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chinagirl
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 235
Location: United States
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 Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 4:42 am Post subject: explanation? |
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| For those of us in Japan who are non drivers, can one of you explain the yellow plate/white plate, kei car, non-kei car differences? I haven't ever needed a car here so none of this has been explained to me yet. |
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 6:01 am Post subject: |
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| Put simply a yellow plated car is called a kei car. It has a small engine and as a way of encourage their use, the taxes and registration fees are lower. Some other charges (highway fees) are also discounted. |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:16 am Post subject: |
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Glenski
but I thought this thread was more or less about Kei Vs Non Kei ???
sorry if I was wrong |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: Re: explanation? |
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| chinagirl wrote: |
| For those of us in Japan who are non drivers, can one of you explain the yellow plate/white plate, kei car, non-kei car differences? I haven't ever needed a car here so none of this has been explained to me yet. |
yes (correct me if I am wrong but ...) the Japanese Government wants to encourage smaller cars (???)
so these small cars (less than 660cc???) are charged much less for taxes and highway tolls etc etc
a very good idea in my opinion |
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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:22 am Post subject: Re: explanation? |
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| chinagirl wrote: |
| For those of us in Japan who are non drivers, can one of you explain the yellow plate/white plate, kei car, non-kei car differences? I haven't ever needed a car here so none of this has been explained to me yet. |
A kei car (kei = light) is essentially a motor vehicle with a 550cc engine or less.
Anything over 550cc is a regular motor vehicle.
kei/light vehicles are distinguished by having yellow plates (with black writing) whereas regular motor vehicles have white plates with green writing.
A black plate with yellow writing is a light vehicle being used for commercial use. Ditto with a green plate and white writing for regular vehicles.
Hope that helps. |
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nawlinsgurl
Joined: 01 May 2004
Posts: 363
Location: Kanagawa and feeling Ok....
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Ok everyone thanks for the info...I'm definitely leaning towards a Kei car now that I have more info. I was worried about safety but I see Kei cars everywhere I look.
More questions though:
1-For those of you who have Kei cars what does your shaken/road tax/weight tax run you?
(I have a Y plate and my shaken was 20,000 yen last year, road tax 7,000, and we don't have to pay weight tax...a killer deal, but that is soon coming to an end...)
2-Any specific models you would recommend? One person mentioned a Life, but I don't know if that was a joke or not...
3-About how much did your used Kei car cost you? Or even the new Kei cars?
Thanks again for all the info, I really appreciate it!  |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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| nawlinsgurl wrote: |
2-Any specific models you would recommend? One person mentioned a Life, but I don't know if that was a joke or not...
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Well it was a joke but it is a real car, the Honda dealer sometimes give me one to use while my car is in the garage. Nice little car for what it is, but the door handles gave me the proverbials and of course it couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Don't get one of those bricks on wheels, my sister-in-law has one, thing wouldn't disappear out of sight in a week.
If you're reasonably OK with Japanese, have a look at the kei car section on Yahoo auctions, should give you something of an idea what the odds are. |
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flyer
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 539
Location: Sapporo Japan
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| Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 2:57 am Post subject: |
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I think the most popular Kei is Daihatsu Move (???)
at least it was,
correct me if I am wrong but...... I think Toyota and Daihatsu are the same now (Toyoka doesn't make Kei's they use Daihatsu) |
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nawlinsgurl
Joined: 01 May 2004
Posts: 363
Location: Kanagawa and feeling Ok....
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| Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the help everyone! I'm gonna check out Yahoo Auctions. Is it safe, like Ebay in the States? I've bought tons of stuff on Ebay but never big ticket things like a car...  |
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