Motor Vehicles

On USFJ Installations, only SOFA sponsored permanent party or TDY personnel (staying for at least 6 months) can purchase and register vehicles. All registration actions must be conducted by the sponsor. Each SOFA member eligible for a USFJ Form 4EJ (SOFA License) who possesses a current and valid 4EJ is authorized 1 4-wheeled vehicle and 1 2-wheeled vehicle. A request for a vehicle over your authorization requires official request and approval via your chain of command and Pass & Registration. All vehicles registered under a given household will fall under the name of the sponsor of that household.

United States and International Driver's Licenses do not constitute authorization for U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) personnel to operate a privately owned vehicle. Your stateside license will not be honored on or off base. However, possessing a current/valid stateside or international license is a prerequisite to obtaining a USFJ Form 4EJ SOFA driver's license. It is highly recommended that all family members ensure their stateside license is current/valid prior to departing the States. If your stateside driver's license is expired and your state Department of Motor Vehicles doesn't have an automatic renewal for U.S Forces personnel overseas, then you will not be able to obtain a USFJ Form 4EJ or operate a privately own vehicle.U.S. Forces personnel must be in possession of a valid USFJ Form 4EJ, Operator's Permit for Civilian Vehicle, while operating any motor vehicle.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your stateside license is revoked or suspended from a previous base, then your license will have the same status in Misawa. If you have a hardship circumstance, you will need to coordinate with your chain of command on Misawa Air Base to obtain a 4EJ for getting to work. Notify Pass & Registration upon arrival to Misawa.

Generally, in order to obtain a USFJ Form 4EJ prospective vehicle operators must complete training online utilizing the Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) website. In the event a member cannot access JKO and no one in the organization can help them gain access, that member can request in-person training from Pass & Registration. The Traffic Safety Course II is hosted by the Wing Safety Office and is required upon driving privileges reinstatement from a previous revocation or suspension.All personnel who wish to obtain their 4EJ will need their course completion certificate from JKO, a copy of PCS orders (LOA/LOE for civilian personnel), their military ID and stateside DL.

TDY or TAD Personnel who are allowed by their unit command to drive off-base will be issued a 4EJ upon showing TDY/TAD orders, JKO certificate, military ID and Stateside DL. For personnel only requiring On-Base Driving Privileges the unit they support must have CC or designee concurrence. Driving off base with an “ON-BASE ONLY” 4EJ will result in penalties from USFJ and potentially HN authorities.

All personnel must be at least 16 years old to operate motor vehicles on base and at least 18 years old to operate vehicles off base.

Personnel who have no stateside driver's license will be given a student permit that is good for 90 days (good for on-base only) while enrolled in the base driving course. After issue of their permit, they can attend an AAA driver's course at the Auto Hobby Shop. Upon successful completion of the road test, the driver needs to bring their student permit and Certificate of Completion to the Pass and Registration Office to get issued a full license (on-base only for individuals under the age of 18).

Personnel who are TDY with a valid USFJ Form 4EJ from another installation in Japan or spouses in possession of a valid Japanese driver's license do not need to take the written test that is given at the conclusion of the Local Condition's briefing. They do, however, still need to attend the Local Conditions briefing after which they will be issued their USFJ Form 4EJ for Misawa AB.  They must also provide a copy of their orders, USFJ 4EJ from previous base, stateside license, and ID card.

• Seatbelt use (Mandatory for ALL DoD Installations)
• Child safety seats (Mandatory for ALL DoD Installations)
• Motorcycle operation (Permitted for SOFA members from 1 April to 15 November)
• The use of cellphones without handsfree devices while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited on ALL DoD Installations.

Shipment of Vehicles

The term "vehicle" includes motorcycles, automobiles, trailers, vans, and boats regularly parked or garaged overnight. With the complexity and high cost of shipping personal vehicles in conjunction with the low cost of vehicles in Misawa, personnel are encouraged not to ship their vehicles. Shipping automobiles to Japan is restricted; however, effective 1 April 1996, the Assistant Secretary of Defense (for Management Policy) has granted limited case-by-case waiver authority for the shipment of personal vehicles manufactured after 1976 to mainland Japan. However, the owner is responsible for all expenses related to alterations to meet Japanese specifications and for brake/emissions testing. Used vehicles are readily available to purchase both on and off base, generally ranging in price from $1,000-$5,000. If you receive permission to import a vehicle from the US or any other country whose specifications are dissimilar to GoJ standard, you will be expected to have your vehicle undergo modifications which vary from vehicle to vehicle to meet HN requirements. Those costs include parts and labor to replace non-Japanese Spec compliant parts as well as fees for compliance testing and certification and award of a coverage policy under Japanese Compulsory Insurance rules. These costs in total can and often do exceed $4,000 but can go significantly higher. In some instances, certain vehicles require too many modifications to be feasible financially to reach compliance or for reasons indicated by a certified and licensed mechanic are deemed impossible to rectify and meet the standards under GoJ.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles are not restricted for shipping to Japan. Motorcycles may either be a part of your household goods shipment or be shipped through an authorized water port. When you get to Misawa, you must inform the Traffic Management Flight that you have a motorcycle coming so registration paperwork can be started. There are new brake and emission testing standards that will hinder personnel from bringing motorcycles/mopeds to Japan. The Government of Japan (GOJ) has imposed a requirement that motorcycles/mopeds greater than 250cc, manufactured 1 Jul 99 or later, must comply with GOJ brake standards. In addition to the brake testing requirements, they must pass GOJ emission testing and control standards.

