Why Korean cars are left-hand drive
The question comes up almost every time before a first inquiry, because people compare Korea with Japan. The answer is short.
South Korea drives on the right-hand side of the road and builds left-hand-drive cars — the same configuration as Bulgaria and the rest of continental Europe. A car imported from South Korea therefore needs no conversion of the steering before registration, unlike an import from Japan or the United Kingdom.
This article is part of the complete guide to importing cars from South Korea.
Terms in this article:Bringing into compliance
This is a working draft. The Korea Cars BG team is still expanding it — for your specific case, write to us and we will answer in writing.
The difference with Japan
Japan and the United Kingdom drive on the left and build right-hand-drive cars. Importing from there means either a car with the wheel on the wrong side, or an expensive conversion that affects its value.
That question simply does not arise with South Korea. The car that arrives is laid out the way you are used to.
What does still differ
The wheel is on the right side, but some systems are set up for the Korean market — the navigation, the radio frequencies and the language of the infotainment.
Which of those changes at registration in Bulgaria and which stays in Korean depends on the model and the year. It is settled before the order, not after arrival.
Why this matters for the price
A left-hand-drive car sells on the common European market. A right-hand-drive car has a far smaller pool of buyers here, which shows on resale.
That is one of the reasons importing from South Korea is a more practical choice for a Bulgarian buyer than importing from other Asian markets.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a Korean car need converting for Bulgaria?
- Not the steering — Korean cars are left-hand drive. Some models need bringing into line with European requirements on other points, which is settled by model and year before the order.
- Does the navigation on a Korean car work in Bulgaria?
- The factory navigation carries Korean maps and is not always updatable for Europe. In most cases it is solved with a phone over CarPlay or Android Auto, if the car supports them.
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