thedrifter
07-24-09, 08:25 AM
Step-by-Step Guide to renewing Government of Japan Vehicle Inspection on Camp Foster
OKINAWA MARINE STAFF
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa (July 24, 2009) -- EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article assumes the vehicle owner has all the current, required documents for renewal of the Government of Japan vehicle inspection.
So you arrived on Okinawa a year ago and got a good deal on a car with one year remaining before the expiration of the mandatory Government of Japan vehicle inspection. At the time, you had no idea what the inspection was or how to go about getting it renewed, but were content in the fact you would not have to worry about it for another year - now that year is about up.
Or maybe you are new to the island, have purchased a car for next to nothing, and are now faced with renewing the inspection.
Fear not.
Though some shiver at the mere mention of the GOJ vehicle inspection, you should know it is a simple process that only requires you to invest a little time, a little money and to follow some simple directions.
Vehicle owners are encouraged to complete their GOJ inspection thirty days prior to the current inspection expiration date.
There is more than one way to go about renewing the inspection, but among the most convenient and cost effective is to use the services provided by the Joint Service Vehicle Registration Office on Camp Foster.
To prepare for inspection, first ensure you have the current, required documentation. There are five required documents detailed under the "Required Documents" (pictured left). Grab them and put about ｴ40,000 in your pocket, just to be on the safe side, along with a twenty dollar bill and you are ready to begin the process.
With your required documents, proceed to the commercial American insurance office or any authorized off base Japanese Compulsory Insurance agency to pay for a two-year renewal of JCI. Many off base agencies are listed in the Okinawa Yellow Pages for comparison shopping.
You will pay for two years of JCI which should cost somewhere around ￥12,000, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. After paying and receiving your JCI policy, you are ready to proceed to the Joint Service Vehicle Registration Office to pay your weight tax and get your Government of Japan inspection. Ensure you have your vehicle mileage recorded before heading inside.
Building 5638, the registration office, is located on the opposite side of the Army Air Force Exchange Service station, facing the Foster Bowling Alley.
At the front of the registration building, there are two entrances. The left doorway is for local nationals and the right is for Status of Forces Agreement personnel. Once inside, proceed to the counter straight ahead to have your paperwork checked. If you have the current and required documentation, walk over to the Land Transportation Office Association counter on your right to pay your vehicle weight tax.
At the counter, pay your vehicle weight tax in Yen only and the clerk will issue you the required forms to complete the inspection process including stamps showing you paid. Safeguard them carefully. You will need them again and they can not be re-issued if lost, even if you have a receipt. Weight tax usually costs approximately ￥20,000.
Next, you will be directed to inspection office six, located in the inspection area. Walk to the opposite side of the covered vehicle inspection lanes linking the registration office and inspection center. Pull out $20 to pay the Army Airforce Exchange Service inspection fee.
After paying the fee, remove the hubcaps from your vehicle and drive it to lane five for your inspection. Have your paperwork ready for the inspector and be the only one in the car. Passengers are not allowed in the inspection area.
When directed, drive your car into the inspection bay and follow the directions of the technician as he guides you through a series of steps to ensure your vehicle is safe and structurally sound.
After your vehicle is inspected, the inspector will provide you with a clean bill of health for your automobile or a list of all deficiencies that must be repaired to pass inspection.
This is where the process can get expensive in some cases. If your car is in need of repair to be brought within Government of Japan standards, all repairs must be made before the vehicle can pass inspection.
If you have minor discrepancies to fix, and can take care of it the same day, you will not have to pay the $20 AAFES inspection fee again and only those discrepancies identified in the initial inspection will be re-inspected.
The AAFES service station located just a few hundred yards from the inspection station can often repair most common discrepancies the same day. You may also choose to use other on-base repair facilities such as Foster's Typhoon Motors, the Kadena Air Base Auto Hobby shop or you can go with a local mechanic. In any case, have your inspection results handy to give the mechanic to ensure all discrepancies are repaired.
Inspection hours on Foster are 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 - 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is best to hit the inspection line early to afford yourself the best chance to make repairs the same day.
After your car passes inspection, return to the vehicle registration office and proceed to the counter directly in front of the main entrance and update your vehicle registration information. After that, you are ready to drive legally on Okinawa.
Under Japanese law, all drivers must maintain JCI on their vehicles and it must be renewed every two years. Japanese Compulsory Insurance and Property Damage Insurance is mandatory for SOFA personnel under Marine Corps Bases Japan Order P11240.3.
Drivers caught operating a vehicle without JCI or PDI will receive a traffic citation, temporary suspension of driving privileges and a mandatory court appearance, according to officials at the Base Provost Marshal's Office. The vehicle may also be impounded and the owner will be responsible for all towing fees.
