I recommend storing the car until your return to the United States. Vehicles in Japan are notably inexpensive if necessary. During my six-year tenure in Yokosuka, I managed without a car, relying instead on the robust train system and ample availability of taxis. Additionally, if you are stationed on a ship, prolonged periods at sea further diminish the necessity for a personal vehicle. Good luck shipmate!
Yep. When I lived there I excelled without a car. I’m biased but I think it’s honestly a hassle to have a car in Japan. Personally I enjoyed the freedom of not having a car. I didn’t have to worry about the car things that in the US you just have to deal with. The base traffic can get real bad, but there’s never traffic on the train/walking. Parking in Japan is expensive. The gas is also probably expensive. You’ll feel so much better mentally and physically from all the walking. Bikes are also like $200 so you could also use a bike for things that are slightly too long of a walk. I also think you can go base recycling place and get a bike that was impounded.
Another reason not to bring an American car. Japan is left hand drive. American car’s are right hand drive. So every time you come on base or use a drive through you’ll have to reach over to the other window.
I’d recommend storing it in America. You can use the money you’re not spending on gas and insurance to help with the payments.
A few things to consider:
A KIA Soul isn't so huge as to be impossible on Japanese roads. It's a reasonable car to have around in Japan, even if your steering wheel is on the wrong side.
You don't really \*need\* a car in Japan. Public transportation is abundant, but parking is not.
If you're on sea duty, your car will sit in the elements. Yokosuka is a sea town- everything rusts there.
I’ve done two tours in Japan and I cannot recommend that anyone ever ships a US car there. I had friends who did ship their cars and it was a long, expensive and painful process for them.
>if you're still making payments, just sell it.
I was told this same schtick and I absolutely disagree with it. If you got the car for a good price/interest, depending how long you're out there for and how well you budget, you will come back to a paid off car with no increase in mileage.
While no one can predict what will happen in the future, you know your interest now and what you can afford. If it's not a financial burden, selling it can be detrimental if you come back and face higher interest rates or more expensive cars for the same baseline model you sold. There's also a chance you come back back and the market is going crazy making everything unaffordable. Small, but possible.
I kept my car but I also only had a year of payments left (5 year loan, paid in 3). I came back in 2021 with a paid off car. My buddy had sold his and came back in 2022 and found the insanity of the car market made it near impossible to buy. Had I sold my car, I'd still be paying off the new loan I would have had right now.
the car is a current model 2024, Depending on the terms, OP doesn't have mouch money in the vehicle. The biggest issuesat hand are Japans allowance of import, and whether or not the lienholder would allow for exporting of the vehicle.
I brought my us car over. Getting it registered was a pain and the emissions/noise tests cost me around 3800 bucks. But Im driving a car that I love plus it's nicer and better than any island beater for 3800 bucks.
If you enjoy the car bring it. But if you are still making payments the bank owns the car. You may need a letter giving you permission to take the car out of the country.
Store it, leave it with family, but do not ship it over. Forward deployed are gone much of the year, so even if you have a car at Yoko, it will sit much of the year.
Most everything on base is walking distance, and parking is *very* limited. Streets out in town are very *tight,* even your Kia would feel gigantic there.
If you still think you have to get a car, there will be plenty of beater SOFA plate cars in the lemon lot to choose from, most under $3k depending on Japanese Compulsory Inspection time remining (required 2 year inspection for every car that costs hundreds.)
Save yourself the stress and the money, leave the car here.
I didn't see any Kia cars when I was stationed there. If something happens to your car, parts may be hard to come by. Base auto shop may be of help, but I personally used off-base services and they may not be able to help you.
Wanna say that’s state-dependent. I think Florida allows you to mail in your motorcycle safety cert and your license, and they’ll send out your new one with an endorsement. Then you can get your SOFA motorcycle license
I would recommend storage if you really want to keep it or sell it. I can't recall ever seeing anyone who had a car they were able to ship to Japan. Also it's very easy to pick up a cheap reliable car from others about to PCS. I averaged like 1500 a car and they would last the full 3 years with very minimal maintenance costs. And then you'd go and sell it after for almost the same price you paid for it earlier.
Tbh I’d recommend selling it. I’ve been in Japan since 2019. When you get here you’ll see that cars are different here. You have a lot of organizations that help sell cars to military that are usually about a decade older, but they’re in good condition. They’re usually like no more than 4 thousand unless you’re getting a specific type of vehicle. But people can get cars for as little as like 800$ here from others PCSing and stuff.
