Apologies if this has been asked before; can anyone advise on the best way to obtain short term (say 3 weeks) insurance on a friends car using an international drivers permit?
My partner tried to purchase the 7/11 conveni insurance online and they only take Japanese license numbers, is it different in stores?
I’ve heard of other options available through some auto garages that allow you to pay for a year and then get a refund for what you don’t use, but I struggle to believe it’s that straight forward…
My friend explained that only he is insured for 3rd party damages on his insurance, and while it’s technically not illegal for me to drive his car without it I would prefer to be covered.
Any knowledge/wisdom much appreciated!
2 comments
It’d be easy if you had a Japanese driver’s license. Most insurance companies won’t deal with IDP from my experience.
You’d be better off getting covered under your friend’s car insurance, or go with a rental car.
I doubt that you can get car insurance for anything short of a rental car without a Japanese license. Your only real hope is if your friend’s insurance company will cover you while driving on an IDP. He should check with his insurance agent. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend driving without insurance. If you have an accident without it and you can’t pay for the damages yourself you’ll have a serious problem.