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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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aodell
Joined: 22 May 2009
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 Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:41 pm Post subject: Do you own a car in Korea? |
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I think I'm buying a used car soon (possibly a GM Daewoo Matiz). I want to understand what financial responsabilities it'll be before I actually make that plunge.
So how much is and how often do you pay:
insurance (the completest package)?
taxes?
registration?
gas per litre?
mandatory inspections?
Anything else? I've never owned a car before... 
I would really appreciate any information! I live in a small-ish town. There's no Emart or Homeplus or anything and I can't resist the idea of a beach getaway every weekend! |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:17 am Post subject: Re: Do you own a car in Korea? |
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| aodell wrote: |
So how much is and how often do you pay:
insurance (the completest package)?
taxes?
registration?
gas per litre?
mandatory inspections?
Anything else? I've never owned a car before... |
insurance i just paid 800,000 won for a year on a 2005 korando (jeep)
taxes negligible
registration expensive, i think 300 to 500 thou, can't recal exactly, thought it too much
gas per litre? *shrug* fill up diesel once a week for 60,000 won including trips to Busan, Jinju and south and east coast beaches the last few weekends
mandatory inspection... was just quoted 100,000 won to get my vehicle up to spec but when went to have the modifications done the guy working at the shop recommended i go to another inspection place he knows to get it inspected and passed AS IS, so i did, and it was easy and painless, no extra charge (so if the inspection guy quotes upgrades you need - a wall bariier between fromt and back in my jeep's case - then simply go elsewhere (cost a mere 20,000 won bribe to get it rubber stamped)
speeding tickets.. watch out for the photo radar, they're many places and even though traffic on a highway may be going 95 km/hr the limit may be 80 and the korean drivers know by gps when to slow down to beat the camera, whereas i wasn't so tech loaded nor as aware of the fast slow downs so i got five (5) speedking tickets in the mail my first month!! a big surprise, especially since i go a bit slower than the usual highway traffic, but i waas consistent, whereas the savvy speedsters go faster then slow down for the cameras then speed up again, honking at me constantly for going a mere 95 in an 80 zone, all the while i racking up tickets  you either have to speed fast and be a sneak and slow down to dodge the cameras like some kind of gopher, or else drive the speed limit and have tons of honking horns - your choice
repairs.... cheap cheap cheap... staggeringly cheap compared to back home, except for the turbo on my mercedez-benz engine, which ran 600,000 won to fix
good luck whatever |
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b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:38 am Post subject: Re: Do you own a car in Korea? |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
you either have to speed fast and be a sneak and slow down to dodge the cameras like some kind of gopher, or else drive the speed limit and have tons of honking horns - your choice
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The other option is to do what the Koreans do and get yourself a GPS device. A sat nav would be the best idea. That'll tell you where all the speed cameras are, as long as you keep it updated. They're not that expensive and you can get a more than adequate one new for less than w200,000, a lot less if you shop around. Yes, it'll be in Korean but you'll still see your speed, the speed limit, and the distance to the camera on the screen which should be enough. Also, if you can at least read hangeul place names, the map features will be really useful too.
I think van islander's already given you some good advice. I'll just add a couple of things. First, insurance - if you've had car insurance in another country and didn't make any claims on it, get some documentation of that to your Korean insurer as it'll probably reduce the cost. I got quite a decent reduction on the basis of proof I'd had a claim-free insurance record elsewhere.
And gas(oline) is about 1600won a litre at the moment. I presume you didn't mean LPG gas, which is just under 800won a litre. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 3:31 am Post subject: |
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A GPS is essential for driving in Korea.
Directions and no speeding tickets. Beaut. |
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coralreefer_1
Joined: 19 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:27 am Post subject: |
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I adopted an old (I do mean old...98') Tico from another expat who left at the beginning of the year. In this case, I was buying a car that was already paid for (no monthly payments) In my case, it went like this...
Price for car - 400,000 won.
Insurance - (only liability) 460,000 won..(got robbed by AIG only because i wanted to insure English claim service)
Change of registration and title - Less than 5,000 won
Inspection - On last inspection, it was certified for the following 2 years, so I wont deal wit that until sometime next year.
