Driving License....All u need to know!

[n]

The new traffic law

In June 2002 the Japanese traffic law changed effecting the foreign community. International driving permits are now only valid for up to 12 months after the landing date in Japan. After this 12 month period a Japanese drivers license must be obtained. If one leaves Japan for a minimum period of 3 months, the 12 month countdown starts again.
Why this change?

The basic intent of this law is to stop Japanese drivers who have lost their Japanese license from using an International drivers license. Unfortunately this also poses problems to the many foreigners living in Japan.
What are the fines?

The maximum penalty for driving without a Japanese driving license is 300,000 yen or up to 1 year imprisonment.
Insurance

The problem of insurance coverage is the most important issue to the expat and employer. Driving illegally without the proper Japanese license could cause the insurer to refuse to pay, especially the policy holders part of the claim. Immediately effected is also the compulsory car insurance. Proof of a Japanese license may be required in order to renew the coverage.
The Japanese drivers license

Obtaining a Japanese drivers license can be a difficult and time consuming process for most foreigners. Until June 2002 there was only a recommendation to obtain a Japanese driving license. No laws or fines were in place if you drove around with a valid International drivers license despite the fact International driving permits become invalid if one takes up official residence in another country.
Requirements

* Foreign driver's license

Most important is a valid foreign driving license. You must be able to show official evidence that you resided in the issuing country for at least 3 months after the issue date. If the issue date is not shown on the license, an original letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles (or similar in one's country) translated into Japanese, in addition to the license, will be required. If those conditions are not met then the license can not be changed into a Japanese license and one has to start at a Japanese driving school.
* Translation of the foreign driver's license into Japanese
* Passport
* Alien Registration (the temporary certificate is not sufficient)
* One portrait photograph (3 cm in length and 2.4 cm in width)
* Application fee (currently 4,150 yen)

Please note that all applications and forms are only available in Japanese.
Who is affected?

If you have a valid original license issued in one of the following countries, only an eye test is required.

* Australia
* Austria
* Belgium
* Denmark
* Canada
* Finland
* France

* Germany
* Greece
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Italy
* Luxembourg
* Netherlands

* New Zealand
* Norway
* Portugal
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* U.K.

Holders of the following countries licenses are required to take the written as well as the actual driving test after taking the eyesight test.

* U.S.A
* Brazil
* China
* Hong Kong
* Singapore
* Indonesia


Written Test

The written portion is a 10 question English multiple choice test on a computer. This test is not very difficult and you need a score of 70% or above in order to pass.
Although the written test is in English, most likely none of the staff will speak English to assist with the process. If you pass the written test, then the road test can be scheduled for a different day. The interval between the written and driving test is 2 to 3 weeks.
Driving Test

If you are late for the driving test you need to reschedule and will have to wait another 2 to 3 weeks. The most difficult part of the whole process is the actual driving portion - most foreigners need to take the test a few times in order to pass. It is possible that only a few people out of your group will pass the driving test. Everyone rides once as an observer with the previous person - this is very helpful as you can see what the driving experts are looking for. You will be required to understand simple, verbal Japanese instructions, i.e. directional terms. There is a 1000 yen fee to take this test.
Driver's License Bureaus

Tokyo
Samezu Driver's License Bureau
1-12-5 Higashi Oi
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3474-1374
Hours:
Monday through Friday,
08:30 -11:00, 13:00 - 15:00
Kobe*
Akashi Driving License Bureau
1649-2 Niyama-cho
Akashi
Tel: 078-912-1628/9
Application Hours:
Monday through Friday,
09:00 -10:30

*Procedure is slightly different to Tokyo area. You must be at the center by 10:00 at the latest and as long as your paper processing is finished in time, you can take the driving test on the same day as the written test. If you pass, you will get your license at around 16:00.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the invaluable information! You don't happen to have any info on the location for Osaka, do you?

[reina358]

thank you your information is very helpful!

[Bill]

Horror story...I got all the nec doc's and showed up at the Aichi driving center. The deal is my CA Lic was issued in 1998, I had lived in Cali for 5 years before coming to Japan. My Passport was renewed in 2001. Becuase I had renewed my passport, there was no "proof" that I had been in california for the required 3 months after getting my lic in 1998. The guy at the counter was not cool at all, he was a real dickhead. I kept explaining that, I didn't have my old passport, that it was invalid..all he kept saying was can't do it, can't do it...I'm still pissed about this BS. This is a typical example where there is some stupid ___ rule put in place, and instead of it accomplishing what it was designed to do, it makes life difficult for others (foreigners)...how convenient.

[lightman]

Damn...
I am actually in the same situation as you
I had my driving license in 98 and had to get a new passport in 2001

Could you finally get your Japanese driving license ? what did you do ?

thanks,
lightman

[reina358]

a passport does`nt have to be proof right? I have my paycheck stubs with me, would that be enough proof for them that stayed in the area where i got my lisence?

[Anonymous]

There is some mis-information about countries not needed to take the road test.
Canada you have to take the road test. I am Canadian and I had to take the road test.

[Anonymous]

I am mistaken. After carefully reading the new license laws effective Feb of this year if you are Canadian you no longer have to take the road test. I was just posting on my own personal experience. Sorry everyone!

[Tom]

Cripey, I've had my license for more than 10 years, the vast majority of that time back home driving every day, but I renewed my passport right before I came here. So they'll reject me saying I don't have enough experience driving?!

I haven't a clue where my old passport is, so if anybody has any other info about ways to get around this old passport requirement, I'd be very appreciative.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I`m in the same position as Tom above.

Someone, please help!

[Aalia]

I just got my license today....one little thing I might mention here that is never written ANYWHERE (even on the forms that JAF gave me to tell me what to take to the licensing centre) is that you also need to have PHOTOCOPIES of your O'seas license (front and back), your Foreigner's ID card (front and back) your passport (front page AND your visa page) and also the front page of your old passport if you have it. (I needed my old passport to prove that I held my license in my home country before coming here.)

