Insurance and warranty on a car imported from Korea
Two different insurances and one warranty that is not what most people expect.
A car imported from South Korea is insured in Bulgaria like any other: third-party liability is compulsory and is taken out before the car is put on the road. The manufacturer's factory warranty is usually valid only for the market the car was originally sold on, so on an import it is checked separately and not taken for granted.
This article is part of the complete guide to importing cars from South Korea.
Terms in this article:Duty
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.
Insurance during shipping
The shipment is insured for the sea crossing. That insurance covers the car in transit and is separate from the policies you will take out in Bulgaria.
Its value goes into the base on which duty is charged, together with the freight. That is why it appears as its own line in the quote.
Insurance in Bulgaria
Third-party liability is compulsory and is taken out before the car goes on the road. Comprehensive cover is optional and is offered on imported cars on the usual terms.
Registration is required to take it out, so the insurance comes after registration with the traffic police, not before it.
The factory warranty
The manufacturer's warranty usually covers the market the car was originally sold on. Importing it into another country often ends or limits it.
Check the terms with the marque's official importer in Bulgaria for the specific model before you factor the warranty into your decision. Do not assume it travels with the car.
What does carry over
The service networks of most Korean and European marques will work on imported cars outside warranty too. Check parts availability for the specific model — that is the more practical question than the warranty.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the manufacturer's warranty valid after importing from Korea?
- Generally not automatically. A factory warranty usually applies to the market the car was originally sold on, and is checked separately with the marque's official importer in Bulgaria.
- When is third-party liability taken out on an imported car?
- After registration with the traffic police and before the car is put on the road. Registration is a precondition for taking out the policy.
- Is the car insured during shipping?
- Yes, the shipment is insured for the sea crossing. That insurance is separate from the Bulgarian policies and its value forms part of the base for calculating duty.
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