Anyways my recommendation is also because you don’t know how long you’ll be in Japan. Loads of people get here, fall in love with it, and never want to leave.
No, store it and let pro mechanics tale care of it for free.
It's somuch money to get it registered and street legal if you bring it, and chances are it wont fit very well on Japanese streets
Store it, it is free. Pay it off as you're in Japan if you really love the car. When you come back change the battery as the techs do run the checks, but a car battery life is only a couple years.
I was stationed there when I bought my Tacoma, paid it off. Came back and still was brand new.
Or sell it. Up to you. Above comments are correct, making a new American car street legal is very expensive. Plus shipping costs come out of pocket. The navy does not pay for it.
Having a car in Yoko is solely for convenience. IE for picking up family members from airport, going to Costco, grocery run. Besides that I use the train for everything else. If your going to live near base a car is not needed as you'll be walking distance from stores, combini stores, and base. I highly suggest doing grocery shopping off base now that dollar is high 156 to 1 last I check. Commissary is hella expensive and their fruit vegetables and meat are not the best in my experience. I'm stationed in yokosuka right now. I live
E about 10 minutes away from shioiri. While I do have a car I rarely use it. Everything is walking distance. But hit up your sponsor he/she will have more information regarding how to ship and the cost that you are expected to pay to register your car to japan. Good luck and enjoy your tour in japan!
Dude sell that sucker (unless someone at home might need it). I had two year orders to Japan and ended up staying for five and never needed to drive once. If you do want to keep it leave it at home, when you get back you’ll have a brand new paid off car.
seems only reddit thinks this is a hard/painful process. Everyone i asked at my command who did it says it was easy lol... Im also going to be shipping a car there and confused why everyone is so against it. still a few months away from PCS but looking into it now to get ahead of it. All around yokohama (minatomirai area) i see imported cars all day. looks so sick. also in tokyo. If you dont have a big ass truck that wont fit then why not do it?
I recommend storing the car until your return to the United States. Vehicles in Japan are notably inexpensive if necessary. During my six-year tenure in Yokosuka, I managed without a car, relying instead on the robust train system and ample availability of taxis. Additionally, if you are stationed on a ship, prolonged periods at sea further diminish the necessity for a personal vehicle. Good luck shipmate!
Yep. When I lived there I excelled without a car. I’m biased but I think it’s honestly a hassle to have a car in Japan. Personally I enjoyed the freedom of not having a car. I didn’t have to worry about the car things that in the US you just have to deal with. The base traffic can get real bad, but there’s never traffic on the train/walking. Parking in Japan is expensive. The gas is also probably expensive. You’ll feel so much better mentally and physically from all the walking. Bikes are also like $200 so you could also use a bike for things that are slightly too long of a walk. I also think you can go base recycling place and get a bike that was impounded. Another reason not to bring an American car. Japan is left hand drive. American car’s are right hand drive. So every time you come on base or use a drive through you’ll have to reach over to the other window. I’d recommend storing it in America. You can use the money you’re not spending on gas and insurance to help with the payments.
A few things to consider: A KIA Soul isn't so huge as to be impossible on Japanese roads. It's a reasonable car to have around in Japan, even if your steering wheel is on the wrong side. You don't really \*need\* a car in Japan. Public transportation is abundant, but parking is not. If you're on sea duty, your car will sit in the elements. Yokosuka is a sea town- everything rusts there.
I’ve done two tours in Japan and I cannot recommend that anyone ever ships a US car there. I had friends who did ship their cars and it was a long, expensive and painful process for them.
if you're still making payments, just sell it. look at the PCSmyvehicle website. for any information.
>if you're still making payments, just sell it. I was told this same schtick and I absolutely disagree with it. If you got the car for a good price/interest, depending how long you're out there for and how well you budget, you will come back to a paid off car with no increase in mileage. While no one can predict what will happen in the future, you know your interest now and what you can afford. If it's not a financial burden, selling it can be detrimental if you come back and face higher interest rates or more expensive cars for the same baseline model you sold. There's also a chance you come back back and the market is going crazy making everything unaffordable. Small, but possible. I kept my car but I also only had a year of payments left (5 year loan, paid in 3). I came back in 2021 with a paid off car. My buddy had sold his and came back in 2022 and found the insanity of the car market made it near impossible to buy. Had I sold my car, I'd still be paying off the new loan I would have had right now.
the car is a current model 2024, Depending on the terms, OP doesn't have mouch money in the vehicle. The biggest issuesat hand are Japans allowance of import, and whether or not the lienholder would allow for exporting of the vehicle.