I had SOME photocopies of my license and passport, but I didn't know they wanted my visa as well as my old passport...I should have just done it anyway...I will know better next time I guess.

They won't photocopy for you in the license centre. In fact, they didn't even have a pay photocopier there for you to use....you have to LEAVE the building and go down the road to the Convenie. (I went to the license centre in Aichi)

Here's the process for all of you who are getting a license in Aichi Ken;

BEFORE you line up at the counter to change your license over, you need to go and buy the payment stamps. (In Aichi, this was at counter number 11)

Just show them your license and say 'gaimen kirikae' and they will ask you for something like 2000 and a bit yen and give you a form in Japanese with the stamps on it. You need this form before you go to the foreign license exchange counter (luckily all the signage was also written in English so you can find your way around fairly easily) Fill out the form in katakana at least (apparently romaji is no good) and get some kind stranger to write out your address in kanji for you. (the licensing staff won't write for you....some technical reason)

Stick your 3cm x 2.4cm picture on the front and together with these documents;

-passport
-foreigners card
-driver's license
-JAF translation of your current license
-Proof of when you first got your license in the form of an official letter of some kind from the transport department in your home country. If you can prove that you have been out of Japan for a total of three months or more (doesn't have to be at one time, it can be accumulated) using entry and exit stamps in your passport combined with your current license, then you don't need this proof.
-and of course photocopies of all of these like I mentioned above.

take em to the foreign license exchange window.

Wait in line for what seems like hours. (actually, more like 30 mins or so).

Then get these documents assessed and processed. If everything goes well, you walk round the corner to another window (think it was number 13, but the foreign license guy directs you anyway) and they check everything AGAIN and then send you to have your eyes checked.

The eye check was easy, make sure you know your Japanese for left, right, up and down so you can tell the eye examiner what you are looking at (through the view finder you look at a circle with a piece cut out of it either on the left, right, upper or lower portion)

Then you are directed to the next counter where they ask you to read some multicoloured hiragana (colour blindness check) The guy asked me if I could read hiragana and I said yes, but the fact that he asked me leads me to think that maybe they have a contingency plan if you can't read hiragana.

Then the next thing I did was go up and wait about 15 minutes to be called in to get my photo taken. I had to check some details on a form, they took my photos, gave me the form back to take back to window 11 and pay another 1750 yen. Then I came back to the photo room and received my brand spanking new license!

mission accomplished, I went and bought the green and yellow magnets for my (yet to be purchased) car.

The whole process took me 2 and a half hours (cos I didn't have all my documents photocopied and lined up in the wrong line and didn't have everything written in katakana and...well, you get the idea) and the whole time I was there I was feeling SO sorry for those poor Americans who have to go through the practical test and all the associated beaurocracy. (probably twice as much as I had to go through!)

I'm thinking that if you have all your required documents etc. you could potentially be in and out of there in an hour...maybe an hour and a bit.

Oh, one other thing....get there BEFORE the place opens and line up at counter number 11 to get your stamps. This counter opened a little before the 9am opening time so after you get your stamps you can race over and be first in line at the foreigners license counter.

Sometimes even though there are not so many people in this line each person can take a LONG time. Definately get there first thing in the morning. I did, and as I was leaving later in the morning I saw the line at the foreigner's license counter and it was THREE TIMES as long as when I lined up there...and it took me 30 mins to get served!

I hope that this info can be of use to someone out there.

[Jevon]

Thank you for the info.

Are there any Americans out there that have gone through this process?

Do we have to bring anything special when we first go to the DMV? ie. an application form forthe drivers test?

-Peace

[Dr.Drew]

The bottom line is that it's a totally unnecessary, inconvenient and expensive load of bureaucratic B.S.!!

In one fell swoop, they have totally created thousands of foreign "lawbreakers" out of thin air; but maybe that's what they planned all along, ne!

It's crap, but what can you do besides take the test or stop driving...if you are foolish enough to drive illegally, and are caught, the fines and legal/workplace troubles can be astronomical. DON'T DRIVE ILLEGALLY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!

[PrettyBoyTroy]

Does anyone know if, it is possible to get a Japanese drivers licence if you have a spouse visa, but no licence in your home counrty????? Can a person start from square one??????

[trip_hop]

Yes. Allow \300,000 -\400,000 for the course lessons. Only a few places do it in English, but your test would be in Japanese.

[ballbags]

You can do an English test at the Komioike Test centre in south Osaka-fu

[Julie]

I am in the process of getting a Japanese drivers license. All the information given by Aalia and n is spot on (except Canadian drivers do have to take the driving test).
Can anyone give me any advice about the nit picky things that the practical driving evaluators will be looking for? I`ve heard that the evaluator takes you through the course first and then you have to do it. Maybe without a reminder about where to turn, Does this sound right?
Any advice would be appreciated !

[gentleman quality]

one thing that they told me at the Tokyo bureau (and on the phone with JAF):

the driver's license that is translated by JAF must be one that was obtained over 3 months before coming to Japan.

this has been a major stumbling block for me because I renewed my US license when i went home once, so now i dont have the original. They insist i must get paperwork from the US BMV but after contacting them, i got nowhere.

Any ideas?????

anyone with experience please help

[Aalia]

Gentleman,

My newest license was barely a month old before I came to Japan. I had to get a letter on letterhead paper (from DMV) stipulating the date I received my original license (years ago) I had also gotten a new passport since that date so I had to also show my old passport to the Japanese licensing authority to prove that I was in the country (ie Australia) for at least three months (accumulative) with that license in effect.

I had to get this letter translated also but JAF included it in the license translation fee.

