[Question]How can I obtain a license to drive a motorcycle in Japan? I’ve never had one back home.

[Answer]


The methods to obtain a license to ride a bike in Japan from scratch can differ depending on the kind of license you are after:
①　License for scooters allows you to drive a motorized two-wheeler with an engine capacity of up to 50cc.To obtain this license, you need to pass aptitude and written tests at your local driving test center. Following an educational course on driving your license will be issued.
②　License for ordinary bikes allows you to drive a motorized two-wheeler with an engine capacity of up to 400 cc, except for a limited version with which you can only ride an up-to-125cc-bike.
③　License for large-size bikes lets you drive all kinds of motorized two-wheelers.

To obtain license for the above　② and ③, you have two options. One is to pass an aptitude, written and driving tests at a driving test center and then take an educational course. The other option is to get enrolled in a Public Safety Commission-designated driving school to go through a required curricular before taking an aptitude test and a written test at a driving test center.   

[Question]I wish to buy a car from a friend of mine. What formalities will be necessary?

[Answer]

There are several formalities involved when buying a car from an individual or a dealer.

(Parking Space Certificate) First and foremost, you have to have a parking space certificate issued by the police station with jurisdiction over the parking area. The parking space should be located within the perimeter of two kilometers from the place of use. (Owners of light motor vehicles as of June 1, 2008 in 29 cities of Osaka Prefecture are required to report their parking space with the police)

(Taxes)
You need to pay automobile acquisition tax when you purchase a car.

At the time of mandatory car inspection, you need to pay automobile tonnage tax based on the weight of your car. Automobile tax is levied to owners of automobiles, except for light motor cars and motarized two-wheelers, as of April 1 every year based on the engine size.
If you own a light motor car or a motarized two-wheeler as of April 1 of the year, you have to pay Light Motor Vehicle Tax based on the weight of the vehicle.

(Change of ownership) You can have a dealer do the paperwork for you for a fee. If you purchase from an individual, however, please refer to the next section of Q&A.

Biennial mandatory car inspections can be commissioned to a car service center designated by the local Transport Bureau. You can also check the car yourself in a system called “user shaken” in Japanese.

Car Insurance is mandatory under the Automobile Damage Compensation Insurance Law. Since compulsory insurance does not provide full coverage –(it only covers bodily injuries and pays up to a certain amount (up to 1.2 million yen in injury compensation)), it is highly recommended to purchase additional voluntary car insurance as well.

[Question]What is the paper work procedure in buying a car?

[Answer]

To change the ownership of a car, you need to go to the local transport bureau which has jurisdiction over the place you drive your car to transfer the ownership. Both current and new owners should prepare documents as described below:

Current owner will need deed of transfer, certificate of car inspection, certificate of registered persona seal, personal seal (and sometimes resident certificate or certificate of registered matter in alien registration.)

New owner will need a certificate of registered personal seal, personal seal and a certificate of parking space.

If a proxy applies for the transfer procedures, a power of attorney with a seal stamped on it will be required.  For more detailed procedures, please contact your transport bureau. In case of a light motor car, you can contact the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization,for more information.