Importing a used car from Korea to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Why this route is booming

Central Asia buys more Korean used cars every year. Neighboring Kyrgyzstan was Korea's largest used-car export destination by value in 2025, and Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are large, growing markets with the same fundamentals: left-hand drive like Korea, strong familiarity with Hyundai and Kia (Uzbekistan even builds Chevrolets locally), and a taste for recent low-mileage SUVs that Korea has in oversupply. If you are buying for Bishkek specifically, see our dedicated Kyrgyzstan guide.

Kazakhstan: duty is all about age and engine size

For a private individual, Kazakhstan charges a combined customs payment calculated per cubic centimeter of engine displacement, with the rate rising steeply by vehicle age. For cars 5 years and older the rate reaches roughly €4 per cc for 1.8 to 3.0 liter engines and more above 3.0 liters, which effectively prices old big-engine cars out of the market. Companies importing commercially pay a 15% ad valorem duty instead. (Kazakhstan customs calculator)

• Recycling fee (утильсбор): paid on every import, scaled by engine volume and age. Budget for it; it is not optional.
• EAEU-built cars with a certificate of origin skip duty and import VAT entirely, but a Korean-built car does not qualify, so plan on the full calculation. (US ITA, Kazakhstan customs)
• The sweet spot: a car under 5 years old with a 1.6 to 2.0 liter engine. That is where the per-cc math is mildest, and it is exactly the core of the Korean used market.

Uzbekistan: age bands, and a real EV opportunity

Uzbekistan tiers its import duty by vehicle age:

• Under 3 years: around 15% of value.
• 3 to 7 years: 20%, or a per-cc rate (roughly €0.36 to €0.80 per cc), whichever applies.
• Over 7 years: €1.40 to €3.20 per cc, which makes older imports rarely worth it.

The standout rule: electric vehicles enter at 0% duty regardless of age. A recycling fee still applies (it was raised sharply in 2025), but a used Korean EV such as a Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 or Niro EV can still land in Tashkent at a fraction of the tax burden of a gasoline equivalent. Korea has a deep, well-documented used EV market, and this is one of the best-value routes we know of right now. (Carawon, Uzbekistan import rules)

The route, step by step

1. Choose the car in Korea. We verify mileage and the Performance Inspection Certificate, and check the age and engine size against your country's duty bands before you pay.
2. Korean export paperwork. Export declaration, deregistration, commercial invoice, bill of lading.
3. Shipping. Two main options: RoRo or container across the Caspian (typically via Aktau for Kazakhstan) or the rail/truck corridor through China. Transit is usually 4 to 8 weeks to Almaty or Tashkent.
4. Customs clearance. Duty, VAT and the recycling fee are paid at clearance with the invoice, bill of lading and Korean export documents.
5. Registration. Local technical inspection and plates.

What sells well

• Compact SUVs: Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Kia Seltos.
• Larger SUVs for families and rough roads: Santa Fe, Sorento, Palisade (mind the engine size against the per-cc duty).
• Sedans: Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5, both familiar sights in Almaty and Tashkent.
• For Uzbekistan specifically: used Korean EVs, thanks to the 0% duty rule.

Practical tips

• Buy inside the age band with a margin. A car that crosses an age threshold between purchase and clearance jumps into a much worse duty bracket.
• Engine size is a tax decision. Between two similar SUVs, the 2.0L often lands hundreds or thousands of euros cheaper than the 3.0L+ after per-cc duty.
• Paperwork before shipping. Clearance delays in Central Asia are almost always document problems, not transport problems.

How we handle this route

Central Asia is one of our core regions. We guide you one on one through the whole process and give you a realistic landed-cost estimate up front, including duty, the recycling fee, VAT and shipping. Tell us your city and budget and we will point you at the age and engine combinations that clear customs cheapest.

Sources

• US International Trade Administration — Kazakhstan customs regulations
• STS — Kazakhstan car import customs calculator (duty, VAT, recycling fee)
• Carawon — Import cars to Uzbekistan: duties, EV rules and age bands

Rates, coefficients and exemptions change frequently in both countries. Always confirm current figures with Kazakhstan's State Revenue Committee (kgd.gov.kz) or Uzbekistan Customs (customs.uz) before purchase.