I don't think there is any way around this. You will just have to keep trying at your DMV...make the phone calls and hopefully find someone sympathetic. Maybe you could try phoning your consulate too and asking them for advice, they should at least be able to let you know if there is anything else you can do.

[benny]

Thanks for the valubale info! By chance I spent 3 months outa J early last year with exit/entry stamps on my passport. At this time I had my license renewed and came back to J a month later..... which means that I only had my license for a month before re-entering J. ... will this be a problem???? Also, how do you get ur greasy littte hands on a J translation of your license??

Any info gladly appreciated.

BP

[Aalia]

Benny,

If you don't have your previous license as well as your new license, this will be a problem. You need to get some kind of transcript from the licensing centre in your home country that proves you have had a license before your new one. You have to prove that you had a license for at least three months (cumulative) before coming here.

You need to take this transcript to a JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) office near you along with your new license to get them both translated. I think you can also do this through your local embassy but it's much easier to get JAF to do it. You can either just go to the JAF office or mail it certified mail.
It costs about 3000 yen or thereabouts to translate your license and trasncript.

Hope this helps.

[ttt]

To get the translation, you go to one of these places?

http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/list.htm

[ttt]

Ok, I went and got my Australian license switched over in at the Samezu centre in Tokyo earlier this week.

It was painless as others have described it- the only test was an eye test; and being directed from one office to another.

Things required were- 1. JAF translation; 2. original license; 3. resident document or alien registration; 4. passport; 5. 30x24 photo. I took a bundle of photocopies as well, but I didn't need them.

They also verify that you stayed in the country 90 days/3 months after you obtained the license. I used my passport visas for this.

I can post further details if anyone wants them.

[Ageless]

thankx for that information N.
I`m thinking of getting an international Driver`s license and because I`m from New Zealand, I won`t have to go through all the other crap that Japanese people do.

-I only need an eye test, is this right? How much does it cost?
-How long would it take for it to be issued?

:) Peace

[ttt]

The switch cost me 4150 yen total. It didn't take particularly long- maybe 20 min for checking documents, 5 min eye test, 5 min photo, about 30 min to make up the license. However, there was a bit of waiting around, so maybe a couple of hours total.

And make sure you have all the documents, plus proof you stayed in the country for 90 days after the license was issued.

[Ageless]

thanks for that triple T.
It sounds like it won`t take long....assuming all the necessary (oh yes in Japan) papers are in order and ready!

Peace.

[PadTheLad]

Sorry, just want to try and get something straight.
Do you need to be able to prove that you stayed in the country where you obtained the licence for 3 months IMMEDIATELY after receiving it or just at least 3 months ANYTIME after receiving it? I have a 10 year Irish drivers licence from 1998 - 2008 and I got a new Irish passport in 2003, I came to Japan at the end of 2004. I don't have a passport for the period when I got my licence. Thanks for any help

[zucca]

Hi, am thinking of enrolling in a driving school here, and without being too pessimistic or anything, if one fails the driving test, do you have to pay an extra fee to retry the test? Or is the driving school fee inclusive of as many tests as required prior to passing?

thanks

[eku]

padthelad.... no it is any 3 month period
zucca, most schools have both options... ie cheaper but only one shot at the tests (2 driving tests one for learners and one for final) and a SAFE plan, which costs more but allows you to take the test until you pass. The problem is, unless you read and write kanji REALLY well, you are going to have to find a school that is willing to let you take the Learners Written test at the Licensing Center, as that is an inhouse test. The final written exam is at the Licensing Center anyway, so doesn't matter. Go ask around, I am sure somewhere will take you.
If you live around Kobe, I can introduce you to a school that takes foreigners as long as they understand a modicum of spoken Japanese.
ganbatte ne

[zucca]

Hi Eku,
Thanks for the info. I may hedge and go with the safe plan. Being a speng when it comes to driving, I may go for all the 'as many fails as you want' vaikingu. Although slightly nervous, I must say that if the driving skills of taxi drivers is any judgement, it should hopefully be ok.
with regards to the written exam, I understand that an english one is offered by a number of schools here in Tokyo.

[eku]

Lucky you zucca... i had to, for various reasons redo my license through a school. in the boonies. BUT they were amazing, I took the karimen (learners) at the licensing center and for the inhouse tests, someone read the test aloud to me as some of the kanji is ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. all in all it took just over a month to get my license. the hardest part was passing the final test at the Licensing Center.... the unbelievable english was the obstacle...
I was in a quandry how to answer questions like
At night, pedestrians evaporate. T/F

see the whole thing at http://www.gaijinpot.com/bb/showthread.php?t=2858
good luck, and ganbatte ....the instructors at driving schools are kind and patient, I had been driving for years and years, but a month there really made me confident about driving and fixed some really bad habits that I had... I can also now park a huge car in any tiny space and pass an oncoming car on a road so narrow that both cars need to fold in the fender mirrors and a mere sparrows fart of air seperates the them ... no sweat, which I think are the two biggest pluses in my book and made my money well spent.

[kurogane]

Lucky you zucca... i had to, for various reasons redo my license through a school. in the boonies. BUT they were amazing, I took the karimen (learners) at the licensing center t.

After the Karimen, what comes next, Yarimen? Are you then licenced to..............?

(I can't believe I wrote that to someone's mother! I feel so ashamed.)


Akahebi,
If your licence is newer, or renewed while living here, you need to get a driver's abstract to show that you fulfil that requirement.
Phone your provincial driver's licence authority and get them to mail you the original. The faxed copy won't do doo doo.

