Korean Job Discussion Forums

xmas10 · Joined: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Sinchon

Does anybody know if you could take back a Daewoo DAMAS II or a Kia Towner back to the States? I love these little vans and want to take one back home I have started the research and seems hard to find a specific answer. Anyone know off hand? Random and specific question i know but worth a try

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

I dont think those vans were ever safetied for American roads unless you can find one that is 25 years or older then it might be inadmissable.

coffeeandmilk · Joined: 23 Oct 2008

Typhoon · Joined: 29 May 2007 Location: Daejeon

I was not able to take my 2006 Hyundai Tucsan back. I called Hyundai directly (took about 4 very frusterating weeks to find a person who knew...person was president of Hyundai's North American export division)and they said it would be impossible because of emmision standards and saftey standards. They did mention that if I really wanted to take back a car from Korea I could order it specially to meet North American standards, but it would cost a little extra $$$$. Unless much has changed in the last 6 months it is not possible without having it manufactured to meet the standards (can't change it after the fact to meet standards). The loop hole seems to be if a car can get in as a "vintage car". Good luck.

Suwon Fish · Joined: 11 Nov 2008 Location: Hongdae

Actually, I have a 9 seat Starex that I would love to take back to the UK (mainly for use in Spain, long story).

How much is shipping on a car???

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

coffeeandmilk · Joined: 23 Oct 2008

coffeeandmilk · Joined: 23 Oct 2008

Typhoon · Joined: 29 May 2007 Location: Daejeon

VGT diesel, not very environment friendly for sure.

Believe it or not. To ship a car to North America you need a letter from the manufacturer stating that the car meets ALL saftey and emmission standards for one province in Canada or one state in the USA. It seems like it shouldn't be that hard. The Hyundai guy flat out said that cars manufactured for each market have very, very different specs. Actually at the end of the summer there were several TV programs about this very problem (Hyundai cars in the States are better and cheaper than ones in Korea). Believe it or not. If you search the forms I started a similar thread. One guy told a story about a guy shipping a Terracana to Canada and being told that the car couldn't enter the country.

If you can get a form from the manufacturer stating that the car meets standards you are good to go. I was shocked that cars here wouldn't meet standards. I was banking on taking my car home with me as it is pretty awesome. But alas I couldn't. If you doubt me call up Hyundai and you will see. A lot of people bring cars to Korea. Very few take cars out to North America.

Shipping a car will cost you between 5-7 million. You have to get a container and then pay the appropriate fees. You have to drive the car down to the port youself (Busan). Have it inspected by customs and then loaded into the container and sealed. If you want to ship it with stuff inside it you have to pack the car with the customs offical present.

Good luck.

ZenMoto · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Location: Seoul / Seocho

OP .... The Damas vans are very cool .... I call them Dumbass though .... Even if you could take one home with you you would want to keep in mind the the Damas vans are LPG powered and finding fuel might be complicated .... I remember seeing little vans with the same or similar sheet metal made by Suzuki when I was in the Bahamas 15 years ago.... Might be easier to get one of those in or maybe in look in Mexico ??? Then just drive it into the USA and try to fudge the system to get plates on it... They had piles of cool vans like those only more updated in Japan as well from makers like Honda and Mitsubishi.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

sojourner1 · Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject:

Thing is if you could take something like that back, there are no service shops nor parts suppliers, but of course, it may be possible to order parts from Korea and fix it yourself.

Here's info on Damas showing you can have it in central America since GM took them over.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_Damas

I would guess the Kia Towner is only domestic Korean market. You just don't see these tiny vans anywhere else.

I like those Musso Sports with the rhino emblem powered by a 5 cylinder Mercedes engine. You could have it in Australia, Egypt and several other countries, but not America.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

I wouldnt mind taking a Matiz back home but I think the Japanese mini cars are probably safer and more fuel efficient

browneyedgirl · Joined: 17 Jul 2007

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Been there..done that....almost....the car first off has to meet DOT standards. Especially the glass and tires. Those are checked. Emissions are checked depending on what state you are going. The speedometer has to read in MPH....
You WON'T get the correct answers in korea unless you talk with someone from U.S. customs.