So the time is finally coming for me to get a proper Japanese driver’s license.
I’m from the US via the UK and hold two valid drivers licenses from two separate US states (none named Indiana, Washington, Hawaii, Virginia, Maryland or Ohio). No UK driver’s license unfortunately.
My current IDP expires sometime in March (earlier or later depending on how one interprets the rules and my multiple entries/exits). One of my US licenses expires in March as well, which I intend on renewing shortly.
That leads to the question of the 90 day rule… The rules state that an “Applicant must have stayed in the license issuing country with a valid driver’s license for at least ninety (90) days in total”. If I renew, does this 90 day clock restart since the license would be reissued with the renewal date? I don’t have issues proving residence in either state for 90 days, but clearly a renewed license would display only the date as of the renewal and not the originally issued date making proving the 90 days (from the renewal) impossible.
I’ve driven many times in Japan over the years so it is not my first rodeo, but how feasible is it to pass both the written and driving test without taking an official class?
6 comments
90 day rule—> just get proof of your residency/driving in your home country before the 90 day date (how to get around this issue has been asked/answered a lot here, can use search function to find more detailed answers).
For the actual license, there’s no legal requirement to go to a driving school. Pass the written test (10 questions for you, since you have a license in another country), then pass the road test completely in Japanese. I personally just paid a driving school for four hours of driving practice. We did the first three in English, then the final one in Japanese so I could learn the words and how to respond. There are special maneuvers that are specific to the Japanese test that are difficult/confusing if you’ve never experienced them. It’s good to practice these with someone if you can. I passed on the first try.
No, many US licenses have an issued on date. Hopefully you have your original passport with your entry stamp in it. If your driver’s license doesn’t have an issued on date you’ll need to contact the DMV of the state it’s issued in and get a copy of your driving record with that information on it.
BE VERY CAREFUL YOU ARE POTENTIALLY RUNNING AFOUL OF JAPANESE AND US LAWS BY HAVING MULTIPLE DLs.
First – in most state’s it’s a serious misdemeanor and I believe a felony in some to have 2 valid drivers licenses. The background/reason for this is people used to get drunk driving convictions and would use a license issued in another state to continue “legally” driving. Harder nowdays where state law enforcement (and driving enforcement) talk to each other electronically but still something people do.
That being said you say over the years – an IDP is only good for 1 year after you take up residence. If you are driving on an IDP for more than 1 year you’re at risk of getting a driving without a license charge if you drive in Japan (which likely means arrest and a 23 day time out before you’re released to wait for your trial and conviction).
> how feasible is it to pass both the written and driving test without taking an official class
The normal “from zero” tests? Not very feasible at all. The conversion tests? I did it (while testing for manual transmission, no less) on the first shot, so it’s technically doable. I did take a 1-hour practice session from one of the staff at the driver license center, which helped immeasurably. I almost certainly would have failed without that.
That said, your success is also at the whim of the examiner, and if they’re having a bad day or they’re one of those types that believe you must automatically fail your test several times before being allowed to pass, then you’re screwed. My examiner seemed cool, and he also probably didn’t expect me to get even close to passing and was likely surprised when I did with only a single 5-point deduction.
Edit:
> I’ve driven many times in Japan over the years so it is not my first rodeo
This is of little consequence in the practical driving test, as what you’re being tested on has little to do with actual, real-world driving. In fact, if you do actually drive the way that you’re required to in order to pass the test, you will definitely hit someone riding a scooter.
How can you be a resident of two states at the same time while also living in Japan?
> how feasible is it to pass both the written and driving test without taking an official class?
they have some tricky questions in the written test, with some of them being half-truths and very specific but it shouldn’t be that hard.
for the driving test, i strongly recommend taking at least one hour for the 外免切替 course driving class just so you know which parts you’ll have to pay attention to. they are insanely strict with the “you have to have a gap of minimum 80 cms from the curb” thing so having the driving instructor correct you can increase your chances of passing in one try. honestly a lot of things don’t make sense to me but (this sounds kinda bad tbh) if you don’t question anything they tell you and just follow it blindly, you’ll pass for sure.
I passed my license from scratch in Japan and both the written and driving tests are a joke. The tests are meant to be doable by teenagers who are already too busy with school and are stressed when they drive at more than 10km/h, it’s virtually impossible for an adult with driving experience to fail.
You can get the official “master of your driving” book second hand for a few hundred yens. Read it once to highlight the few differences between your country and Japan then only study that.
Maybe read the book once or twice more just to refresh your knowledge.
As for driving, the test is super standard. Just drive much slower than usual and you will be fine.