[eku]

you bad kurogane you

[dodgybrooks]

thanks for all the info everyone, but just got one more question. reading all the posts it doesnt say anything about requiring to make a booking before going to the menkyo centre to get your licence changed from overseas to japanese, but i talked to a mate last night who did it last year and he said you need to book before you go and the waiting list is about 2 months. i am in the same boat as him, he's a new zealander and im an aussie so we both dont/didnt need to do anything more than the eye test and pay money. live in yamanashi, anyone got any concrete info?
get my car this weekend, got no licence (international has run out) and do not have the patience to wait 2 months....
cheers

[Kumachan]

I finally got my license the other day, and being Canadian I didn't have to take the driving test. The entire experience was painless except for the waiting, but that's okay because I brought a book. Also, there was no reservation, I just walked right in and had it done then.

To get this I needed to bring the following:

a) A translation of my driver's license. This can be gotten at any JAF office for about 4000 yen and 30 minutes.

b) Your passport.

c) Your Gaijin card.

d) Your driver's license

e) one small picture. In Shinagawa there was actually a photo booth in the lobby so you could get your picture done there. Otherwise, you might need to stop at a kombini somewhere and get one done.

Then it's a lot of waiting and the occasional filling out of forms. You'll get the eye test which in my case was being able to recognise the colours of the traffic signals and know the Japanese equivalents of up, down, left and right.

You pay your fee, hand in your paper, wait some more, get your picture taken for the license and then wait about 30 minutes while they process it.

It took me about 3 1/2 hours to get it done. Would have liked it to be shorter, but "しょうがない"?

[eku]

i was stupid enough to take an automatic drivers license last year...
now i want to get something more vroomier than my gloria

so i went to the driving school, paid 3 man did 4 hours of practice and today a short round the course test and
voila
today i can drive stick again....

now where can i buy a stick jeje

[arginjapan]

I finally got my license the other day...To get this I needed to bring the following:
Yup-the very same thing was mentioned in the very first post of the thread. But thanks anyways.

[dodgybrooks]

made a phone call and found out that here in yamanashi you have to book in at the menkyo centre to get your licence changed. earliest i can get in is in august and i cant wait that long. does anyone know if you have to go to the centres in the prefecture you live in to change your licence, or could i pop up to tokyo where you dont seem to have to book and do it? i know the chances are you have to do it in your own prefecture, but if any one knows different then please let me know!
thanks

[eku]

unfortunately you have to take it in the area you reside in ...

[dodgybrooks]

<swear words and stuff>, but cheers mate.
i hope the cops are as slow as the menkyo centres coz it looks like i'll be driving without a licence next month..

[benny]

I got my license transfered today @ makuhari (chiba). The staff were very nice. You need...

* passport (with stamps indicating you've been in your home country for 3+ months)
* gaijin card
* drivers license
* translation of your license from JAF (3000 yen)
* 1 photo (your face has gotta be big/clear.. photo booth @ center)
* 4050 yen
* 90 min of time
* basic level of ___'ese for the eye test.

If you can't prove the 3+ months on your current passport, IT's also important to bring...
* previous passports if you've just renewed
* a letter from your DMV indicating your driving history (this does NOT have to be translated... I got mine sent to Japan for $15... piece of cake).

Also note that at makuhari the 'gaijin time' is 8:30-9am AND 1-1:30pm (although i suspect this is different at other locations). Also there's no need for photocopies @ makuhari... they'll do it for you (told you they're nice!)

If you're from any other country besides those in western euro, aust, nz.... you'll need to do a written and driving course test. This will take much longer and you'll no doubt fail the first one ar two times if you havent been to a ___'ese driving school (coz of unique ___'ese laws such as driving like a 'robot', being able to change channels on your TV while driving and checking for mopeds zooming up your inside). After each failure you'll have to go back on scheduled date in 2-3 weeks. Each time you take the driving test will cost about 2000 yen i think. You'll at least pass the third time unless you're a complete monkey. And remember 'when in japan... do as the robots do'. And don't even bother applying if you don't have all the info required. Hope this info help someone out there!

[alpachinco]

So from what I've read before I started to fast-forward through a lot of it, is that being Canadian and having a valid CDN driver's license, I can just do an eye test and get a Japanese license? Though I do have to show that I had that license for more than 3 months before I moved here, which means going back a few passports at least. Can anyone concur? To add to that I just renewed my license on a trip back to Canada in March but I was definitely not living there for 3 months prior to that. Are they talking about the original license when issued or the most recent renewal?

[nicholasparsonsexperience]

If you obtained your driving licence outside of your home country and have proof that you stayed in that (other) country for 3 months after recieving the licence, can you use it for a conversion?

[alpachinco]

For those Canadians (from B.C.) interested you can get a copy of your driving record, which shows the original date of issue, from ICBC. I just phoned 604-661-2255, gave my d/l number, birthdate, name, and code word, and they asked how I would like it sent. I requested email and 5 minutes later it arrived in PDF format.

[gentleman quality]

>>* translation of your license from JAF (3000 yen)

does anyone know if this MUST be translated by JAF? will it be accepted if its done by someone else?

also, does the proof of staying in the country of the lisence's origin 3 months after receiving the lisence have to be translated too? any other Americans do the "gaimen kirikae" in Tokyo? is it a living hell?

too much procrastinatin'

time to confront the bastards

[MJA]

Has anyone got their licence from Futamatagawa? Was is just like the other places? Also being Australian, I think that this shouldn't be so bad, but does anybody know when you get your new licence if you need to put those yellow and green sticky things on your car? If so, does anybody else think that its funny that you can drive around for a year on an international drivers licence but then have to use them?

[sasukene]

does anybody know when you get your new licence if you need to put those yellow and green sticky things on your car?

I am an Aussie and I was told when I got my licence that you don't need the sticker. But you do get issued with a "newbie" driver's licence, even if you have been driving for 20 years like myself. But it is a small price to pay for not having to do the full test.

[ballbags]

When you get your first Japanese licence whether it be brand new or freshly transfered, you get the one with the green stripe across it, a 'newbie' licence.

