Earlier last week, the base's safety department came to our AOB/ICR class and shared a very short presentation, during which they gave us a QR code with three resources to review in preparation for the written driving exam. (Click here to see those resources.) I assumed there would be some sort of presentation Friday morning before we took the test... but that didn't happen. Instead, I walked into the classroom on Friday morning and was handed a test booklet and a blank bubble sheet! Luckily I had reviewed the resources from that QR code, and I passed the exam with a 88%. With my graded test in hand, I was given a ticket to take over to the safety office to receive my official SOFA driver's license!
Now it's time to find a car!
After doing some research and reading others' experiences in the Sasebo Spouses Facebook group, I learned that a lot of military families sell their cars through various Facebook groups before they PCS out. There are also two local Japanese used car salespeople who speak English and work with military personnel, Lifestyle Auto and Tamie's Auto. I decided to purchase our car through one of the Japanese used car salesmen because they guarantee 3 months of warranty, two full years of JCI (Japanese Compulsory Insurance), and they handle registering the car with the Japanese government. While buying a used car from a fellow military family *could* be cheaper, I didn't want the added hassle of finding a translator to register the car off base, and the fear of renewing the JCI while we are here in Sasebo.
JCI is the required Japanese insurance that has to be renewed every two years. Before the JCI can be renewed, the car has to pass an intense inspection. This means that if the inspector finds anything wrong, or anything that could go wrong in the next two years, they require it to be fixed before passing the JCI. From what I've heard, this can cost anywhere from $400 to upwards of thousands of dollars, depending on the repairs. Hoping to avoid that headache, I chose to purchase a car that would come with the full two-year JCI.
So over the weekend, I reached out to the two local dealerships via Facebook to see what cars they had available. Now, back when Bryan and I were together in Atsugi completing our ROM, we enjoyed looking at the different cars on our morning walks with the pups. We joked that we wanted something "really Japanese" and unlike anything we could get in the States. We really liked the Daihatsu Mira Gino, or as Katie called them "the James Bond car." When I reached out to the two dealerships, I started by asking if, by chance, they had any Mira Ginos, and I lucked out with Tamie's Auto having two! After messaging back and forth, I told him I was really interested in seeing them both. Tamie offered to pick me up on Monday afternoon at the back gate and take me to see his available cars!
As you can imagine, I was a little nervous to meet a complete stranger off base and ride in a car to who-knows-where to see his used car lot. (Can you say "stranger danger?) I mean, there's NO WAY I would message a used car lot on Facebook and then get in a car with them back in the states! It just sounds like I'm setting myself up to star in the first episode of Law & Order: Japan! BUT when in Rome (or Sasebo) you do what you have to do (and what other spouses said they did on the Spouse Facebook group!)
By now you have probably learned that the Sasebo Spouse Facebook group is the only place to get information. I'm telling you, the only reason I still have Facebook is for the sole purpose of knowing what's happening on base. I noticed the reliance on Facebook at our previous duty station at Camp Pendleton, but its even more true here! EVERYTHING is shared through Facebook and, so far, it's been a reliable source of information.
About 1pm on Monday, I met Tamie at the back gate and, before getting in the car, I took a picture of his license plate and texted it to my mom and sister. At least if they didn't hear from me they could figure out how to notify someone... With my bases covered, I got into Tamie's Honda Fit and we were off!
Tamie was very friendly! During our ride, I told him about Bryan being deployed and about my need for a decent-sized backseat for Hugo and Reynolds. I told him that I wanted a small car because I am nervous about driving in Japan...especially since the driving test was just on paper! He made sure I had a Specialized Power of Attorney (SPOA) for Bryan since the military will only allow the active duty service member to purchase cars while in Japan. Luckily Bryan and I had an SPOA drafted back in California just in case we ran into something like this!
A gentle reminder to any fellow military spouses moving overseas: you don't get to do anything without "permission" from the active-duty person. So far, I have needed the SPOA to talk with the housing office and now to purchase and insure a car overseas. It's all done in the name of your spouse; you are just the warm body who happens to live in said house and may get to drive said car and you were probably the same warm body who organized all the meetings for those things. I don't mean this in a negative way, it's just the truth of the matter of living OCONUS! It's taking some time to adjust to the idea that my world revolves around LT Bryan E. Johnson! I like to think I'm a strong independent woman with no need for a man, but the military says otherwise!
