When did zero duty start applying?

The preference has run since 2026-07-01 under the EU–US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. It covers passenger cars finally assembled in the United States; cars from plants in other countries continue to clear at 10%. Checking origin by VIN remains the necessary step before you count on a rate.

Does zero duty change the amount of VAT?

Indirectly, yes. VAT at 23% is charged on customs value with duty added, so 0% instead of 10% also lowers the tax base. Excise follows engine size and comes to 3.1% or 18.6%, and zero duty does not touch it.

Which Kia models should I check first?

The ones built in the States and abroad in parallel. On those Kia models the rate is settled car by car, and the gap between 0% and 10% genuinely moves the maximum figure worth chasing at auction.

Does the model year affect the duty rate?

Not directly, though it often matters in practice: manufacturers shift production between plants partway through a generation. The same Kia model from two model years can have a different assembly country, which is why the rate is set for one VIN rather than for a model name.

Does an American seller mean American assembly?

No. Sales in the States also move cars built in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. The condition for the preference concerns where the Kia was finally assembled, not where it was auctioned, so reading the plant off the VIN stays the only reliable check.

Kia and zero duty — model by model

Kia reaches us with two kinds of origin: 137,412 cars in our database carry an American assembly plant on record, the rest a European, Mexican, Canadian or Asian one. The first group catches 0% duty, the second 10%. No model name settles this — you need the VIN.

Which Kia models are assembled in the USA?

Across the Kia range we confirm American assembly for 8 models, while 17 have only ever reached us from plants outside the USA. The first group can enter the EU at 0%, the second pays 10%. Where a model lists two assembly countries, only the VIN gives an answer.

Model	Assembly countries	Status	Cars in our database
Forte	Mexico, South Korea	No preference	69,720
Optima	South Korea, United States	Depends on the car	64,345
Soul	South Korea	No preference	62,683
Sorento	South Korea, United States	Depends on the car	60,776
Sportage	South Korea, United States	Depends on the car	48,264
Rio	Mexico, South Korea	No preference	18,947
K5	South Korea, United States	Depends on the car	16,271
Sedona	South Korea	No preference	11,646
Telluride	United States	Can be 0%	10,529
Niro	South Korea	No preference	10,450
Seltos	South Korea	No preference	8,922
K4	Mexico	No preference	7,252
Spectra	South Korea	No preference	3,214
Carnival	South Korea	No preference	3,213
Stinger	South Korea	No preference	3,133
EV6	South Korea, United States	Depends on the car	2,872
Cadenza	South Korea	No preference	2,393
Rondo	South Korea	No preference	935
EV9	South Korea, United States	Depends on the car	495
Borrego	South Korea	No preference	433
Amanti	South Korea	No preference	396
K900	South Korea	No preference	366
Sephia	South Korea	No preference	57
K4 Hatchback	Mexico	No preference	2
Telluride Hybrid	United States	Can be 0%	1

Models of “American” brands without zero duty

The zero rate is out of reach for Kia cars from plants outside the USA, even when an American dealer sold them and you bid on them at a sale in the States. The preference in force since 2026-07-01 looks at the place of final assembly, so 10% stands. The VIN shows it plainly.

Model	Assembly countries	Status	Cars in our database
Forte	Mexico, South Korea	No preference	69,720
Soul	South Korea	No preference	62,683
Rio	Mexico, South Korea	No preference	18,947
Sedona	South Korea	No preference	11,646
Niro	South Korea	No preference	10,450
Seltos	South Korea	No preference	8,922
K4	Mexico	No preference	7,252
Spectra	South Korea	No preference	3,214
Carnival	South Korea	No preference	3,213
Stinger	South Korea	No preference	3,133
Cadenza	South Korea	No preference	2,393
Rondo	South Korea	No preference	935
Borrego	South Korea	No preference	433
Amanti	South Korea	No preference	396
K900	South Korea	No preference	366
Sephia	South Korea	No preference	57
K4 Hatchback	Mexico	No preference	2

Made in USA • Tax 0%

How do you check a specific car?

The check takes about fifteen seconds: type in the VIN and we read the country and city of the assembly plant from the manufacturer's data. A plant in the States means this Kia qualifies for 0% duty; any other country means 10%. The model name and the build year cannot tell you that on their own.

How much will you save?

EU–US Agreement on Reciprocal Trade has applied since 2026-07-01 and it is what strips 10% duty from cars finally assembled in the States. For a Kia that meets the condition, what remains is excise (3.1% or 18.6%) and 23% VAT. Run the result through the calculator — it follows customs value and engine size.

Work out the import cost

Zero-duty paperwork — our job

Our customs agency handles the formalities. We collect the assembly data, prepare the declaration and run the clearance — for a Kia that qualifies on its VIN we apply for 0% duty. The rate finally granted is the customs office's decision, taken on the documents submitted.

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