After three years with no accidents, trouble with the cops, or getting points, you have to go back to the test centre and watch a video in Japanese, listen to a lecture in Japanese and pay some more cash and then they give you one with a blue stripe.

If, after another five years you are still a good boy/girl, you get a gold licence which has no benefit at all apart from a small discount on insurance. (not Jibaiseki though)

[MJA]

thanks. i am going to order a driving record from vic roads today. how stupid is this - australian licences dont have the date when you actually got your licence so essentially just having your licence doesnt prove that you drove for three months before coming to japan because you may not have actually had it for three months.

[sasukene]

thanks. i am going to order a driving record from vic roads today. how stupid is this - australian licences dont have the date when you actually got your licence so essentially just having your licence doesnt prove that you drove for three months before coming to japan because you may not have actually had it for three months.

You may have to prove that you lived and drove there for three months by showing a uni degree or some such documentation. But this seems to depend on how they feel or think at the issuing centre on the day. I got my licence very easily just by showing a letter from the Qld Dept of Transport, but my boss who is also from Qld, went to the same place with the same letter and they refused him. He had to get more documents to back his claim. Another trip there and a few more hours wasted but he did get it.

Luck of the draw on this one.

Good luck!

[johnnyfeelgood]

I have a NZ licence, it was issued in Jan 04, when i was back home in NZ on holiday, i lost my passport last year in NZ , again when on holiday, so it looks like i left NZ for Japan
this year in June, first time overseas,will thet be happy with this? or can i expect trouble?

[gabrielle]

thanks a lot for the information.

[Sage]

In Kyoto you can take the driving test every day of the work week with no reservation required.

It took me four times to pass... but in the end I passed... thank god.

[gabrielle]

i passed the written test yesterday but failed the road test.
it just made me feel nervous that they are lookin to every move i make while im driving.

Oh my ! I have to go early on Monday.hate it.

[allyismycopilot]

Hmmm... I am mildly confused at the moment and hopefully someone can remedy it for me. lol.

I got my license for the state I am currently in last year and have been driving on it here for around 6 months.

I also lost my passport (was expired) and am in the process of getting a new one.

I am moving back to Hiroshima in less than 3 months...

So basically I will have a new passport and I will have not had it for more than 3 months when I return to Japan. I also do not have my old passport due to losing it.

My questions now is.... am I screwed?

[gabrielle]

you have to prove them 3months total of stay in your own country.

[steeny]

you have to prove them 3months total of stay in your own country
with either passport stamps or a "drivers abstract" issued by your home department of motor vehicles.
other documentation is generally not accepted.

[gabrielle]

I did my road test for the 2nd time today and i wasn't surprised to know the result.The officers are really strict and I bet I'll be goin' on the same test for 5 times or so before I could pass it.
Again,almost everybody failed and it was expected.


Looking forward for my 3rd time tomorrow.lol..

[saltyman]

haha u know what they say .
3rd Time lucky !





can u buy a car with an international driving permit?

[Sage]

Or 4th! Well, at least it was for me...

Best of luck!

[gabrielle]

failed again for the 3rd time.i was expecting it coz its really hard to pass the road test.They are so strict with their rules esp. with Gaijins.
Its alright,ill try and try until i pass.

[gabrielle]

I'm feelin so blue today.I failed the road test for the 4th time already only because of 1 mistake.
The sensei said I was about to pass and my driving is very smooth and that I was good.

Ahh,zannen deshita.Hoshiikatta yo.
I'll try it again tom. and i wish I would make it already.

[person]

So, here's (perhaps) a stupid question -

Do they provide you with the vehicle for the driving test? In Illinois (US), they don't. You have to borrow someone's (friend's, parent's, etc.). I just sent an email to a friend of mine asking to use his car, but...it doesn't sound like you have to do that. You use their cars?

[person]

Can someone please answer my question ........ (see above) Thank you -

[Nick Halliday]

Horror story...I got all the nec doc's and showed up at the Aichi driving center. The deal is my CA Lic was issued in 1998, I had lived in Cali for 5 years before coming to Japan. My Passport was renewed in 2001. Becuase I had renewed my passport, there was no "proof" that I had been in california for the required 3 months after getting my lic in 1998. The guy at the counter was not cool at all, he was a real dickhead. I kept explaining that, I didn't have my old passport, that it was invalid..all he kept saying was can't do it, can't do it...I'm still pissed about this BS. This is a typical example where there is some stupid ___ rule put in place, and instead of it accomplishing what it was designed to do, it makes life difficult for others (foreigners)...how convenient.

Oh yeah tell me about it. I came to Japan in July. I renewed my US Pennsylvania license in the same month, as it's my birthday month. No proof that I had been driving the 12 years I had before coming to Japan, let alone the required 3 months. No Japanese license without a test.

[Nick Halliday]

I'm feelin so blue today.I failed the road test for the 4th time already only because of 1 mistake.
The sensei said I was about to pass and my driving is very smooth and that I was good.

Ahh,zannen deshita.Hoshiikatta yo.
I'll try it again tom. and i wish I would make it already.

You see what they want you to show is that you have been to some expensive driving school that pays kickbacks to the test supervisors for sending people like you their way.

[Nick Halliday]

you have to prove them 3months total of stay in your own country.

I wasn't told this. I was told it was 3 months driving in one place before coming to Japan. This was back in the early 90s when everyone I knew was able basically take their US license to the center and get a Japanese license issued that day--EXCEPT ME, even though I had been driving in the US 12 years before coming to Japan.

[Nick Halliday]

>>* translation of your license from JAF (3000 yen)

does anyone know if this MUST be translated by JAF? will it be accepted if its done by someone else?

also, does the proof of staying in the country of the lisence's origin 3 months after receiving the lisence have to be translated too? any other Americans do the "gaimen kirikae" in Tokyo? is it a living hell?

too much procrastinatin'

time to confront the bastards

It should be a certified translation, and since the JAF one is identical to the one the center already has for your country, state, province (most likely), it won't get questioned. It's worth the money, and again everyone gets their cut, as the whole system is designed to do.

