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TK4Lakers
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 159
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 Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:38 am Post subject: Japanese driver's license and car |
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Hello everyone. I am living out in the boondocks of Japan as an ALT, travelling around by foot and bus. This has been a big pain since the countryside does not offer the same amenities as the suburbs/city do.
I've heard that foreigners can rent cars here, with the whole package including insurance, for about 20,000 yen a month. Any truth to this? Has anyone tried this out lately?
Also, I don't have a International DL nor a Japanese DL. Am I, as a foreigner, allowed to just march into the local office and apply and register for a Japanese DL (of course, if I pass the test)? Are there restrictions/prerequisites I must attain and complete before this?
Any help would be greatful, thanks! |
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TK4Lakers
Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 159
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:44 am Post subject: a lil more... |
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To be more specific, I live in the Ibaraki-prefecture (I believe the office to apply is in Mito).
I have a U.S. driver's license that expires next October, but no Int'l license.
Any help, thanks! |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:47 am Post subject: Re: Japanese driver's license and car |
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| TK4Lakers wrote: |
| I've heard that foreigners can rent cars here, with the whole package including insurance, for about 20,000 yen a month. Any truth to this? Has anyone tried this out lately? |
I know of one language school in Saitama that makes teachers lease a car from the school and makes teachers pay for its use. The downside is that the school does not provide personal liability insurance if the driver is injured in an accident or the car is damaged. the teacher becomes personally liable for any damages to the vehicle. Check that you have FULL coverage if you take this route including third-party insurance.
| Quote: |
| Also, I don't have a International DL nor a Japanese DL. Am I, as a foreigner, allowed to just march into the local office and apply and register for a Japanese DL (of course, if I pass the test)? Are there restrictions/prerequisites I must attain and complete before this? |
if you have no licence whatsoever, including foreign licence, you can not just walk in off the street and take a test and be allowed to drive a vehicle. You have to go through a registered driving school which will empty your bank account of 300,000 yen before they allow you to take a driving test. You can take lessons in english and the driving test but forget about a licence without taking a driving course first.
If you have a foreign licence over 3 months old you can go to a testing center and exchange it for a Japanese licence. Americans need to take a practical driving test first.
Last edited by PAULH on Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:49 am Post subject: Re: a lil more... |
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| TK4Lakers wrote: |
To be more specific, I live in the Ibaraki-prefecture (I believe the office to apply is in Mito).
I have a U.S. driver's license that expires next October, but no Int'l license.
Any help, thanks! |
I have an American friend in Aichi who has tried to get a Japanese licence and has to sit the practical driving test at the testing center. I can put you in touch if you are interested. |
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Brooks
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1369
Location: Sagamihara
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:54 am Post subject: |
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You need to have your current license translated by the Japanese Auto Federation.
If you cannot show by dates on your license and passport that you were driving in the US with it at least 3 months, you will have to get another document from your DMV proving you got the original license at least 3 months before you came here. Get that translated, too.
THEN, you can follow the regular procedures to get a driver's license. Read this link, too, for some advice on how to do the behind the wheel portion. Some people have taken the test a dozen times before passing!!!
http://www.gaijinpot.com/bb/showthread.php?t=22858
http://www.gaijinpot.com/bb/showthread.php?t=2777
And, if you decide to BUY a car, you will have to prove to the police that you pay for a parking space, too. |
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chirp
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Not quite a hijack of the thread... 
I have the option of leasing a car in Japan for 15,000 yen/monthly including all maintenance and insurance costs (I am investigating exactly what is covered by the included insurance)
OR
Receive a free 2nd hand car up to a value of 100,000yen but I will be responsible for maintenance, insurance (I imagine), and a car inspection which I am told can be quite expensive.
Any thougths? Suggestions? Advice? I will be living in more rural Ibaraki - train station about 30 minutes away by bus. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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chirp,
Find out WHEN the shaken (safety inspection) is due and how much it is. You are right in thinking it can be expensive.