Once we got to Tamie's car lot, he allowed me to look around and inspect the cars I was interested in. I came in set on looking at just two cars, and within 30 minutes I had picked out a silver 2006 Daihatsu Mira Gino! I was beside myself! I was finally going to own my own little Japanese James Bond car! I was ready to whip out the AmEx right then and pay for it. Take my money Tamie, this is the car for me!
Tamie explained that he would hold the car while I registered it with the base, during which time he would upgrade the radio and install a backup camera. With this verbal agreement, we headed back to the base. By the end of the day, Tamie had emailed me the Japanese car title without anything more than me saying "this is the one!" Again, never in the US would a verbal agreement equate to receiving the car title via email. I'm telling you, the Japanese people are so friendly and trusting! I love it!
Tuesday morning I began my day with the humid walk to the Vehicle Registration Office (VRO) so I could begin the US government paperwork for the car. When I walked into the building, there was a LONG line of Japanese people waiting, but they ushered me to the front because they were in line for something else. I grabbed a number and waited my turn to be called. Within 5 minutes I was sitting down with someone, where I showed him the car title that Tamie had emailed me the night before, my military ID, my Japanese driver's license, and my SPOA. After filling out some forms, I was given two official Japanese documents to give back to Tamie, so he could register the car with the Japanese government.
While I waited for Tamie to meet me at the back gate, I headed over to the CHUBB office a few buildings over so I could get car insurance. In Japan, the JCI is the only required insurance for locals, but the US government requires additional coverage for SOFA members, and the base has two companies they work with- CHUBB and AIG. Why did I choose CHUBB? Because the Sasebo Spouse FB group said it was easy to get and conveniently located on the base. I walked into the office, sat down with the insurance agent, and within 30 minutes I had car insurance for the next year on our new car. They had two options for car insurance-the basic and middle plans. I went with the basic plan and paid ¥20,470 (equaling $189.54 USD) for a year of coverage. Not too shabby!
Pause: Now our car insurance, road tax, JCI renewal price, and highway tolls are less because our car is an A-plate, meaning it has a smaller engine and less horsepower. You can tell an A-plate car with just a quick glance because they have yellow license plates. Considering the fastest speed limit on most highways is 100km/h (62 mph) and the average road is only 60 km/h (37 mph), Bryan and I decided we weren't in desperate need of a fast car here in Japan, so we aren't too concerned with the smaller engine size. Below is the price breakdown for the different-sized vehicles. You can also see that the price is determined by the active duty's rank and age as well. We just lucked out with the cheapest insurance option because we made it into that 26-29 age category and because of Bryan's rank.
With insurance now covered, I met Tamie outside the gate at 12:45pm and handed over the paperwork for him to process with the Japanese government. He even drove my car to the meeting and let me test drive around the block! My first time driving in Japan was in my own car! Woohoo! He told me to meet him in the same spot tomorrow at 3pm so we can finish up this shindig.
So Wednesday afternoon, I met Tamie in our normal spot right off base. After walking me through the JCI paperwork and then having me sign one final form, he handed over the car title! Tamie had brought his square, so I paid him right there in the street using a credit card and then I was handed the keys! I am now the newest car owner in Sasebo!
Before getting on base, I had to get a temporary pass. You can see the temporary pass place in the pictures above (it's the fenced-in area with all the motorcycles.) With my temporary pass in hand, I drove directly to the security office to finalize all the VRO paperwork. (I even practiced backing in my new ride using my fancy, newly installed backup camera!) This time there was no line at the VRO office, so I headed straight to the desk with all my car paperwork in hand. Within 10 minutes, I received the "all clear" and was given a military housing parking permit!
Finally, I am cleared to drive in Japan in my new car!
Now I'm ready to tackle the roads ahead and venture out! Who knows where the Mira Gino and I will end up!
--Katie
What an adventure!
Thanks to your mom for including me on this site! We sure missed you guys at Davidson River and hope when you're stateside again, we'll see you there. Sounds like you're adjusting well. We've been praying for you! Find some fellowship! Love you! ❤️ Debbie
Too funny Gram! Dad said you should call it "BOND, James Bond"
or follow in my footsteps.... name it CAR... pronounced SEE-A-R
You could name it "getus" meaning get us there!!!!!!!!!!
You left out the most important part.... what is your car's name??? HELLO!!!
I love the part about Law & Order: Japan..... Sounds like a great idea :)
If the housing takes too long, at least you and the pups have a car (with no name:)to live in! It's about the same size bedroom that Bryan currently has ...hahaha