[person]

So, ONCE AGAIN, I'm bumping this thread since I still haven't found out FOR SURE if they loan you cars for the driving part of the test (specifically at the Nagoya location should it depend on the place). I heard you can pay to use a car in...Okinawa. BUT, I'm not sure if it will be different depending on location.

ANYWAY...

My experience at the Nagoya JAF office:

Walked in. Handed them the completed form I downloaded from the Internet. Gave them the nice color copies of my license (and my ARC though I knew they didn't need it). She took it, asked if she could make copies (apparently my nice color copies were not adequate). I said OK. Thought it was the beginning of...problems.

She came back. Said it would be 20 minutes. I asked for the English Rules of the Road. She brought it to me. Didn't even ask for money until I offered it (maybe she would have later?).

After all I read, I was poised to prove (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that I was in the US for 3 months post-license issuance. Troubling was the fact that I didn't even get a passport until a few months before I came here.

Anyway, NO ONE EVEN ASKED ME ABOUT THE 3-MONTH RULE. Now, I wouldn't go in there thinking they won't, but...no one even bothered asking me to prove such a thing.

I waited 10 or 15 minutes. Read the Rules of the Road. Paid my 3,000 yen. Asked about the DMV location. Got a handout. Said thank you.

It was so easy........I know for sure the DMV is going to be a royal pain in my butt.

That'll be Monday. I'm hoping for eye exams and written test. Assuming I pass the written (one never does know), then will begin the long arduous task of passing the actual driving test. Hence, my question of whether there are cars there to use or if I have to ask a friend. I figure, it should take a good 6 - 10 times for me to pass. Any sooner and I'll be thrilled!!!!!!

[Stone-Cold Soba]

So, ONCE AGAIN, I'm bumping this thread since I still haven't found out FOR SURE if they loan you cars for the driving part of the test (specifically at the Nagoya location should it depend on the place).
Ummm... Have you tried asking the test centre (or whatever it's called) about this?

Soba

[person]

Ummm... Have you tried asking the test centre (or whatever it's called) about this?

Soba


Yes, such a good idea.....

I WILL ask them when I go, but I wanted to know BEFORE I went. Unfortunately, my Japanese is not good enough to call.

Yes, I will know soon enough, but...I wanted to make arrangements if they don't provide a car. Sounds like they do...though I would never have guessed that since they don't back home (and that was all I knew).

And here I got all excited that I was finally going to get an answer :(

[gabrielle]

Finally I passed the road test and got my Japanese Driving License.

Ahh,yokatta !!!

[thickmick]

Finally I passed the road test and got my Japanese Driving License.

Ahh,yokatta !!!
Well done gabrielle ,never under estimate the power of a blow job to get something done ,some people will bend over backwards .

[gabrielle]

Well done gabrielle ,never under estimate the power of a blow job to get something done ,some people will bend over backwards .


???

anyway, thanks for the congratulatory note.

[person]

Finally I passed the road test and got my Japanese Driving License.

Ahh,yokatta !!!


Well, thank the good lord already. You had me worried.

I went yesterday to do all the other stuff -- paperwork, vision test, and written exam. All fine (though, I must admit, I lost my temper twice).

So, now I have the driving test to look forward to on the 22nd. The good news is that -- 1) I have never driven in Japan; 2) people drive on the wrong side of the road here :) ; and 3) steering wheels are also on the wrong side :)

I'm wondering, without ever having experienced any of the above things, if I went on Feb. 22nd....my chances of passing are about.....roughly 0, eh? That's what I thought.

BUT, that said, I am going to go and give it a try. Why? Because pretty soon, I'm going home for a month. Once I come back, assuming I fail the first time, I can try one more time before the school year starts. Once it does, I'm too busy so this would have to wait until the summer.

Soooooo......please give me some tips, Gabrielle. What mistakes did you make? What should I pay particular attention to? Drive like an old person? Do tell.

[tlee]

Hi,

I'm currently resident in the UK, but I know that I'll be going Japan soon. I just got my English license on Jan 24 and will be back in May. I have 3 months time left, but problem is that I will constantly on business trip. It may not be enough if they require that I must be in the UK.

My questions are:
Will they only count your resident status time in the original country or do they require that you must be in the country for 90 days?

Another question is that if you apply for an exchange, will they actually give you back your original license?

Thanks for any advice.

[kurogane]

Hi,

I'm currently resident in the UK, but I know that I'll be going Japan soon. I just got my English license on Jan 24 and will be back in May. I have 3 months time left, but problem is that I will constantly on business trip. It may not be enough if they require that I must be in the UK. .

How will they know you were out of the country? If you are in the EU, there will be no record of travel, no? If you will have passport stamps, perhaps lose your passport and get a new, clean one re-issued before you come to Japan.


My questions are:
Will they only count your resident status time in the original country or do they require that you must be in the country for 90 days? .

As I understand it, and I had a terrible time with the same regulation, you must be resident in the country in which your licence was issued for three months after the date of issue. If proving that looks like a problem, see my comments above.


Another question is that if you apply for an exchange, will they actually give you back your original license? .

Yes.



Thanks for any advice.

You're welcome, and good luck. Also, when you go to the driver's licence centre here in Japan, take a book. Maaaan, that is one boring way to spend a day....

[Stone-Cold Soba]

How will they know you were out of the country? If you are in the EU, there will be no record of travel, no? If you will have passport stamps, perhaps lose your passport and get a new, clean one re-issued before you come to Japan.
... except that a new, clean passport issued any later than now-ish will not show the minimum three months residence in the UK (with or without stampless trips to other EU countries).

And if you're likely to get stamps in your passport during your travels in the next three months, I guess the fast track to a JP licence won't be open to you.

