AtMyBase: Yokota AB, Japan Enjoy your base!

1. Buy the Vehicle

This part is obvious, the first step is to actually pay for the vehicle. Whether you're buying from a local dealer or fellow military member, you're almost always expected to pay for the vehicle before processing occurs.

2. Japanese Compulsory Insurance

(JCI is a "complex beast," click here for more info - understand all vehicles MUST have JCI insurance)

3. Purchase Liability Insurance

Along with JCI insurance, all drivers at Yokota are required to have liability insurance as well (yes, two forms of vehicle insurance). Before you make a trip to the Pass & ID office, take the vehicle papers to a local Japanese car insurer (there's one on base, at the Yujo as well). There you must purchase some liability insurance, which is usually cheaper if you buy longer amounts of time at once (I believe 1 year is the max).

4. Pass & ID - First Pass

After you've purchased the vehicle, ensured it has JCI insurance, and purchased liability insurance, you can make your first trip to the Pass & ID office. Here they will change the ownership of the vehicle, according to the base registration, to you. They will ask you to remove the old base entry sticker, and will issue you a temporary base entry pass.

5. Official Vehicle Registration Change

After the Pass & ID office has changed the base registration, and issued you a temporary base entry pass, you need to take your vehicle paperwork to the land office. However, most car insurers have a service where they'll do this part for you (for a small fee), I recommend you use this service to make it easy. At the land office, the vehicle's official registration will be updated to your name. 

6. Pass & ID - Final Pass

After you've gotten the car back from the land office, you need to make one last trip to the Pass & ID office. This time they will complete the base registration and check over your documentation to make sure it's all correct. After that, they will issue you a window sticker (sometimes called decal) to replace the temporary base entry pass.

7. Done

Phwew! That's it, you're now the proud, properly registered and insured, owner of your vehicle at Yokota AB, Japan!