Buying cars from South Korea, Japan and China remains one of the most popular ways to get a vehicle at an attractive price. In 2026, however, buyers need to look far more carefully at how they calculate the final cost of the car.
The reason is simple: over the past few months the authorities have continued to adjust the way mandatory import payments are calculated, and they are also revisiting how the recycling fee (utilisation fee) is worked out for cars brought in through Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries. (news.drom.ru)
Here is what has changed and how it can affect your budget.
The main change of 2026
One of the most widely discussed measures is the change to how the recycling fee is calculated for cars that enter Russia through EAEU countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Armenia. (news.drom.ru)
The main aim of the changes is to rule out cases where a car was brought in at an understated customs value, which allowed importers to save significantly on mandatory payments. (obyasnyaem.rf)
For the buyer, the takeaway is straightforward: the old schemes and online calculators are no longer a reliable way to price a car.
What this means in practice
Some buyers used to treat delivery through EAEU countries as a way to bring the final cost of a car down. In 2026 the gap between direct imports and imports through certain union countries is gradually closing. (Rambler/Auto)
In effect, the state is moving towards a single approach to calculating mandatory payments, whatever route the car takes.
Who is affected
The new rules apply first and foremost to:
- buyers of cars from South Korea
- buyers of cars from Japan
- buyers of cars from China
- clients planning to import through Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan
- companies that supply cars to order (news.drom.ru)
If you are looking at a car priced between 2 and 5 million roubles, the impact of the new rules can be especially noticeable.
What else to factor in during 2026
Beyond the price of the car itself, a buyer has to account for:
- customs payments
- the recycling fee
- logistics
- issuing the electronic vehicle passport (EPTS)
- certification
- installing the ERA-GLONASS system
- bank charges on the international transfer
In practice, it is these additional costs that most often push a purchase over its original budget.
The three biggest mistakes buyers make
Mistake No. 1. Looking only at the price of the car
A car priced at 2.5 million roubles can require several hundred thousand roubles more in extra costs before it is registered.
Mistake No. 2. Relying on outdated calculations
Calculators and articles based on the 2024–2025 rules are still circulating online. In 2026, some of that information is already out of date.
Mistake No. 3. Not pricing the international payment in advance
Many buyers focus on the cost of the car and forget that transferring the money to a foreign seller also requires preparing documents and choosing a reliable payment route.
Checklist before buying a car abroad
Before you pay for the car, check:
✓ The price of the car.
✓ The cost of delivery.
✓ Customs payments.
✓ The recycling fee.
✓ Whether an EPTS is in place.
✓ ERA-GLONASS requirements.
✓ The seller's documents.
✓ The payment details.
✓ The total cost of the car in Russia.
If even one of these points is still unclear, settle it before you send the money.
How EAST PAY helps car buyers
For purchases from South Korea, Japan and China, EAST PAY specialists help arrange the international payment, check the documents for the deal and estimate in advance any costs tied to the transfer.
That way the buyer understands the structure of the deal before the money goes to the seller, and avoids unpleasant surprises at the later stages of registering the car.
Conclusion
In 2026, buying a car abroad is still a cost-effective alternative to the domestic market. Today, though, a successful deal depends not only on picking the right car but also on calculating every associated cost correctly.
Before paying, work out not just the price of the car but the full set of mandatory payments that make up its final cost once it arrives in Russia.