Soba

P.S. Kurogane, are you well? You seem to have made a few serious and apparently useful posts (among the many of your more usual kind) in the last day or so!

[kurogane]

... except that a new, clean passport issued any later than now-ish will not show the minimum three months residence in the UK (with or without stampless trips to other EU countries).

And if you're likely to get stamps in your passport during your travels in the next three months, I guess the fast track to a JP licence won't be open to you.

Soba

P.S. Kurogane, are you well? You seem to have made a few serious and apparently useful posts (among the many of your more usual kind) in the last day or so!

Good points. Forgot about that part.

As for my recent attack of veritable gravity, umm, getting my own Japanese licence was such a pain, I thought I would actually try and be helpful, as opposed to merely levitational. Belated apologies.

Also, gots to get on that post count.

:p

[Erdrick]

alright, so what is the deal with the actual test process? do you have to pass each section each time you take the test? for example, if i passed the eye and written, and then failed the road test what would happen? would i be able to pay the 2400 yen and just take the driving part again? would i have to go through the entire test again? judging from what people are saying about the written portion, it seems like a test that i only want to have to pass ONE time!

[mpyrean]

Just got my (Victoria, Australia) Drivers' Licence converted at Samezu in Tokyo today, so thought I'd share my story.

Seems the system is a well-oiled machine here in Tokyo as I had very few hassles getting everything done. I took only my original licence, JAF translation, gaijin card and passport. Got accosted at the exit gate to Samezu station by some Photo Shop guys who did the application paperwork for me for \700. Not sure if this was necessary or not, but it seemed to impress the staff at the licence center and certainly made things quicker.

I took a renewed licence, not my original. The guy at the changover desk (no.27) asked me if I had a letter from VicRoads to prove Date of Issue. I said no, and he said 'No problem, Victorian licences are easy to find out' (they have a serial no. on the back with all the history info, apparently). After that, I used the stamps in my passport to prove that I'd been in Australia for at least a year before coming to Japan, and he told me everything was OK. I didn't need to give them any photocopies. Even the eye-test was simple; I got half the questions wrong (I forgot my glasses) but the tester kept letting me try twice. Then it was just a matter of paying and waiting while they checked my documents & collected my money. All up, it took just over an hour and a half to get everything done. Take a book.

I guess not everyone's experience is the same, but if you're nervous about not having the right documentation it's worth just giving it a go with what you have.

I also recommend going just after opening (9am) or just after lunch (1pm). It was almost deserted when I walked in there, but after I'd been there half an hour, the queue had begun to grow.

hope this helps.

[mpyrean]

sorry, forgot to mention that you need to take some passport-size photos for the application form, too.

[6wings]

I am in a predicament.
Before I came to Japan I got myself an international driver's license because I knew I would need it for my job.
So everything was fine.
But...
A few months after arriving, my wallet was stolen and I lost my driver's license card. Of course I went straight to the police but my wallet was never found.
I contacted the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia but they refused to grant me a new card saying that I would have to appear in person. The only thing they would do is give me a 3 month temporary license which is basically just a piece of paper, probably completely useless if I ever get pulled over.

So now all I have is this piece of paper and my international license. Legally, I need my real license and the int'l license to drive.

What can I do?

I don't have the time and money to make a quick trip back to Canada.

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

[Plats]

I would say that if this piece of paper is what they gave you instead of a license then it is valid as a license till it runs out.

[Broken Promise Land]

I would say that if this piece of paper is what they gave you instead of a license then it is valid as a license till it runs out.

I disagree, but only because local police have the ability to arbitrarily determine validity of International Driving Permits if specified criteria are not met. Once you start qualifying your license as “temporary,” or “pending renewal” or “replacement” for the original license, then the police may or may not honor your legitimate piece of paper on the grounds that it is not the “original document” corresponding to the IDP.

Police view IDP’s as temporary certificates, up to one year from date of landing to be exact. The Police do not view IDP’s as transferable documentation in lieu of a Japanese license. This is policy and is enforced in the event of accident or serious road violation. Secondly, if you were to have an accident, you really ought keep in the back of your mind that insurance companies do not typically cover drivers whom have not converted to a Japanese license. I realize that you may have a policy with X company, but unless it is specifically written into your policy that terms cover drivers on international or non-Japanese licenses, then you may be setting yourself up for a big shock in the event of an accident. Insurance companies routinely refuse payouts or driver-victim compensation claiming that IDP’s fall outside of their network of coverage because the driver in possession of the IDP has not undergone formal driving certification in Japan.

Lastly, not to be a total downer, but if you get a reissued license, you will need to stay in Canada for more than 3 months before you can come back to Japan to begin the process of Japanese license conversion. The National Police Agency requires for all applicants for Japanese license to have maintained the license in their home country for 3 months or greater.

[gixxstar]

ok here we go,

-My canadian license was suspended
-I have been living in Nagoya for over a year
-I want to get a Japanese drivers license.

How do I do this?
I have been told about 5 different stories...

Any out there know how to do this?

Josh

[eku]

Lastly, not to be a total downer, but if you get a reissued license, you will need to stay in Canada for more than 3 months before you can come back to Japan to begin the process of Japanese license conversion. The National Police Agency requires for all applicants for Japanese license to have maintained the license in their home country for 3 months or greater.
FALSE
you have to have resided in the country of issue for 3 continuous months anytime after the ISSUE (ie the first time you got your license) of your drivers license.

[eku]

ok here we go,

-My canadian license was suspended
-I have been living in Nagoya for over a year
-I want to get a Japanese drivers license.

How do I do this?
I have been told about 5 different stories...

Any out there know how to do this?

