Getting a driver's license without going to a driving school
There are 2 stages to be completed before getting a Japanese driver's license - "Learner's permit stage" and "Full-license stage".
- "Learner's permit stage" consists of 1) a 50-question theoretical exam and 2) a driving exam. Both the exams are held at Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center.
- "Full-license stage" consists of 1) a 100-question theoretical exam, 2) a driving exam, 3) a full-day new drivers' course, and 4) an hour lecture.
To complete both stages, it is likely to take approximately 3 - 6 months.
If you prefer to take driving lessons before the driving test at the Driver's License Center, Please contact Driver's License Academy to request driving lessons.
Day1 |
1) Residence certificate issued within 1 year (with your nationality info, but mustn't contain your "my number") 2) Resident card and passport 3) 2 headshot photos (H3cm x W2.4cm - taken within 6 months) *this can be taken at the Center for 600JPY 4) Writing utensils (black pen, pencil, mechanical pencil, and eraser)
5) Learner's permit application form 仮運転免許申請書 6) Questionnaire 質問票 7) Declaration form 受験申告票 8) Admission ticket for the exam 受験票
*your registration number for the exam will be displayed if passed)
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Day2 |
[Fees]: Application fee(includes the first theoretical test): 2,900JPY First-time practical test:1,450JPY. 4,350JPY from the second time Issuance fee for a learner's permit:1,150JPY |
Photo: "Aptitude test" booth on the ground floorBefore you are allowed to proceed to the Full-license stage...
Practice driving on roads for 5 days within 3 months counted from the acquisition of the learner's permit with someone who has a Japanese driver's license for more than 3 years. Each practice should be around 30 min to 1 hour. Keep the record of the practice on the "road practice log sheet" *how to fill in the log sheet
*"Driver's License Academy" provides driving lessons for those who want to practice driving. The instructor can fill in the log sheet for you. Visit the following page for more details: https://groups.oist.jp/resource-center/drivers-license-academy
Day1 |
1) Learner's permit 2) Driver's license application form 運転免許申請書(get this from window#2) 3) Questionnaire 質問票 (get this from window#2) 4) Declaration form 受験申告票(get this from window#2) 5) Admission ticket for the exam 受験票(get this from window#2) 6) Road practice log sheet 路上練習申告書(which you have filled) 7) 2 headshot photos(H3cm x 2.4cm taken within 3 months) *can be taken at the Center for 600JPY 8) Writing utensils(black pen, pencil, mechanical pencil, and eraser)
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Day2 |
*Visit the Center either by 8:00 or 12:50 depending on your reservation time slot **Make sure to take the "reservation slip" for the driving exam
*If you fail your first driving exam, the amount you will pay will be 3,350JPY(application fee: 2,550JPY+vehicle usage fee:800JPY) from the second exam
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- Application fee(includes the first theoretical test): 2,550JPY Theoretical test from the second time:2,550JPY
- First time practical test: 800JPY, 3,350JPY from the second time
- The New drivers' lecture at a driving school: 15,400JPY(to be paid at the driving school)
- Driver's license issuance fee: 2,050JPY
- Visit the driving school you have an appointment with on the day of the appointment
- Pay tuition 15,400JPY at the reception and take the course
- After completing the course, receive a certificate certifying that you have completed the course(取得時講習終了証明書)
The course is an all-day course and consists of:
- Lecture about driving on expressways (approx. 50min)
- Practical lesson on an expressway (approx. 50min)
- Lunch break (approx. 50min)
- First aid measures lecture1 (approx. 50min)
- First aid measures lecture2 (approx. 50min)
- First aid measures lecture3 (approx. 50min)
- Danger prediction practice (approx. 50min)
- Danger prediction discussion (approx. 50min)
It takes 8 hours to complete the course
After completing the New drivers' course...
You will need to visit the license center to complete the required paperwork in the morning, then take a lecture in the afternoon on the same day before getting your license.
- Visit the Driver's License Center by 11:00 am with the following documents without prior reservation
- What to bring
- Certificate of completion of the new drivers' course obtained from the driving school
- Learner's permit
- Show the above documents at window#2 and get some documents from them
- Proceed to window#13 to submit the documents you received from window#2
- Take a headshot photo
- Take the lecture which starts at 13:00
- After the lecture, you will be granted the Japanese license