Find out, also, if your employer is providing a parking space or if YOU have to pay for one. To own a car, one has to prove a parking space is paid for within a couple of kilometers of your home. One more expense to what you listed.
Also, when do you plan to leave Japan? If you leave before the shaken is due, you won't have to pay for it, as long as you can dump the car. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:41 am Post subject: |
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| chirp wrote: |
Not quite a hijack of the thread...
I have the option of leasing a car in Japan for 15,000 yen/monthly including all maintenance and insurance costs (I am investigating exactly what is covered by the included insurance) |
Why should it cost you 15,000 a month? Technically if its company vehicle your employer should be paying for it IMO. Does maintenance cost 15,000 yen a month? You have gasoline costs on top of it as well, parking space.
I drive a 2000 CC tank and my main costs are the shaken, (car insurance) and parking. If the car is in good condition it shouldnt cost too much to maintain. Shaken may cost up to 100,000 yen a year for a medium sized car. Car spaces are 10-15,000 yen a month depending on your area.
| Quote: |
| Receive a free 2nd hand car up to a value of 100,000yen but I will be responsible for maintenance, insurance (I imagine), and a car inspection which I am told can be quite expensive. |
Shaken is a combination of registration, insurance and a road tax. you can not drive on the road with expired shaken and as the car gets older the shaken can be worth more than the car is worth. |
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Sweetsee
Joined: 11 Jun 2004
Posts: 2302
Location: ) is everything
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| Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:58 am Post subject: |
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Howdy TK,
Just got my JDL after taking the test 4 times and one training session, though way back when I did it in one go at a different location, and location is everything when it comes to getting your license.
Saitama's Konosu center reminds me of something between an airport and a correctional facility and has a reputation as being the least foreigner friendly. Met a guy who also passsed on the same day as me but it was his eleventh go. Most of us are too stubborn to take the training course but you will pass if you do. Don't know about Ibaragi though.
On a positive note, I always met really nice people at the driving center and it is an all day affair so we always had loads of time to chat.
If it is not too much trouble, please let us know how it goes for you, just out of curiosity.
Good luck,
s |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:36 am Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
Why should it cost you 15,000 a month? |
That's not unreasonable.
Breakdown of costs for my car:
parking: 5,000
gasoline: 10,000 (2 full tanks a month -- each tank=about 5,000 yen)
insurance: 3,500 (after several years of no accidents or tickets)
yearly city tax (divided by 12 months): 3583
shaken (divided by 24 months and based on my last shaken bill): 3333
TOTAL cost to operate my vehicle in Japan each month:
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25,416 yen.
If I were not to drive my car at all, I could eliminate the cost for gas, but I'd still be down to 15,000 yen -- bare bones. FWIW, I drive a white plate, 1987 Nissan Vanette (seats 8 ppl). I get about 11-16L/100km (not really good) depending on whether I drive city or highway. Also, I have not factored in any repair, maintenance costs, quarterly oil changes and other incidentals into the above figure. |
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chirp
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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I have to pay for a parking space? Is that only in big cities? I am going to be in a smaller city (about 45,000 people).
This is so much more complicated than I had anticipated. 
Thanks to all those who posted their thoughts. It is greatly appreciated. |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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| By law -- yes you do. Can be a cheap one though. 2,000 to 3,000 is routinely available in smaller towns and cities (not downtown though)... You will likely have to draw a "map" of the lot and provide it to the police... Don't ask me why though... No clue. |
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chirp
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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I feel really stupid asking this - but can I not just park outside of my home??  |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:11 am Post subject: |
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| chirp wrote: |
| I feel really stupid asking this - but can I not just park outside of my home?? |
Not unless you want to get a parking ticket or it towed away. the front of your house is not your private property but public land and it will be considered an obstruction if you park it on the street. You can not buy a car here unless you show the police you have a parking space or a garage. i think they issue a sticker you put on your windscreen.
In Tokyo they are employing traffic wardens who even issue tickets to delivery trucks who make 2 minute stops to offload parcels. Illegal parking is a HUGE problem in big cities. |
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