Moving to Japan, need advice.

I'm getting stationed at Kadena AB, Okinawa. I'm not on mainland Japan, it's an island to the east. For those asking about shipping a vehicle, it's not an option. You can't regardless, even if you could. It would be too costly in shipping and maintence, so my options are selling the vehicle private/dealer. Or storing the vehicle with my parents/military vehicle storage. I'm wanting to avoid my parents as they don't know how to drive a standard, the vehicle storage the military offers would be my best bet if I choose to store it. They document everything, fluids, mileage, regular maintence performed. But the route I want to go is to sell it, how i'm going to get this done in 3 months I don't know. Hopefully I don't bite the bullet and lose out on to much. Buying a hilux and shipping it over isn't possible either. Japanese and American trade laws/emmision standards are to different to consider this. I don't plan on getting a nice car while there, no skylines, silvas, no turbo diesel hilux. I'll probably go for a 2000-3000 beater. So any tips on how to sell the truck.

 

Keep the truck. You've just paid the interest; now pay off the truck. She'll be here and paid off when you get back.

 

This is the info i'm looking for, I would of never considered this. Anytips on how to word it?

 

Man I was hoping you were going to say iwakuni. I was going to demand a friends and family weekend pass. I have been since 92 and want to go back to the base so bad. And on your dilemma sell it

 

What about selling it to Carmax?

 

Sell it to carmax or through carmax?

 

One way to sell it is to sign a special power of attorney to somebody you can trust to sell it for you. They won't be in the same rush as you are.

I spend a year at Hansen in 1990 and a year at Kadena in 1996-1997. Cheap cars are the way to go.

 

The Air Force must do a better job storing vehicles than the Marines. While stationed at MCAS Kbay I went to Camp Hansen for 7 months and came back with my vehicle moved from where I left it. Huge Hawaii ants made a home in my battery and alternator. Luckily I was driving an island beater but it still cost me a couple hundred to fix it. If you do store it, leave it with a family member.

 

Ummm why can't you ship it? My friend just got orders from Kansas to Hawaii and the Air Force shipped his car for him, and I know other people who have shipped cars to places like Italy and other European countries.

 

Apples and Oranges, the United States and Japan have very strict import/export laws and emmision standards. I don't want to argue with anyone, i've stated over and over it's not an option.

Costs are on you with the shipment of your POV.

You must pay an emissions test which on the phone said runs anywhere between $4000-$7000 when you count the entire process.

You have pay up front the 2 years of JCI and all of your insurances, which you would of had to do anyway when you got here on any vehicle you own, but they require you to do it upon entry.

I love my truck but i'm not going to let it hold me back. I'm content with driving a beater for my stay and getting another tacoma when I return.

 

Sell it TO them. They'll buy your car outright and usually offer more then what dealers will pay. They love stock Tacoma's and since yours is practically brand new you should recoup most of your money.

 

That's awesome, i've never heard of this before. I'm going to look into this, thanks for the tip!

 

I was stationed at Kadena from 2000-2002.

Sell it. It'll be much easier on you.
No worries about what's happening to it in storage.
No payments on a depreciating truck.
Just better all around.

On island you can find older 4 Runners all day long for $3k or less if you have to have a Toyota 4x4. I had a 2nd Gen Diesel 2 door with a lift and 33's that I got for $1500 and that was back in 2001.

 

No problem. Their offer is good for 7 days too.

 

It looks like I might have to wait until i'm home to take care of this issue, I have to actually take it somewhere in person to get it invoiced.

 

You might want to read this--http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/faq%20site/pages/page2.html#Anchor-11-10144 All though it is possible to export a left hand drive to Japan you would probably be better off selling it to a Japanese importer and they are in it for the money. Cars/trucks sit in barns for decades more often than not a bit of fresh gas and a battery they start right up. But if you keep it when you return you'll have a basically brand new 2 year old truck. I agree with others your best bet would be to sell it now and pocket the cash.

 

If you want to keep it, Google has a lot of links to info on long term storage tips involving tires, battery, gas, oil, insurance, etc. The financial questions is depreciation vs. increases in selling prices.

 

If you're not going immediately, I'd wait. Orders change all the time. I was scheduled to deploy with two different units and about a week beforehand orders got changed. If you had out to Oki and don't have it sold, just leave it with your folks with a power of attorney authorizing them to sell it for you. That's what I'd do atleast.