Cars from abroad: USA, Korea, Europe and how to compare imports
Three directions, three logics
When you look for a car from abroad, first pick the market, because the price and the risks depend on it. The USA offers wide choice, including auctions like Copart, but many cars there are damaged. Korea is known for rich equipment and a transparent history. Europe has the shortest logistics and service books. Each direction has its own cost structure.
On BlaBlaPrice you do not hunt for importers one by one. You write one request: what car, from where, and your all-in budget. Agents reply in chat with a calculation and timing, and the system shows the best-value offer first. Contacts stay hidden until you choose.
What makes an all-in import
“All-in” should mean the full sum: purchase, shipping by sea or truck, import duty and taxes, the agent’s service, registration. A price for the lot alone without these items is misleading. For cars from the USA, also ask about repairs after import: some cars leave the auction damaged, and the cost of restoration can change the total.
Think about mileage separately: in the USA it is in miles, while in Europe and Korea it is in kilometres. Convert it so the comparison is fair.
What to put in your request
- Model — for example Ford Escape.
- Year — a range, say 2018–2020.
- Where the car is from — USA, Korea, Europe, and the platform if you know it.
- How it is imported — all-in with customs clearance, or delivery only.
- Damage — acceptable or a car with no accident history.
- Engine — fuel type and capacity.
- Mileage — with the unit.
- All-in budget and city.
Example: “I am looking for a Ford Escape 2018–2020, petrol 2.0 turbo, from the USA, a Copart lot with minimal damage, no hit to the pillars. Up to 80,000 miles. All-in import with customs clearance, Auckland, budget up to NZ$26,000 all-in.”
How to compare offers
Ask everyone for a calculation in the same format, so the sums can be compared. Look at timing: a difference of a few weeks can matter. Ask about the agreement, the payment schedule and who is responsible if the car does not match the description. There are more detailed pages for individual directions: cars from China, foreign-registered cars.
An honest comparison comes down to three questions: what exactly do I get, when, and how much will I pay in total. If a seller dodges even one of them, that is already a signal. Also ask for photos and a video of the car on the day of dispatch, and for an auction import, a screenshot of the lot with its number, so you can match the chassis number on receipt.
The season also affects cost: in summer demand for crossovers and convertibles is higher, so at other times importers may offer softer terms. Different markets also react differently to the dollar rate, so the same model costs different amounts in different months.
Common mistakes
Chasing the lowest lot price without counting the other costs. Buying without checking the chassis number and history. Leaving out the repair after arrival. Sometimes it is simpler to buy a ready car: look at used cars in New Zealand. For how the service works, see the “How it works” page.
