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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:01 am Post subject: |
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Well, if you left for (and arrived in) Japan within the 3-months you must have a licence in order for the Japanese authorities to recognize it, then you really do need to call your home DMV to get something that states that you were NOT a new driver when you left the country... A driving record does just that, but I don't think I'd like the Japanese DMV looking at that (not that I have much to hide, but still).
Being from Alberta, Canada, it took a couple phone calls and I was mailed an original, signed letter on Government of Alberta letterhead, stating that I had been driving in Alberta since the invention of the automobile... |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 4:38 am Post subject: |
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All right Jim, as usual I am thoroughly confused. Can you walk me through this like I am a 10-year-old?
Me: Hello, here is my CA driver's license. I'd like to exchange it for a Japanese one, please. Today.
You: |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:11 am Post subject: |
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1. Is your CA licence a renewal? Yes/No
YES: Go to step 2.
NO: Are you a new driver? Did you start driving in the past 3 months?
-yes: you cannot get a Japanese license easily
- no: go to step 4.
2. Check the DATE OF ISSUE on your CA license.... I'm not from CA so I assume it's the number on the bottom of the permit.
3. Did you arrive in Japan within 3 months of that date? Yes/No
YES I DID: Call the CA DMV and ask them to mail you some proof of when you got your first licence. Wait till you receive this in the mail then go to step 4.
NO, I had my renewal licence for AT LEAST 3 months before I came to Japan:Go to step 4.
4. Make an appointment for an interview at your local JPN DMV. It may take several weeks to schedule you in.
5. On the appointed date, bring all relevant info/ID/paperwork to the DMV and interview with a DMV rep.
6. If all goes well, they will give you an appointment when to come back to do a driving test.
7. Practice. LOTS. You have to memorize 3 courses on a closed track and be ready to do any of the 3 on demand.
8. If you pass, get your picture taken, pay the money. Smile.
Here's an extra resource for Americans trying to get a Japanese license (if you're still confused).
http://www.japandriverslicense.com/ |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 6:35 am Post subject: |
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Jim you ARE the man. Let us study that for a while and get back to you.
Really Jim, many blessings and many thanks. |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:26 am Post subject: |
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| Jim, do these instructions apply to Canadian licenses as well? |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:42 am Post subject: |
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Jim, when your Cdn license expired, why didn't you just use J-license in Canada? Isn't it valid?
FYI, if your Cdn license expires, you don't need to renew it if you have a valid J-license. So, keep your J-license up to date if/when you go back to Canada . That way you don't have to re-take your license test and lose your safe driving discount from Canada. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| Jim, when your Cdn license expired, why didn't you just use J-license in Canada? Isn't it valid? |
No. That's why they make International Drivers' Licences. You have as much right as your average Hiroki Tanaka to obtain a J-issued international permit... Otherwise I would have had to have gone into a registry office and renewed my Canadian (Albertan) permit. But when you're looking to rent a car at the airport on a Saturday, that's impossible.
Jazz: Yes. Applies to everyone. The only difference for us Canadians is that steps 6, 7, 8 are much less likely to be necessary. Except for the eye test, pay your money and "smile" part. |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
| Jazz: Yes. Applies to everyone. The only difference for us Canadians is that steps 6, 7, 8 are much less likely to be necessary. Except for the eye test, pay your money and "smile" part. |
Good to know. The thought of having to memorize three different courses is pretty daunting, esp. since I've never driven outside of North America. |
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Khyron
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Location: Tokyo Metro City
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Gordon wrote: |
| I highly doubt the paper license will be accepted in Japan. |
After reading what Jim wrote, I don't think this is even worth trying.
Last edited by Khyron on Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Khyron
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Location: Tokyo Metro City
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
Second, make sure you have a valid license that was ISSUED no less than 3 months before you arrive in Japan. ***THAT INCLUDES RENWALS!!!!! So far, if I had 10 yen for every foreigner who's been screwed by this little clause, I'd be rich)... When they interview you to switch your license to a Japanese one (everyone has to do the interview -- for Canadians, it entitles us to transfer our license to a Japanese one; for Americans it means you don't have to go to driving school -- it merely entitles you to take the driving test) they will ask you this question.
INTERVIEWER: How long have you had your license?
YOU: Since I was 16. So for 10 years or so.
INTERVIEWER: "Or so?" Please state exactly.
YOU: 10 years.
INTERVIEWER: But your license says here: "Issued March 2006" this license is brand new.
YOU: That's because it's a renewal. It doesn't mean I started driving in March 2006.
INTERVIEWER: Well, how do we know that? It doesn't say anywhere on there when you got your FIRST license.
YOU: DOH!!!!
That's the point at which the interview will end, and you will be forced to obtain an original letter from your DMV, stating WHEN you became a legal driver.... Then, two weeks or so later, you will have to return to the Japanese DMV to present them with this "proof" and to complete your interview.
