I recently made a run to LTO (Japanese DMV) and had the worst experience of my life. After everything I seriously considered writing a leaflet detailing the most the likely scenarios to help future runners. After a couple of days stewing I realized that none of you care. I would be wasting my time. VRO certainly doesn't care or else they would have a leaflet already in their lobby next to the other leaflets.

I just wish that before I ran back and forth between two different locations there was a way to be informed which buildings to go to for what. The VRO's information was wrong. maybe it was outdated but it was wrong none the less. I  wished there was a leaflet that had phrases like "renew title" or "weight tax" in JAPANESE so that I could point to it when I approached the counter.

But that would be too easy, convenient, helpful. And we all know that no government employee wants to be helpful. In conclusion, I will not donate any more knowledge to aid in the problem. NONE of you guys did? I am now an LTO runner. That way all you suckers can pay me to take care of your car registration. HA!

Sorry you had a bad experience.
www.japanbases.com

Actually, I had a similar experience when I arrived and did the run by myself as my husband had to report to the ship.

I thought 'How hard can it be?' At that time I also did not know about this website, as this information wasn't given to me either! I actually had problems because the directions were not completely accurate, go figure.

We(my children and I) were looking for a white sign, but actually it was blue, or vice versa. BTW my son took all of the remaining directions off their wall at that time and corrected them and proceeded to tell the VRO emploee that it needed to be corrected! She just stared at him like he had two heads.

I am sorry that you had a terrible experience and whenever I have the opportunity to help someone - I DO! There is absolutely NO reason for things to be so difficult. However it doesn't seem that those employed to help really care.

I'm sorry, but exactly what are you ranting about? VRO or LTO? I'm a bit confused. When I first got here I also did it myself and while Yes, it's hard to understand but the ladies in building 3 (2 ladies in a small office) where nothing but helpful, they filled out my paperwork and then told me where to go exactly. I do LTO runs now and I haven't experienced any problems with them. If anything, when my water pump exploded while the car was being inspected, they were nothing but helpful in getting me a tow truck and helping me with the kids in the car.

If anything, my gripe is with VRO in Yoko cause they are the ones that are always confused. Always giving wrong info.

Sorry you had a bad experience, but not helping others will continue the cycle.

Your response [AmericianCherryBlossomGirl] to LTO runs really flabbergasted me.  I have been here for sometime now, and I have never had a bad experience with LTO.  First and foremost you must understand that you are a visitor in a country who's language is no where even close to english.  They have their own set of rules.  We must obey them.  There are so many of us on base that have done numerous LTO runs over the years.  You could have just asked someone.  While I will admit that VRO can sometimes be a little frustrating, but if you know the basics on how to register a car, it normally goes just fine.  Actually the two little ladies still remember me from when I first registered my car. 

   I agree, not wanting to help others is just making the problem even worse.

Posted By Coav33 on 24 Aug 2010 06:54 AM
If anything, my gripe is with VRO in Yoko cause they are the ones that are always confused. Always giving wrong info.

Love those two little old ladies in the office in B3. Wish I knew about them back in '96 when I manually did my own paperwork. Looking up the codes and kanji in five different books really was not fun.

VRO tends to be difficult, but also realize they deal with a ton of people all day long usually asking questions that are already answered on the printed papers on the side of the wall (don't know if they have them on the new wall yet). I usually don't even bother with going to VRO until I have all my paperwork completed.

I have never had an LTO run take more than 40 minutes unless I got there just before lunch. Then it usually takes about twenty minutes to do all the paperwork and 40 minutes to wait for their lunch break to end.

I found the folks at the AIU insurance on base helpful in terms of what I needed. Driving up there was a pain, but beyond that, no problems once I got to LTO.

How much business do you expect to get from us "suckers" here on this site? None from me that's for sure.

My only complaint is with VRO but it also happens down in Sasebo...someone needs to write the steps down on doing a jci for each base..Sasebo is very different than here in yoko...would be most helpful if there was a leaflet to tell you the steps...
LTO was a bit of a pain to find but I eventually did after driving around 3 or 4 times with 3 kids in the car...ladies at LTO all seemed to be helpful....just hand the paperwork to them and they tell you where to go...Not sure I understand why there's so many buildings but to each it's own and I am sure they have a reason.
Word of mouth is how newcomers find out how to do the process and w/out the older residents(those stationed here already) I would be so so lost....so to those that have helped me, Thank you~

Spreading the word to help the community, and providing a resource for people PCS'ing out here without a clue? This sounds like a job for...... JAPANBASES.COM!!!!