Fuel - Gasoline - here in Daegu, about 1,560/liter at the moment
I would say the only real concern about buying a used car in Korea (of course the driving habits here are an issue) would be repairs. Mechanics are notorious for taking advantage of customers, even Koreans. The car runs good and hasnt had any major issues (It havent driven in more than 300km since January), but I have had work done on my motorcycle several times where I know for a fact I was taken advantage up, but needed the repairs regardless.
Just a few weeks ago, the turn signals in the car stopped working. I assumed it was just a fuse and popped into a mechanic in my neighborhood. This guy basically ripped the steering wheel off, and pulled some electronic device out, spent all of 15 seconds soldering a wire, and tried to charge me 40,000 won! The thing was, I expected it to be about 10,000, and was going to give him the ice cold pitcher of beer I had just bought as a gift, mainly to grease him up because I need a mechanic I can trust, and his place is close enough that i could push my car there if I had to. However, when he told me 40,000 I complained all the way to the bank about it (Had to visit the ATM to get the money) I made sure he knew that I knew he was robbing me, and as I walked to the bank I made sure he saw me snap a picture of his shop and sign. When I returned, the price dropped to 30,000won (still high as far as I am concerned.)
The thing about that situation was...it wasn't the first time I had that problem. When it first arose, I asked a Korean friend to take the car (because i suspected as a foreigner I would get robbed) and at that time, the guy did exactly the same thing (solder the same wire) and did it for FREE. To me, the same problem happened again, and since he obviously did not do it correctly the first time, it should have been free the second time (when i took it myself) but certainly not 40,000.
Another issue that you might want to consider is the current status of GM and by association GM Daewoo. You are likely to find that getting parts for any problem that may arise in the future somewhat difficult, and most likely quite expensive as time goes on and available parts supplies diminish. |
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logan2003
Joined: 20 May 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Finding a mechanic you can trust is very important. I and my wife speak Korean and we do research on our cars when we buy them. So I know what common issues will likely pop up.
First I go tell them what the issue is, and what I want them to do. If they try to talk about additional nonsense, I just leave. All in all in my town I have 3 VERY good mechanics. They even show me on their computer what the price will be for the parts. I get fuses replaced for free. Oh now I have figured out how to replace my own fuses (my front power seats went out). Fuses are only 100 won each. So to get charged 10,000 won...is crazy. Often it is done for free. |
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ducati
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:41 am Post subject: |
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VanIslander,
Do you know approximately how far away from the camera those photos are taken? It seems like they capture your plates when you're approximately 40-50 meters away. is that right?
I've slowed down when I've been 0.5 km away but other drivers keep going up until the last minute. It looks like the cameras are pointed straight down and being 0.5 km away won't set it off. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:29 am Post subject: |
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| ducati wrote: |
VanIslander,
Do you know approximately how far away from the camera those photos are taken? It seems like they capture your plates when you're approximately 40-50 meters away. is that right? |
*shrug*
i've been driving since the end of april and have six tickets so far. if i knew i wouldn't have them... the fact is i have tried to stay at the speed of traffic in the 'slow' (outside) lane on the highway and it seems i miss the slow down window, just haven't been paying attention
it may come natural to koreans to be sneaky and dodge cameras through a slow down speed up routine everytime a camera comes along, but to someone raised to obey the law, to see such dodgy cunning as underhanded, it's frustrating
i guess instead of trying to keep up with traffic i'll be the guy in the outside lane doing the speed limit while everyone else honks their horns at me to try and get me to hurry up bali bali  |
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NightSky
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| ducati wrote: |
VanIslander,
Do you know approximately how far away from the camera those photos are taken? It seems like they capture your plates when you're approximately 40-50 meters away. is that right?
I've slowed down when I've been 0.5 km away but other drivers keep going up until the last minute. It looks like the cameras are pointed straight down and being 0.5 km away won't set it off. |
not good at guesstimating the metres, but my navi has an indicator that shows you exactly by which point you have to be slowed down by. pretty cool.. |
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ducati
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| ducati wrote: |
VanIslander,
Do you know approximately how far away from the camera those photos are taken? It seems like they capture your plates when you're approximately 40-50 meters away. is that right? |
it may come natural to koreans to be sneaky and dodge cameras through a slow down speed up routine everytime a camera comes along, but to someone raised to obey the law, to see such dodgy cunning as underhanded, it's frustrating |
so, koreans are crafty lawbreakers and you're the model citizen? That's why you've received six speeding tickets? Because you were raised to obey the law? I guess you weren't raised properly. At least the Korean gov't puts up speed cameras for purely safety reasons unlike in other western countries where they discriminately try to get you to raise revenue. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:24 am Post subject: |
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| ducati wrote: |
| ...so, koreans are crafty lawbreakers and you're the model citizen? That's why you've received six speeding tickets? Because you were raised to obey the law? I guess you weren't raised properly. |
Whoa, did i hit a sore nerve. Geez.
