Shipping your car to Korea

Dec 25, 2020

Hi there folks and happy holidays! I have a few questions for those who've shipped their car to their post with them. Currently leasing a car, good mileage, still under warranty and one if the few major possessions I have. The dealership is with works with military families all the time, so they do know a few things about setting up the paperwork.It's a nice car and I would love to have it while I'm in Osan. I've lived in Korea before and have driven there but never shipped a vehicle there. I've heard of some relatively new policies regarding taxes and shipping logistics for servicemen and women and wonder if the same applies to DoDD?

Overall I'm wondering if it's even worth it/feasible to ship my vehicle over as POV. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

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Icanread You will need to look in to the requirements for the Korean government. Here in Japan, it is very difficult and expensive to bring a car into the country and get it up to standards to drive on the local roads. It's not worth it to have a car shipped to Japan. But I'm not sure how different it is in Korea.

Dec 25, 2020

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IsItFriday? Yes, It is feasible.

Most DoDEA teacher's in Korea have a car, whether they shipped it, or whether they bought one locally. A very small minority of teachers, mostly single, make due with a combination of taxis/buses/trains/walking. Those people without cars make out just fine.

Whatever you decide, you will be without a car when y...See MoreYes, It is feasible.

Most DoDEA teacher's in Korea have a car, whether they shipped it, or whether they bought one locally. A very small minority of teachers, mostly single, make due with a combination of taxis/buses/trains/walking. Those people without cars make out just fine.

Whatever you decide, you will be without a car when you arrive at Osan. You will find that you can survive easily without a car for the first month, while you're waiting for the car to be shipped and processed, or whether you're looking to buy one locally.

Japan and Korea are separate countries, and a knowledge of the rules in Japan are not even slightly helpful in this situation. Don't waste your time Googling the rules for shipping a car to Japan.

And yes, as suggested, you always have the option to pay for and maintain a vehicle in the US, for your exclusive use when you return on RAT. Owning a car in two countries can be very convenient. Many multi-millionaires own cars in more than one country. They find it cost-effective as they jet back and forth between their international businesses.

With you new status as an elite, forward deployed school teacher, based at the tip of the spear, you too are probably deserving of a reserve vehicle in the US. Spend the money. You deserve it. Don't listen to those scrimping, scrounging, co-workers who say that owning cars in separate countries is the opposite of retirement planning. Those fools. Don't they know you can't really enjoy money when you're old.

Your final decision is going to a calculator-base decision. And I can't help you with that unless your have specific questions, that I failed to answer here. Run the numbers and figure out the best decision, for you. Are you a "spend" person, or a "save" person.

And I don't mean to be judgmental. But you don't actually own your car, so I don't think you should call it a "major possession". A car is a depreciating asset. All new shiny cars, will be scratched, rust buckets in ten years, with strange electrical problems, and dodgy AC.

As for your leased vehicle? Well, I simply don't know. Read the lease contract carefully. Figure out the consequences and make the decision that best suits you.

Dec 26, 2020

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TravelTeacherMommy One thing is for sure about this forum. if you don't get help, you'll for sure get comic relief.

Dec 26, 2020

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HelpOthers Personally, I would not want to bring a leased vehicle. How would you get it back? How are damages covered? Will you be able to insure it if you don't have the title in your name? etc. Look into the costs and specifics by looking up the information at the military facility where you are going. There are probably helpful FB groups there to answer yo...See More

Dec 28, 2020

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Dr. Ali Fant I have taken a POV to West Germany and purchased a used POV in Germany as recently as 2012. Considering the shipping wear/tear on the POV, it is easier to purchase a used POV from a dealership with the Advanced DoDEA Salary option. You can rent a car on post for a week to check out used cars your first free weekend.

Dec 28, 2020

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