container loading by our own employees. Destination charges in Korea (terminal handling, unloading, customs processing) are paid on arrival. We accept wire transfers, checks, and bank deposits; we do not accept credit cards. Questions? Call +1 (510) 236-3008.

The KORUS advantage

US-built cars enter South Korea at 0% duty

Korea's 8% import duty on passenger vehicles was eliminated for US-manufactured cars under the KORUS free trade agreement. Origin follows the factory, not the badge: a Georgia-built Kia or an Alabama-built Mercedes qualifies, a US-titled car assembled in Mexico, Japan, or Europe does not. Korea then stacks three taxes on the CIF value (car + freight + insurance), each calculated on the running total.

Charge on a $30,000 CIF vehicle	US-built	Foreign-built
Customs duty (0% KORUS / 8% standard)	$0	$2,400
Individual consumption tax, 5% of CIF + duty	$1,500	$1,620
Education tax, 30% of consumption tax	$450	$486
VAT, 10% of everything above	$3,195	$3,451
Total at customs	$5,145 (17.2%)	$7,957 (26.5%)

Taxes are payable in Korean won within 15 days of clearance. At registration, Korea adds acquisition tax and compulsory liability insurance. Cars under 1,000cc are exempt from consumption tax, and vehicles over 30 years old that are unmodified and out of production qualify for reduced taxation and simplified registration.

Proof of US origin is what unlocks the 0% rate. We confirm origin eligibility and prepare the documentation before your car ships.

Sources: KORUS FTA tariff schedule via trade.gov and the Korea Customs Service. SOFA-status military imports clear differently; see the military section below.

USFK · Camp Humphreys · Osan · Kunsan

Military and PCS moves to South Korea

With PCS orders that authorize POV shipment, the government ships one vehicle through the official VPC program, with pickup at the Pyeongtaek VPC near Camp Humphreys. That entitlement covers exactly one vehicle. We handle everything it does not:

A second family vehicle

USFK allows one 4-wheeled vehicle per household by default, with a second registrable by exception to policy at Camp Humphreys. We ship spouse and family cars from any US address.

Motorcycles

USFK permits one 2-wheeled vehicle per licensed driver, in addition to your car. We crate and containerize bikes to Busan: a 20ft container holds 8, a 40ft holds 16.

Civilians, contractors, retirees

No government shipping entitlement? We move vehicles for DoD civilians, contractors, and retirees on the same schedule and rates as everyone else.

SOFA paperwork experience

Duty-free entry for eligible personnel, EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 export forms handled, condition photos before loading, and delivery coordination from Busan or Incheon peninsula-wide.

Our Oakland yard sits an easy drive from Travis AFB and puts your car in Korea in as little as 14 days; our New Jersey warehouse serves the East Coast installations. Start with the 2026 military car shipping guide for Korea PCS moves, or get a rate now.

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Routes and rates: USA to South Korea

We ship to two Korean ports: Busan, the country's main vehicle gateway, and Incheon, the convenient choice for Seoul metro deliveries. Consolidated container rates, per vehicle:

Cheapest: New York → Busan $2,350 Fastest: California → Korea 14 days 0% duty on US-built cars KORUS

Port of Busan부산

Korea's #1 vehicle gateway · most frequent sailings

CaliforniaOakland warehouse

14 daystransit

$2,500

New YorkPort of NY/NJ warehouse

35 daystransit

$2,350

FloridaPort Everglades / Miami

35 daystransit

$3,075

TexasHouston departures

41 daystransit

$2,900

Port of Incheon인천

West coast gateway · best for Seoul metro deliveries

CaliforniaOakland warehouse

14 daystransit

$2,700

New YorkPort of NY/NJ warehouse

35 daystransit

$2,450

FloridaPort Everglades / Miami

35 daystransit

$3,125

TexasHouston departures

44 daystransit

$2,900

Rates are per vehicle in a consolidated container; transit times are ocean sailing days. Korean destination charges (terminal handling, unloading, customs processing) are paid on arrival. Air freight runs 3–10 days from any origin with rates that vary by vehicle and timing, and RoRo rates are available for campers, RVs, boats, and heavy machinery: get an exact quote or call +1 (510) 236-3008.

Calculate your route ↑

The car import process in South Korea

From your driveway to Korean plates, in eight moves. We handle the first four and coordinate the rest with our destination agents.

Pickup or drop-off
Open or enclosed transport to our California, Florida, or New Jersey warehouse, or drop the car yourself.
US export clearance
Title verification and AES filing handled by our in-house export team, with origin documentation prepared for the 0% KORUS rate.
Loading and ocean freight
Strapped and blocked in the container by our own warehouse employees, then sailed to Busan or Incheon.
Arrival and unloading
Terminal handling and unloading at the Korean port; destination charges are paid locally.
Korean customs clearance
Import declaration filed; duty and taxes payable in won within 15 days. Household-goods imports need 3 months of prior ownership, one vehicle per family.
Safety and emissions approval
KC certification with KATRI safety review and Ministry of Environment emissions approval. Vehicles 30+ years old, unmodified and out of production, get simplified treatment.
Insurance
Korean compulsory liability coverage, active within two weeks of clearance.
Registration
Local registration with the customs release, foreign registration certificate, and proof of tax payment. Korea drives on the right, so US cars need no conversion.

