How I imported a Hyundai Sonata to Tema — my third order

This is the third car I’ve bought through Korea Car Master, and I’ll be honest about why I keep coming back: the first time, I was terrified. Sending the equivalent of months of takings to someone in Korea for a car I’d only seen in photos is not a small thing for a dealer in Tema. What changed everything is that they never asked me to just trust them — they showed me.

I messaged them on WhatsApp on a Monday with three things: Hyundai Sonata, 2020 to 2021, under $16,000 landed. By Wednesday I had three real options, each with the Korean won price and the dollar figure side by side. There was no inflated "foreigner" price — when I cross-checked one against Encar myself it matched. I chose a white 2021 with 64,280 km and two previous owners.

Before I paid a single cedi, they sent the full inspection sheet, photos of every panel, and a two-minute video of the car running and being driven around the yard. They pointed out a curb scuff on the front bumper themselves and circled it in a photo. That kind of honesty is exactly why I stopped buying blind from auction listings.

Here is what I actually paid, because I know that is what other dealers want to know. The car was ₩20,900,000, about $15,500 FOB Incheon. Their agent fee was $600, flat, agreed before anything moved. RoRo freight to Tema was around $1,150. The Ghana duty I cleared myself at the port as always — they sent the commercial invoice, bill of lading and export certificate as one clean pack, so there was no demurrage sitting and waiting on documents.

It sailed from Incheon and took about 38 days to Tema. They sent me the vessel name and the B/L the same day it loaded, so I could track it myself the whole way. When it arrived it was exactly the car from the video — same mileage, same little scuff, nothing new hidden underneath.

It sold off my lot within two weeks. I’ve already sent them my next request, a K5. If you’re a dealer thinking about it: ask for the driving video, ask for the won price, and watch how they answer. These people answer properly.