Ellie
OKINAWA MARINE STAFF
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa (July 24, 2009) -- EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article assumes the vehicle owner has all the current, required documents for renewal of the Government of Japan vehicle inspection.
So you arrived on Okinawa a year ago and got a good deal on a car with one year remaining before the expiration of the mandatory Government of Japan vehicle inspection. At the time, you had no idea what the inspection was or how to go about getting it renewed, but were content in the fact you would not have to worry about it for another year - now that year is about up.
Or maybe you are new to the island, have purchased a car for next to nothing, and are now faced with renewing the inspection.
Fear not.
Though some shiver at the mere mention of the GOJ vehicle inspection, you should know it is a simple process that only requires you to invest a little time, a little money and to follow some simple directions.
Vehicle owners are encouraged to complete their GOJ inspection thirty days prior to the current inspection expiration date.
There is more than one way to go about renewing the inspection, but among the most convenient and cost effective is to use the services provided by the Joint Service Vehicle Registration Office on Camp Foster.
To prepare for inspection, first ensure you have the current, required documentation. There are five required documents detailed under the "Required Documents" (pictured left). Grab them and put about ｴ40,000 in your pocket, just to be on the safe side, along with a twenty dollar bill and you are ready to begin the process.
With your required documents, proceed to the commercial American insurance office or any authorized off base Japanese Compulsory Insurance agency to pay for a two-year renewal of JCI. Many off base agencies are listed in the Okinawa Yellow Pages for comparison shopping.
You will pay for two years of JCI which should cost somewhere around ￥12,000, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. After paying and receiving your JCI policy, you are ready to proceed to the Joint Service Vehicle Registration Office to pay your weight tax and get your Government of Japan inspection. Ensure you have your vehicle mileage recorded before heading inside.
Building 5638, the registration office, is located on the opposite side of the Army Air Force Exchange Service station, facing the Foster Bowling Alley.
At the front of the registration building, there are two entrances. The left doorway is for local nationals and the right is for Status of Forces Agreement personnel. Once inside, proceed to the counter straight ahead to have your paperwork checked. If you have the current and required documentation, walk over to the Land Transportation Office Association counter on your right to pay your vehicle weight tax.
At the counter, pay your vehicle weight tax in Yen only and the clerk will issue you the required forms to complete the inspection process including stamps showing you paid. Safeguard them carefully. You will need them again and they can not be re-issued if lost, even if you have a receipt. Weight tax usually costs approximately ￥20,000.
Next, you will be directed to inspection office six, located in the inspection area. Walk to the opposite side of the covered vehicle inspection lanes linking the registration office and inspection center. Pull out $20 to pay the Army Airforce Exchange Service inspection fee.
After paying the fee, remove the hubcaps from your vehicle and drive it to lane five for your inspection. Have your paperwork ready for the inspector and be the only one in the car. Passengers are not allowed in the inspection area.
When directed, drive your car into the inspection bay and follow the directions of the technician as he guides you through a series of steps to ensure your vehicle is safe and structurally sound.
After your vehicle is inspected, the inspector will provide you with a clean bill of health for your automobile or a list of all deficiencies that must be repaired to pass inspection.
This is where the process can get expensive in some cases. If your car is in need of repair to be brought within Government of Japan standards, all repairs must be made before the vehicle can pass inspection.
If you have minor discrepancies to fix, and can take care of it the same day, you will not have to pay the $20 AAFES inspection fee again and only those discrepancies identified in the initial inspection will be re-inspected.
The AAFES service station located just a few hundred yards from the inspection station can often repair most common discrepancies the same day. You may also choose to use other on-base repair facilities such as Foster's Typhoon Motors, the Kadena Air Base Auto Hobby shop or you can go with a local mechanic. In any case, have your inspection results handy to give the mechanic to ensure all discrepancies are repaired.
Inspection hours on Foster are 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 - 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is best to hit the inspection line early to afford yourself the best chance to make repairs the same day.
After your car passes inspection, return to the vehicle registration office and proceed to the counter directly in front of the main entrance and update your vehicle registration information. After that, you are ready to drive legally on Okinawa.
Under Japanese law, all drivers must maintain JCI on their vehicles and it must be renewed every two years. Japanese Compulsory Insurance and Property Damage Insurance is mandatory for SOFA personnel under Marine Corps Bases Japan Order P11240.3.
Drivers caught operating a vehicle without JCI or PDI will receive a traffic citation, temporary suspension of driving privileges and a mandatory court appearance, according to officials at the Base Provost Marshal's Office. The vehicle may also be impounded and the owner will be responsible for all towing fees.
Ellie