Korean Job Discussion Forums

[paulandamy]

Hi there -
First, I just want to thank people who have been contributing to these threads - just an extension of the mods' thanks, I guess. You guys have seriously made this site an indispensable tool during my stay here.

OK, the main point. We're thinking about buying a used car through another foreigner here. What are the procedures for going about that? First, we're in Seoul, and seller is in Daegu. Once we have a drivers license, I'm sure we can't just up and drive the car here from Daegu. Where do we register the car? What do we need? Do we register it at an office in Daegu or one in Seoul? How do we obtain insurance? Do we need to have the car in our name first? I've looked for info - but most of it seems to deal with buying cars from dealers. Any help would be appreciated.

[bassexpander]

If memory serves (from what I've heard) you'll need to go to both the local dong office and the Gu office to get it done. Not sure which one (yours or his). Maybe both. When I bought a motorcycle, I had to make a legal dojang stamp. To be legal, it required my full name (Korean is what I used). I had to register this stamp at the gu office, I think. You'll also need proof of insurance.

Sorry this isn't of much help. They usually don't have English speakers at the dong or gu offices, unfortunately.

[paulandamy]

Do the buyer and seller both need to go to both office? Can we also get insurance before buying the car?

[talltony4]

Getting insurance organised beforehand saves a lot of time on the day. I went though David Kim at AIG Korea. He was helpful and spoke decent English.

The seller needs to go to their Gu office/car registration place to check for fines owing and say that they are selling the vehicle. Then they give the completed form to you, and you take it to *your* gu office. Meaning: the gu office for the address on your alien card.

At your gu office you fill in another form and pay the tax. Then you submit your form, the tax receipt, the seller's form, and details of your insurance to the clerk. It should result in a new document that records your ownership of the vehicle.

Hmmm, I could be wrong on some points, but that's how I remember it. Anyway, unless you and the seller both live in the same gu there isn't much point going to the gu office together.

[paulandamy]

Thanks so much for the info!
So the insurance then can be bought after all of the forms go through at the gu office, and not before, correct?