Full civilian tax detail lives in our guide to importing a car into South Korea.

Classic cars: the 30-year rule

Vehicles over 30 years old that are unmodified and no longer in production qualify for reduced taxation and simplified registration in Korea. Combined with 0% KORUS duty on US-built classics, American metal from the mid-90s and earlier is one of the best-value imports into the country.

Every classic ships enclosed in a container, strapped and blocked by our own team, with optional Cargo Damage Protection for high-value cars.

EVs and hybrids

Used EVs face carrier-side rules rather than Korean legal ones: state-of-charge limits, letters of indemnity for battery risk, and some carriers refusing used EVs outright.

We confirm carrier acceptance for your specific vehicle before booking, so the rules surface at quote time rather than at the port.

Documents required to ship a car to South Korea

Every shipment

Original vehicle title (lien release or lienholder authorization if financed)
Bill of sale or proof of ownership
Photo ID: passport or government-issued
Power of attorney for customs filing
EIN letter for business shipments
Proof of US origin for the 0% KORUS duty rate: we prepare this with you

Military shippers add

PCS orders
EPA Form 3520-1, box 7 exemption
DOT Form HS-7, code C
Military ID copy
Korea-valid insurance quote for USFK registration

Our export team files the US paperwork; the origin proof is the piece that decides your Korean customs invoice.

Wholesale vehicle shipping from the USA to South Korea

Dealers, auction buyers, and exporters move multiple vehicles per month through our own warehouses in California, Florida, and New Jersey. Volume container programs, auction pickup from Copart, IAA, and Manheim, dedicated account management, and consolidated loading by our own employees.

With KORUS keeping US-built inventory duty-free into Korea, the arbitrage on American-market vehicles is a margin line worth checking.

Explore wholesale solutions →

Frequently asked questions about car shipping to South Korea

How much does it cost to ship a car to South Korea?

Consolidated container shipping runs $2,350–$3,125 per vehicle depending on route: New York to Busan is $2,350, California $2,500, Texas $2,900, and Florida $3,075, with Incheon slightly higher. Korean destination charges are paid on arrival. Use our calculator for an instant rate on your exact vehicle and route.

Do I pay import duty on a US-built car in South Korea?

No. Under the KORUS free trade agreement, passenger vehicles manufactured in the US enter Korea at 0% customs duty. You still pay consumption tax, education tax, and VAT, roughly 16–17% of CIF combined. Foreign-built cars pay 8% duty on top, roughly 26% all-in. Origin follows the factory, not the badge.

How long does shipping to South Korea take?

14 days port-to-port from California, 35 days from New York or Florida, and 41–44 days from Texas. Air freight runs 3–10 days; air rates vary by vehicle and timing, so contact us for a quote. Add time for US clearance, container loading, and Korean customs processing on arrival.

Does the military ship my car to Korea for free?

With PCS orders that authorize POV shipment, the government ships one vehicle through the VPC at Pyeongtaek. Second vehicles, motorcycles, and shipments for retirees, civilians, and contractors are out of pocket. That is what we do. See the military section above.

Can I ship a car to Camp Humphreys?

Yes. We ship through Busan or Incheon with delivery coordination to Camp Humphreys for SOFA-status personnel, and off-base delivery peninsula-wide.

Can I drive an American left-hand-drive car in Korea?

Yes. Korea drives on the right side of the road, same as the US. No steering or lighting conversion is needed.

How long must I have owned my car to import it as household goods?

At least 3 months registered in your name before the move, limited to one vehicle per family with seating for fewer than 10.

Can I ship a classic car to South Korea?

Yes, and the rules favor it. Vehicles over 30 years old, unmodified and out of production, qualify for reduced taxation and simplified registration, on top of 0% KORUS duty for US-built classics.

Can I ship a motorcycle to South Korea?

Yes. Motorcycles ship crated in containers: a 20ft holds up to 8 bikes, a 40ft up to 16. USFK permits one 2-wheeled vehicle per licensed driver in addition to a household's car.

Can I put personal belongings in the container with my car?

Yes, personal items can travel inside the container with your vehicle. RoRo shipments do not allow anything in the car.

Can you ship an RV, camper, boat, or heavy machinery to South Korea?

Yes. Our RoRo service covers campers, RVs, boats, and heavy machinery that don't fit a container, sailing to Busan or Incheon. Rates are quoted per unit: call +1 (510) 236-3008 or request a quote for dimensions-based pricing.