Hi, was wondering if someone could point me towards the right direction. Unfortunately I’m unable to book a driving test before my departure date to Japan in August due to back log of exams and was wondering whether I could just do some lessons and sit a driving test to get a license in Japan.
How would it work trying to obtain a licence? Will I be able to do the written exam in English? Ive studied Japanese informally so I’m not sure whether I would be able to do the written exam in Japanese.
I’ve also looked at driving camps as well as it’s really expensive… I’m test ready and from the UK so although I definitely need to take driving lessons in Japan to cover things that are generally different between both countries, I’m comfortable driving. So I thought that it’s probably best to book private lessons for 5-10 hours to save money.
Also can I do a manual driving test? All of Japanese friends are driving automatic but I rather drive manual so that whenever I’m in the UK, I can book a manual driving test.
6 comments
I have very little knowledge regarding obtaining a Japanese driving licence outside of getting a license transfer. But I will say, from everything I’ve heard in person and online, the Japanese driving tests are… Fucky, for lack of a better word.
I’ve heard people be failed for not adjusting the seat when they get in, its pretty strict it seems. You might be test ready in the UK, but make sure you know all the ins and outs of the test system here before trying.
On a side note, do you know your placement yet? I’d have assumed if you wrote on your application that you dont have a license, you’d have been placed in an area that doesnt need a license (That much)
In any case, good luck mate
The process of converting a license just has a written and driving test, but getting one from scratch is a different process that takes a whole lot more time and money (and I’m not very familiar with it). Also, I believe your license needs to have been valid for at least six months before it’s eligible for conversion.
IMO, the practical exam is not as bad as it’s made out to be. Yes, you have to do a lot of stupid shit literally nobody does when driving, but just practice doing it a bunch beforehand and you never have to do it again. I jammed my elbow into the horn trying to get my seat belt on and still passed first try, and so did most people I know.
Go to the Japanese police website for more accurate information than you’ll be able to get here. There’s loads of misconceptions about how the process works so confirm with the official source.
>Will I be able to do the written exam in English?
Maybe, probably, however expect google translate quality.
>So I thought that it’s probably best to book private lessons for 5-10 hours to save money.
This is an option if you already know how to drive.
>Also can I do a manual driving test?
Yes of course. But be aware most cars in Japan are automatics so you’ll likely be driving one whether you like it or not.
Even if you were to get a driving test in your home country, you have to live there for three months with the license to be eligible to transfer your license over to a Japanese one.
The written license test (not the conversion one, but the normal one for people without licenses) should be offered in English. From what people have said the translation is kind of wonky, but passable.
If you want to drive manual, you have to take the practical test in a manual car. If you take it in auto you have an auto-restricted license.
There is a way to get a license by going to the center and taking the tests and passing them (一発試験). This is mainly a way for people who had a license in the past but had it lapse and want to get it again. But it’s not really known as a way for beginners to get their license.
Going to a driving school is a lot easier if you have the language ability and can go to one that’s local to you in the evening/on the weekend.
But also, at this point it might be better to make plans to live without a car if the process and cost of getting a license is too much.
So driving test in Japan work a little differently than in the UK. You basically have two choices. Go fully to drivers school and take their [full regimen](https://thewagamamadiaries.com/my-experience-going-to-driving-school-in-japan/) or go it alone and try to pass the exams [on your own](https://groups.oist.jp/resource-center/getting-drivers-license-without-going-driving-school). Both are expensive multi-step processes.
Since you were unable to obtain a license three months or more prior to departure, you’ll need to jump through the same hoops as a Japanese person. Whichever option you choose, plan on spending a significant chunk of your leave on the process. Read up as much as you can on all the little things that will fail you, and be prepared to be failed multiple times.