I am an American with a Texas drivers license with a motorcycle endorsement. I’ve already passed my driving test in Japan and got my Japanese car driving license. My next step is getting my chuugata motorcycle license. Now my mother lives in Washington state which holds an agreement with Japan to do a straight conversion with no testing required. I may go visit family over winter break and was wondering if I can get away with converting my Texas license to a Washington state one so I can just avoid all the written and driving tests. I know that you need to have the license 3 months before entry to Japan but I’m wondering since I already hold a Japanese license if that is required.
I know the plan is a little rascally but the nearest testing center is an hour and a half away by train and it took me 4 tries to get my car license. I’m trying to avoid that nightmare if i can.
4 comments
If you have a car license you won’t have to take the train there surely?
My guess is that since you want to add an endorsement, the 3 month requirement would stand. But, why not ask the license center directly? On a side note, even if you could get around the 3 month requirement, would you be able to establish residency in Washington for the conversion from Texas?
You are not a resident of Washington, to obtaining a license would probably qualify as fraud.
Also, (if memory serves) you are required to prove that you have held the license for a certain period of time — unless Washington somehow transfers your driving history, this would seem possibly problematic.
I also have a Texas license with a motorcycle endorsement, but I did the conversions in the opposite order: motorcycle (大型) first then car. The 3 month rule did still apply when getting my car license converted, even though I already had a Japanese license.