If I need to explain further:
I try to go the speed of traffic in the slow lane, as taught back home as the safe way to drive. Of course, back home the slow outside lane is about the speed limit or usually less. In Korea the highway slower lane traffic does 10-15 k over the speed limit and so I did too, still getting the odd honking at for not going fast enough, but Ipresumed this was the standard speed deemed acceptable in the society since everyone was doing it. Then I suddenly get in the mail a half dozen speeding tickets for doing 91-96 in an 80 zone when the road I was on was FULL of traffic doing that, and more. What I missed observing, until the week after the rude awakening of tickets, was that Koreans were slowing down temporarily to dodge the cameras, everyin 'in' on the habitual lawbreaking, the conscious effort to skirt the law at every turn, to slow down quickly then speed up. I had observed this a couple of times but chalked it up as one of the several erratic puzzling driving practices I've witnessed in this country.
Now that I realize what the score is, what is actually happening, I have a choice.
I could speed along doing 90+ in the 80 zone like the locals on the roads I usually take and simply dodge the cameras, act like a gopher avoiding the hunter's rifle, being sneaky, treating the law as something to be consciously broken and pretended to adhere to.
Or I could only 80 and get honked at incessantly, with cars on my bumper aggressively trying to get me to speed up or get off the road. Not the safest course of action.
If everyone isn't adhering to a law and enforcement is lax then that law isn't in effect, just on the books. But if everyone pretends to adhere to the law only when watched, consciously puts on the breaks for the cameras then accelerates right after, each and every time, then that's a kind of lawbreaking en masse that presents a middle finger tothe law and the authorities, basically making a mockery of law enforcement.
Koreans are not known to have great respect for law per se. Custom, tradition and social pressure are much stronger forces, as they should be of course. But it still rubs me the wrong way to conscously try every day to dodge the law, to look and see if a cop or camera is around or not before deciding to break the law or not. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:32 am Post subject: |
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The upshot is:
I guess the crafty slow down-speed up EN MASSE on Korean roads where cameras are just goes to show the failure of the cameras to slow down the average speed of drivers.
The solution is to put cameras everywhere then?
I just sure wish it was possible to drive at the speed of traffic in the slow lane without getting speeding tickets. Which I can, if I have the brake ready at every camera. 
So, I will cruise control at 80 and let the bali bali drivers get ticked off at my failure to speed like everyone else. |
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b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| ducati wrote: |
Do you know approximately how far away from the camera those photos are taken? It seems like they capture your plates when you're approximately 40-50 meters away. is that right?
I've slowed down when I've been 0.5 km away but other drivers keep going up until the last minute. It looks like the cameras are pointed straight down and being 0.5 km away won't set it off. |
Yes, that's right. As long as you're at whatever the speed limit is from when you're about 50 metres away from the camera, you should be ok.
Let me reiterate what I said earlier. If you have a GPS sat nav or other device and rely on it for speed camera info, you DO need keep it regularly updated as the police change camera locations quite a lot and add new ones.
Ducati made a good point - speed cameras here do seem to be set up more for reasons of safety than of revenue collection. Many aspects of Korean traffic management infuriate me, however their attempts to regulate speed are generally sensible and reasonably effective to a greater extent than many other countries I've driven in.
I don't like to be without my GPS speed camera info when I'm driving, and if, for example, I get to my car and discover I left the sat nav memory card in my apartment while updating it, I would go all the way back up to the 13th floor to get it. That said, I don't think it's THAT difficult to dodge the speed cameras without a GPS. After all, they are all clearly marked in advance by the yellow signs, and the overhead gantries that they're mounted on are clearly visible from some distance away.
However, there are increasing numbers of pairs of average speed cameras, especially on expressways. They use number plate recognition technology with the first camera just recording your number and the time, the second one recognising the number and calculating your average speed. A GPS sat nav will keep you advised of your average speed all the time between the 2 cameras. The warning signs do state that it's an average speed check zone ahead, but that's easier to miss than just the sign or the camera itself. |
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