Get registered and get driving
Published: 25 Oct. 2009, 20:44
Before purchasing a car, you must have a driver’s license, and be sure you know about Korean traffic laws. People with international licenses may drive in Korea, and people from countries that are part of the Geneva Convention or the Vienna Convention may exchange licenses from their home countries in exchange for a Korean one.
Q. What is the process of registering a newly purchased car?
A. It is important to register your vehicle upon purchase. The car dealer is generally required by law to register vehicles at the purchaser’s request. Driving a brand-new vehicle without registering it can result in a jail sentence of up to two years and/or a fine of up to 5 million won ($4,200). Registration can be made with the city or provincial government and district offices. Refer to the list on the right side for required documents for car registration.
Tell me more about the transfer registration process upon purchase of a used car.
If you purchase a used vehicle from a car dealer, the dealer will usually register the car for you. However, you can also do it yourself. If you don’t apply for a registration transfer, then the previous owner can do it as well. You must register your used vehicle within a specified period of time: 15 days for purchases, 20 days for donations and three months for inheritances. The penalty for failure to register can be up to 500,000 won.
Is there anything I should be aware of when buying a used car?
1. It is a good idea to buy a car from a registered pre-owned car dealership. This ensures that you will end up with a better quality product, as well as better handling should there be problems after your purchase.
2. Make sure to take a test drive in order to determine that the performance of the vehicle is satisfactory.
3. After checking the car’s performance, you should request a copy of the car’s performance record from the dealer. This is to ensure that the car is free of defects, or that you can be compensated if repairs are needed.
4. If you buy a used car and it breaks down within 30 days of purchase, or within the first 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) of driving, the buyer is eligible for free repair or reimbursement of repair costs.
5. If you purchase a car from another individual, you must file the required documents for registration. The vehicle registration certificate must be an original, and it must have a seal. You should also check that the car you are about to purchase was not one that was seized due to unpaid taxes and fines.
What should I know about importing a car?
Foreigners who are planning to stay in Korea for at least one year, are immigrating permanently, or are planning to live in Korea with family for at least six months are eligible to import a car into Korea. Customs must first recognize the car as part of the items you are moving. Only small and medium-sized cars are allowed. This includes sedans and compact cars. Trucks, trailer homes, and vehicles that allow for more than 10 passengers are not permitted.
The vehicle must have been used for at least three months before entering Korea, and must have the registration and insurance paperwork under the importer’s name. The vehicle must arrive in the country within six months of the paperwork being accepted. Taxes and customs duties are applied as follows: 18.8 percent for vehicles with an engine displacement of under 800cc; 26.52 percent for those with 800cc to 2000cc; and 34.24 percent for those above 2,000cc.
Information regarding vehicle inspection and emissions inspection is available at the Korea Transportation Safety Authority Web site (www.kotsa.or.kr). For other questions regarding purchasing and driving a car in Korea, or other general inquiries, contact the Seoul Global Center at 1688-0120.
By Ryu Myung-soo Contributing writer [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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