Korean Job Discussion Forums

[oatmeal]

I'm thinking about getting a hi pass OBU for my car but just have a couple questions. Since I'm using a compact car, the price is 50% off toll gates. My question is how will the OBU and hipass system identify my car is a compact and make sure it only deducts 50% of the toll gate fee and not full price?

Is there some sort of registering my car with OBU the first time I buy one?


Also, for insurance, can anyone explain the difference between type/table 1 insurance and type/table 2 insurance (full coverage)? Type 1 is about half the price of type 2 (full). I'm wondering if you think it's worth risking it getting only bare mininum coverage just so I pay only $400/yr on insurance or should I play it safe and get the FULL COVERAGE which is double the price at $800/year?

Which insurance did you get? I trust my own driving, but I'm worried about stupid drivers who might crash into me and cause car and personal physical damage that would screw me if I didn't have full coverage.

[oatmeal]

So does anyone here have a hi-pass OBU?

Is there a pay as you go sort of card for them or do you have to have a Korean Credit Card only?

I thought I heard there was a "pay as you go" that you can buy and just insert into the OBU.

Also, compact cars already get 50% off tolls. With a hi-pass, does the 20% off tolls add on top of that or is it still only 50% off tolls?

How does the discount work for hi-pass AND compact cars at the same time?

[Stan Rogers]

Dude most of the people on this board are indebted uni grads who don't own cars. You've come to the wrong place asking about this. I suggest you ask a Korean who has a car.

[Patrick Bateman]

I have one of those hi-pass machines, and yes, you register it at one of the hi-pass offices that are located by most, if not all, toll gates. They know what kind of car you have and charge accordingly. It does seem to be less with the machine vs. cash.

There was some problem with registering my ARC or bank account with the machine, so instead of linking the Hi-pass card with my account and deducting automatically, I have to take the card to an IBK atm and put money on it that way. Not much of a hassle though.

Regarding car insurance I went ahead and got the full coverage. I'm not sure if it's a waste or not, but in a country as notorious as this one, I'd rather be overprotected. My thoughts were like yours in that I'm not concerned with my driving as much as all the other people.

For the record I also drive a city/compact car.

[Ruthdes]

Oatmeal, I suggest you request to join the Facebook group, The Wild Bunch: Waygook car owners in South Korea. There's over 200 members and people are very generous with their knowledge, experiences and advice.