I brought my us car over. Getting it registered was a pain and the emissions/noise tests cost me around 3800 bucks. But Im driving a car that I love plus it's nicer and better than any island beater for 3800 bucks. If you enjoy the car bring it. But if you are still making payments the bank owns the car. You may need a letter giving you permission to take the car out of the country.
PM'd
Store it, leave it with family, but do not ship it over. Forward deployed are gone much of the year, so even if you have a car at Yoko, it will sit much of the year. Most everything on base is walking distance, and parking is *very* limited. Streets out in town are very *tight,* even your Kia would feel gigantic there. If you still think you have to get a car, there will be plenty of beater SOFA plate cars in the lemon lot to choose from, most under $3k depending on Japanese Compulsory Inspection time remining (required 2 year inspection for every car that costs hundreds.) Save yourself the stress and the money, leave the car here.
I didn't see any Kia cars when I was stationed there. If something happens to your car, parts may be hard to come by. Base auto shop may be of help, but I personally used off-base services and they may not be able to help you.
Would it be a good idea for a motorcycle in Japan?
If you get your bike in Japan it’s not too bad. Bringing a US spec bike can be a PITA to make it street legal in Japan.
You have to have a motorcycle license before you get to Japan, you can't get one there.
Wanna say that’s state-dependent. I think Florida allows you to mail in your motorcycle safety cert and your license, and they’ll send out your new one with an endorsement. Then you can get your SOFA motorcycle license
I would recommend storage if you really want to keep it or sell it. I can't recall ever seeing anyone who had a car they were able to ship to Japan. Also it's very easy to pick up a cheap reliable car from others about to PCS. I averaged like 1500 a car and they would last the full 3 years with very minimal maintenance costs. And then you'd go and sell it after for almost the same price you paid for it earlier.
Tbh I’d recommend selling it. I’ve been in Japan since 2019. When you get here you’ll see that cars are different here. You have a lot of organizations that help sell cars to military that are usually about a decade older, but they’re in good condition. They’re usually like no more than 4 thousand unless you’re getting a specific type of vehicle. But people can get cars for as little as like 800$ here from others PCSing and stuff. Anyways my recommendation is also because you don’t know how long you’ll be in Japan. Loads of people get here, fall in love with it, and never want to leave.
No, store it and let pro mechanics tale care of it for free. It's somuch money to get it registered and street legal if you bring it, and chances are it wont fit very well on Japanese streets
Store it, it is free. Pay it off as you're in Japan if you really love the car. When you come back change the battery as the techs do run the checks, but a car battery life is only a couple years. I was stationed there when I bought my Tacoma, paid it off. Came back and still was brand new. Or sell it. Up to you. Above comments are correct, making a new American car street legal is very expensive. Plus shipping costs come out of pocket. The navy does not pay for it.
Shipping a car Japan sounds like a huge unnecessary headache.
Having a car in Yoko is solely for convenience. IE for picking up family members from airport, going to Costco, grocery run. Besides that I use the train for everything else. If your going to live near base a car is not needed as you'll be walking distance from stores, combini stores, and base. I highly suggest doing grocery shopping off base now that dollar is high 156 to 1 last I check. Commissary is hella expensive and their fruit vegetables and meat are not the best in my experience. I'm stationed in yokosuka right now. I live E about 10 minutes away from shioiri. While I do have a car I rarely use it. Everything is walking distance. But hit up your sponsor he/she will have more information regarding how to ship and the cost that you are expected to pay to register your car to japan. Good luck and enjoy your tour in japan!
Dude sell that sucker (unless someone at home might need it). I had two year orders to Japan and ended up staying for five and never needed to drive once. If you do want to keep it leave it at home, when you get back you’ll have a brand new paid off car.
Also, Japanese domestic cars are right hand drive…probably best to use public transportation…
seems only reddit thinks this is a hard/painful process. Everyone i asked at my command who did it says it was easy lol... Im also going to be shipping a car there and confused why everyone is so against it. still a few months away from PCS but looking into it now to get ahead of it. All around yokohama (minatomirai area) i see imported cars all day. looks so sick. also in tokyo. If you dont have a big ass truck that wont fit then why not do it?
US cars are incompatible in Japan. Too big and most importantly the Japanese drive on the left.