The estimated minimum cost for the brake testing is about $2000 and about $725 for the emission testing. These are separate requirements (subject to manufactured dates) and failure to meet compliance standards places the owner in a situation to expend additional funds. The additional cost of meeting GOJ's standards is subject to the various equipment types and the degree of difficulty in meeting compliance. There is only one brake testing facility (Tokyo) and three emission facilities (two in Tokyo and one in Osaka). The owner is responsible for all expenses related to testing and transportation for testing.

For any questions concerning shipping of either personal vehicles or motorcycles, please contact the Misawa Traffic Management Flight (TMF) at 011-81-176-77-3525 or DSN 315-226-3525. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Due the extreme winter conditions, the installation commander has limited motorcycle/moped riding to 1 April thru 15 November (or at 35FW/CC discretion). In order to register or operate a motorcycle you must complete a local Motorcycle Safety Foundation course regardless of experience IAW USFJ Instruction 31-205. The course is offered for beginners and experienced riders. Once the MSF course is complete then a motorcycle endorsement will be added to your USFJ 4EJ. Contact 35 FW Safety Office at 226-2702 for more details. The course is not offered during the non riding season.

Purchasing a Vehicle

There are many different car lots located off base where vehicles can be purchased. The base also has a "Lemon Lot" where used vehicles are available for sale by owner.

The 35th Security Forces Squadron Pass and Registration is your main point of contact (POC) regarding vehicle regulations at Misawa.

Below are some things to consider as you look at purchasing a vehicle in Misawa:

Vehicle Transfers -- It is the seller's responsibility to ensure the buyer takes the transfer paperwork to an insurance company or to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and then returns with the new title to Pass and Registration. If this isn't done, the title and base registration will remain in the seller's name.

Vehicle Limit: If there are at least two (2) licensed drivers in your family, then you are authorized a maximum of two (2) two-wheeled vehicles (i.e. motorcycles) and two (2) four-wheeled vehicles (i.e. cars/trucks) per family. If you're a single parent with a teenage dependent, the child must be 18 or older to qualify for a second vehicle.

Traffic: Vehicles are driven on the left-hand side of the road and have steering wheels on the right side. Most roads in the local area are two-lane. All speed limits are marked in kilometers per hour, and except for the Hachinohe and Tohoku Expressways, most speed zones are 40-60 kilometers per hour (24-36 mph). All traffic signs comply with international standards.

Vehicle Road Tax, Japanese Compulsory Insurance (JCI) and Liability Insurance: The annual road tax depends on vehicle weight and size, cost varies from $75-$300 and due every April. There is a special requirement to purchase JCI, which runs about $400 or more and is bought in two year increments, depending on the type and age of vehicle. In accordance with 5th Air Force Instruction 31-201, each privately owned vehicle will have, as a minimum, $30,000 property damage and $300,000 liability insurance. Most stateside insurance companies do not provide worldwide automobile insurance coverage; however, insurance is readily available locally off base and is relatively inexpensive. It is recommended you wait until after you have purchased your vehicle in Japan before acquiring insurance coverage. Some insurance companies will provide a proof of coverage letter which may authorize you a discount with local insurance companies. It is recommended you purchase additional insurance for collision/comprehensive coverage.

Seat Belts and Proper Motorcycle Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): In an effort to protect the safety, health and welfare of all Misawa Air Base, the Commander has implemented a zero tolerance policy for not using motor vehicle safety equipment. In the simplest terms, failure to wear a seatbelt in a moving vehicle and failure to wear proper PPE while riding a motorcycle equals no driving on Misawa Air Base.

• 1st Offense: 1 week suspension
• 2nd Offense within a 12-month period: 1 month
• 3rd Offense within an 18-month period: 1 year

Children must be in a car seat or booster seat until they are 50 lbs and/or 4 yrs old. General manufactures suggestions do come in effect for properly restraining your child. Offenses for not being in compliance vary. For more information you can contact 35th Security Forces Squadron at 226-3995.

Hands free Devices: Hands-free devices must be used while operating a motor vehicle on all military installations worldwide. In addition, hands-free devices must be used while operating a motor vehicle anywhere in Japan.