Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vincentmiser]

Does anyone know the procedure to get a SOFA vehicle (vehicles which have been registered on US Military Bases) registered to a civilian resident alien?

[CentralCali]

You can start with the Vehicle Registration Office on the base for information. The phone number for the one on Camp Walker in Daegu is 0505-768-6108. POVs (Privately Owned Vehicles) for SOFA personnel are actually registered with the civilian authorities, the base just helps with the process. Official Use Vehicles are registed by the US military authorities.

If the vehicle was originally purchased in Korea, as opposed to being imported duty free by SOFA personnel, it should be a relatively painless process. If the vehicle had been imported under SOFA, then you'll have to pay customes duties on it to register it. AFAIK, that info is still current. I'd be delighted if it's out of date.

[vincentmiser]

Well, here is my situation.

I bought a car over the weekend, and we were going to go to the DMV tomorrow to register it but the seller found that he has registered it under SOFA and he was told that it would cost around 700,000 in taxes to register it with a civilian.

It is a Kia Towner and was bought in Korea - I hope this makes things easier.
Thanks for your info

[vincentmiser]

[CentralCali]

I was at Camp Walker today, so I grabbed a copy of this month's FMWR Outlook magazine. The Foreign Goods Transaction Office has an add in there touting their website. The procedure for the SOFA person to transfer the vehicle to you (the Non-SOFA person) is here:

1. The seller (SOFA member) and the buyer (non-SOFA person) go to one of FGTO branch offices with one copy each of "Bill of Import" and SOFA POV registration.
   
2. Two copies of "Request for Authority to Transfer Duty Free Item", one copy each of "Bill of Import" and SOFA vehicle registration are submitted to PMJ Customs Division for approval.
   
3. After the approval from Customs Division, FGTO takes the SOFA POV to Seoul Main Customs for customs clearance. The buyer pays the customs duties at the bank designated by the Customs [Office].
   
4. Finally, both the seller and the buyer go to PMO for the cancellation of registration of the SOFA POV.

If you want to speak with a human instead of just reading the procedure on the 'net, you can call 0505-724-4371, 0505-724-4372, or 0505-724-4373.

Good luck!

[laguna]

just be sure not to tear the tags off