Josh
hmmm do you have your actual license with you?
if you do does it say anything about the suspension on your license
if it doesnt
hurry to the licensing dept and change it over to a j one :D

[Hijinx]

ok here we go,

-My canadian license was suspended
-I have been living in Nagoya for over a year
-I want to get a Japanese drivers license.

How do I do this?
I have been told about 5 different stories...

Any out there know how to do this?

Josh


When you say suspended, do you mean expired? If you can get a new Canadian license--do that first.

--You need a foreign license to "change" to a Japanese one--no foreign license and you're in the same boat as the natives (uga buga).

--If you can't get a Canadian one, then you can go to Japanese driving school (300,000 yen), or keep taking the test at the DMV until they get tired of you and pass you (some Japanese actually do this, and it ends up being cheaper than driving school).

--Considering that since the price of Japanese driving school is more expensive than a RT ticket back to Canada, go back to Canada and get a license if you can. Make sure you get a copy of your DMV record if you can't prove ( with a passport) you've had a license for 3 months total while in Canada. When you get back to Japan with your new license, get the DMV record translated by an approved translator, take it and your new (and old, if you have it) Canadian license, your passport, gaijin card, hanko, pen, pencil, sense of humor and anything else you can pack into you backpack, and go take the eye test and get your J-lic. If your Japanese is not so good, take a Japanese friend with you to help you smooth out the process.

--Remember, you just have to prove that you've spent a total of 3 months in your home country with your new or old license ( it doesn't have to be in a block prior to coming to Japan). I was able to show with my passport entry/exit stamps that on four separate trips to the States, the total time accrued on my U.S. license exceeded 3 months.

And, most importantly, do not drive in Japan without a Japanese driving license--your year of international permit is over.

[daveharvey.ca]

I'm going to be getting my J-lic soon, got the translation et al. Question is: when transferring a Canadian lic, will it be valid only for automatic cars or all vehicles since Canadian licenses don't have such restrictions?

I've got a manual car here and don't really want to have to take a road test...

~Dave

[barnis]

Hello,

Been reading all the threads about driving tests and it seems that the details generally dry up when it comes to the specifics of the driving test. Can someone post a "play-by-play" or better yet a hidden camera video of the entire driving test :P ? I'm curious as to what the "course" actually is and what non-obvious stuff you were required to do to pass...such as checking your headlights before you depart or something.

Also if it rains do they still do the test? Any weird rules for rainy weather driving? Lights on or off in the rain?

Do you need to reverse into a very tight spot? Are they cardboad kids that pop-up in the middle of the raod while you drive or anything...

details would be fabulous...

[Gaijin 06]

Got my Japanese license at Tokyo centre (Shinagawa) last week, no problems.

Staff speak ok to good English there at counter 27. The whole process was very painless.

[topaz]

Just hit the 3-year mark on my Japanese license, so I had to visit the center in Samezu for renewal this week. I figured I'd share my experience as a good excuse for my first post here. I couldn't find any similar info on the internet (except in Japanese), so I hope this is helpful to somebody...

I received the postcard about 2 months before my birthday. I think normally the renewal window is 1 month before your birthday until 1 month after your birthday (when your license typically expires). There are relatively few office locations where you can go through the "shokai" (first time) renewal process; it's much more limited than subsequent renewals. The total fees were listed as about 4200 yen, and required documents were your expiring license, the postcard, and the cash.

I checked into the information desk at the front. They popped my old license into a scanner which produced a computer printout, and I just had to confirm/update my personal information. I then proceeded to the vision test area and took the test. They checked my paperwork for completeness and sent me to the renewals counter. There, they took my form and old license, and asked me to have a seat. I was called back a few minutes later and received a stub from the application form and my old license, with a big hole punched through it to show it's invalid. Then they sent me over to the payment window where I handed over the 4200 yen in cash.

Then there was a surprising step. I had forgotten that in January this year, they started issuing licenses with IC chips containing all your information in electronic, scannable form. The stated purpose is to be a countermeasure to increasing usage of fake licenses. To protect the data, you have to choose two 4-digit security codes, so I was directed to a kiosk where I could choose these codes. Each code allows somebody with a reader device access to different information.

Security code 1: name, birthday, license issue date, expiration, license type, license number.

Security code 2: if used together with security code 1, also gives access to "honseki" (permanent domicile / address), and a digital picture of your face (the same as the one printed on the license).

After choosing my security codes, I was sent to the room to get my photo taken. Up until now the whole process took under an hour. Then I was sent upstairs for the training course. They start hourly, more or less, so I had to wait 40 minutes. I received a packet with 4 booklets (about traffic regulations, safety, etc., all exclusively in Japanese).

The course takes 2 hours, and has a short break in the middle. The instructor told us the only real requirement was to stay awake. I actually found it more bearable than I expected. Topics covered license types and rules about renewal period, but mostly were about traffic safety. Very heavy on statistics (the instructor had everything memorized - very impressive), and lots of dramatic personal appeals to think about the effects on other peoples' lives if you were to cause an accident. The 30 minute fictional drama video about drunk driving was a bit over the top, peaking with the drunk driver's wife trying to commit suicide on the train tracks due to the embarrassment, guilt, and financial hardship.

The course would have been incredibly painful for me to sit through a few years back when my Japanese language skills weren't up to par. Fortunately, there is no written test, but I think I would have died of boredom. Did anybody out there have to sit through this course without understanding the Japanese?

At the end of the course we got attendance stamps on our form stubs and proceeded to the pick-up counter where our licenses were already ready. As expected, it has another 3-year expiration. I followed the course instructor's earlier advice and proceeded to the IC chip-reading kiosk to check the information on my card. It sure works... everything came up digitally on the screen including my photo.

Note that if you have to use the IC chip (e.g. at banks for identification purposes), the chip basically shuts itself down if you get the security codes wrong 3 times. You'll have to visit one of the major drivers' license centers to get it reset if this happens, so be careful.

Hope this information is helpful!