Driving licence in Japan

Japanese licences are divided by experience level and by vehicle type.

There are two options for learners. Firstly, learners can attend a designated driving school. Graduates from a designated driving school do not need to sit the practical examination but they do need to sit the written examination. Secondly, learners can attend non-designated driving school or obtain practice through other means, in which case they must sit both the practical and written examinations. The Japanese driving examination consists of a written examination and a practical examination for each level of licence. Most Japanese go to a driving school prior to taking these examinations (though it is not required), and upon completing the course at a non-designated driving school must register for the examinations in the prefecture where they are registered as a resident. The practical examination consists of driving a vehicle through a purpose-designed driving course while obeying relevant rules of the road.[1]

Japan also allows Japan-resident holders of foreign driving licences to convert their foreign licence to a Japanese licence through an abbreviated examination process. This consists of an eyesight test and, depending on the issuing country of the foreign licence, may also require a short written examination and a practical examination.

Countries exempt from the exam include, as of 2020: Iceland, Ireland, United States (limited to Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland and Washington), United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Austria, Netherlands, Canada, Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Taiwan.[2]

In 2003, the first-time pass rate for Americans was slightly higher than the 35 percent pass rate for Japanese returnees, but not much. On the other hand, for those who took the regular test, they had to go through an intensive (and expensive) driver education program. The first time pass rate for this group, even with the harder test, was 90 to 100 percent.[3] The fee for an English-speaking foreigner to obtain a licence from a Japanese driving school is about ¥400,000 (or about US$3669).[1]

Every licensed driver is issued with a driving licence card (運転免許証, Unten Menkyo Shou), which they are required to have available for inspection whenever they exercise the privileges granted by the licence.

Layout of a driving licence card

氏名 ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯◯ＹＹ年ＭＭ月ＤＤ日生   住所 ◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯◯ 交付 ◯◯ＹＹ年ＭＭ月ＤＤ日 ◯◯◯◯◯ 撮影 ◯◯ＹＹ年ＭＭ月ＤＤ日まで有効 運 転 免 許 証 免許の 条件等 番号 第 123456789000 号 二•小•原 ◯◯ＹＹ年ＭＭ月ＤＤ日 種 類 大 型 中 型 普 通 大 特 大 自 二 普 自 二 小 特 原 付 け 引 大 二 中 二 普 二 大 特 二 け 引 二 他 ◯◯ＹＹ年ＭＭ月ＤＤ日 都道府県 公安委員会 二種 ◯◯ＹＹ年ＭＭ月ＤＤ日

Japanese driving licence sample with labels

Great Britain has an exchange agreement with Japan[4] (and with 16 other countries/regions) which allows the holder of a Japanese license who is deemed to be resident in the UK to exchange it for a British license. To do this, the holder must send the license, a translation thereof, an application form and a fee to the DVLA or DVA (for Northern Ireland).

• Driver's licence