So to make a long story short, MAKE SURE that if your license (even if it's a renewal) was issued within 3 months of arriving in Japan, you can provide written PROOF of how long you have been driving in your home country.
Third, make sure you REMEMBER all the details of your driving history. When you interview for your Japanese license, they will ask you ridiculous questions. Know the answers ahead of time. If you don't know or remember, fudge it. But always give confident replies.. Never, "I think..." or "Maybe...." Example questions: Did you go to driving school? How many hours in a classroom and how many in a vehicle? How many students were in your class? How much did it cost? What was the date of your driver's exam? How many questions were in the written test? What kind of questions were they? What was your score? What was the make/model/color of the vehicle you drove in the driving section of the exam? etc.... Don't forget, since this is Japan, this procedure may be a lot easier than this (or it could be harder too I suppose) but be prepared for anything. |
I could kiss you (no tongue though, sorry)! Are you awesome.
| Quote: |
| - A Japanese-issued international permit doesn't allow you to drive in N. Korea. |
You say this as though you've dealt with it before... |
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Montbell
Joined: 24 Jan 2006
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject: Re: Japanese drivers license |
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| luckbox wrote: |
When I lived in Japan I held a Japanese drivers license for a couple of years. After leaving Japan for my home country last summer, I was forced to surrender the Japanese license to the Motor Vehicle Branch in my province in Canada in order to obtain my Canadian license.
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a word of warning here.
When you have a Japanese DL and you exchange it for another DL in your home country, that Japanese DL is SENT BACK to the issuing authority in Japan.
So, in other words, Japanese DMV knows that you exchanged it for a Canadian DL, and I would strongly advise you against lying that your Japanese DL was lost or destroyed. They will know you are lying.
Instead, if you can, get a letter from your Canadian DMV that you exchanged your Japanese DL for a Canadian one.
My sister in law works for the DMV in Utsunomiya, so the info is straight from the horse's mouth. |
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may be going
Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 129
Location: australia
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| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 12:43 am Post subject: |
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just to add for australians. i got my JDL a couple of days ago. you need
a translation of your licence (done at any JAF office or your embassy)
your gaijin card
your driver's licence (original)
your passport (also take any old passports you might have in order to prove you were in country for 3 months after the issuance of your licence)
a photo (recent)
note, many australian licences don't have the date of issue on them. this is a must. for nsw you have to get it sent over by the RTA. other states the equivalent authority. nsw is $17, payable by card.
give them all these things, pay for some revenue stamps and then you do your eye test. take your glasses/contacts if you need them.
then you'll get your photo taken, and wait for your licence. if you have all of the above it will take 1.5-2 hours. very pain free.
if you don't have all of the above, expect many problems.
remember, date of issue is hugely important. |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:17 am Post subject: |
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| may be going wrote: |
just to add for australians. i got my JDL a couple of days ago. you need
a translation of your licence (done at any JAF office or your embassy)
your gaijin card
your driver's licence (original)
your passport (also take any old passports you might have in order to prove you were in country for 3 months after the issuance of your licence)
a photo (recent)
note, many australian licences don't have the date of issue on them. this is a must. for nsw you have to get it sent over by the RTA. other states the equivalent authority. nsw is $17, payable by card.
give them all these things, pay for some revenue stamps and then you do your eye test. take your glasses/contacts if you need them.
then you'll get your photo taken, and wait for your licence. if you have all of the above it will take 1.5-2 hours. very pain free.
if you don't have all of the above, expect many problems.
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This is the exact same system for Canadians. It's best to go in the morning, as soon as the place opens. If you wait for the early afternoon, you probably will have to come back the next day. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:28 am Post subject: |
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Oh yeah... Gomen... I forgot about the getting your DL translated into Japanese part.... Everyone needs to do that too (even Americans).
Although it is entirely possible (depending on your area) to go in the morning and be done by afternoon, in our local DMV they'd just kick you out and tell you to go home. Here you MUST make an appointment ahead of time... So please check with your local DMV whether you have to do that or not. |
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gaijinalways
Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279
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| Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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Some changes with a warning 
For me as an American at Musashi Koganei office I need;
A current passport showing you were living for 3 months in your home country with a driver's license (may need more than one passport)
A current driver's license and one for the 3 month time period (may be 2 oe more different licenses or a docuement from DMV)
A Japanese translation of your driver's license
First go up to the third floor. There is a window designated for foreigners in English for a Japanese license. Hand in your docuements and wait. Then you go and study to take the written test (in English). After that, you wait to take your driving test (same day) with a Japanese driving instructor (some do speak English, but don't count on it).
The tricky part for me was not having a passport or a license showing I was living in the states during the time I had a valid license (I've been in Japan for almost 9 years and haven't driven much since coming to Japan, but luckily I drove for a while prior to coming to Japan). I have that old passport and license now and plan to return to the licensing office in July when I have time.
As an American, you no longer have to turn in your American license. You get it back it after getting your Japanese license (different than before) or after you fail your test  . |
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