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Driving - samurai_campers
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日本語

Driver's Licenses

Required Documents for Customers Driving in Japan

To drive in Japan, the following permits and other documents are required.
Please be sure to have them ready before your departure.
We will check your driver’s license and other documents at the store when you pick up your car.
If you are not legally allowed to drive in Japan, we will not be able to rent a vehicle to you.

  • Important notice

About International Driving Permit (IDP)

  • Digital driving permits are not accepted for rental
  • International Driving Permits are valid only for original documents issued by an authorized agency
  • International Driving Permits issued by unauthorized agencies are not acceptable for rental
  • Even if International Driving Permits are obtained from the appropriate authority of the issuing country, in case it is invalid, we cannot offer a vehicle in accordance with Japanese law

01

International Driving Permit issued by a Country that is Party to the Convention on Road Traffic (Geneva Convention) and Passport

 
 
(1) International Driving Permit

International Driving Permit should be issued under the Geneva Convention and should comply with the format set out in the Convention.

① Please make sure its front cover page

*「Convention on International Road Traffic of September 19, 1949」must be on the front cover page of your permit. *Even if a permit is issued by a country that is party to the Geneva Convention, if the above text is not displayed, the permit is invalid. *If the text is not in English, please check for this date: 1949.9.19 *A displayed date of 8 November 1968 is a Vienna Convention-issued permit and is not valid in Japan.

List of contracting parties to the Geneva Conventions

  • Philippines
  • Bangladesh
  • Sri Lanka
  • Republic of Korea
  • India
  • Malaysia
  • Cambodia
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Thailand
  • Singapore
  • Lao People’s Democratic Republic
  • Turkey
  • Cyprus
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Lebanon
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Serbia
  • Finland
  • Belgium
  • Hungary
  • Bulgaria
  • Luxembourg
  • Vatican
  • Czech Republic
  • Lithuania
  • Republic of Estonia
  • Greece
  • Sweden
  • Italy
  • Montenegro
  • Portugal
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Malta
  • Kyrgyz Republic
  • Slovakia
  • Republic of Croatia
  • Norway
  • Netherlands
  • Russian Federation
  • Kingdom of Spain
  • Austria
  • Ireland
  • Iceland
  • Albania
  • San Marino
  • Georgia
  • Slovenia
  • Principality of Liechtenstein
  • South Africa
  • Ghana
  • Botswana
  • Benin
  • Madagascar
  • Niger
  • Sierra Leone
  • Uganda
  • Burkina Faso
  • Central African Republic
  • Algeria
  • Democratic Republic of the congo
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Malawi
  • Rwanda
  • Togo
  • Zimbabwe
  • Nigeria
  • Egypt
  • Morocco
  • Republic of Congo
  • Lesotho
  • Mali
  • Senegal
  • Tunisia
  • Namibia
  • United States of America
  • Cuba
  • Chile
  • Dominican Republic
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Canada
  • Ecuador
  • Paraguay
  • Guatemala
  • Venezuela
  • Peru
  • Argentine
  • Barbados
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Fiji
  • Australia
  • Hong Kong
  • Aruba
  • Cayman Islands
  • Jersey
  • Macau
  • Curacao
  • Isle of Man
  • Gibraltar
  • French Overseas Territories (French Polynesia, etc.)
  • Saint Martin
  • Guernsey
  • Territories of the United States (Guam, Puerto Rico, etc.)
② Please make sure the categories of vehicle type you are permitted to drive

Please check the stamps in the corresponding columns of the vehicle class B, C, and D that you can drive.

B：Standard vehicle (Vehicle with seating capacity of 9 or less) C：Large trucks (Gross Vehicle Weight is over 3.5ton) D：Large passenger car(Vehicle with seating capacity of 10 or more)

*If you would like to drive a car with 10 or more passengers, you must have a stamp on column D of your International Driving Permit.

③ Please make sure its validity date

 

*A driving permit can be used for a period of up to one year after entering Japan, but the International Driving Permit itself is valid for one year from the date of issue.
 

(2) Passport

 

 

Please be sure that you have been in Japan for less than one year.

*You’re required to show your passport and International Driving Permit together. *Stamp of your entry date to Japan on your passport will be mandatory. If you enter through the “Automatic Gate” at the airport, please inform the staff that you need a stamp on your passport and have them stamped. You will not be able to rent a car without the stamp.
*If you have Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) for Japan, the stub of your ticket / Screenshot of e-ticket on which the same name with your driver’s license and passport is written can be substituted.
*Limitation for those who are recorded in Basic Resident Registration System
If you’re recorded in Basic Resident Registration System (Japanese or foreigners staying in Japan for medium to long period) and come back to Japan within 3 months after leaving Japan, you might be unable to drive in Japan even if you could meet the above requirements.

02

Driver's license issued by countires which Japan has a bilateral agreement with, Authorized Japanese Translation, and Passport

 

If you hold the driving license issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Taiwan, Belgium, and Monaco, you can drive a car in Japan by showing your driving license and Japanese translation letter of it. You can drive in Japan for one year from the date of entry, or the valid period of your driving license, whichever is shorter. Please bring the two items as below and the driver’s passport together to the departure location.

(1) Foreign driver’s license

 

Countries covered are as follows: Monaco, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium and Taiwan

*A foreign driver’s license can be used to drive in Japan for one year after entering the country or until the expiration date of the license, whichever comes first.

(2) A certified Japanese translation letter issued by an authorized organization

 

Japanese translation letter of your driving license issued by your consulate/embassy or Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) branch offices shall be valid.For a driving license of Taiwan, Japanese translation letter issued by JAF or Japan-Taiwan Relations shall be valid.

(3) Passport

 

Please confirm that you have been in Japan for less than one year.

*You must present your passport and international driver’s license together. *A stamp of the date of entry into Japan on your passport is required. If you are entering through the “automatic gate” at the airport, tell the staff that you need a stamp on your passport and have it stamped. You cannot rent a car without a stamp.
*Limited to those registered in the Basic Resident Register
If you are registered in the Basic Resident Register (Japanese or foreigners staying in Japan for a medium to long term) and have returned to Japan within 3 months after leaving Japan, you may not be able to drive in Japan even if you meet the above conditions. I have. requirement.
 
 

03

Rent a USFJ Personal Vehicle Operating Permit and ID card of your base

If you hold the U.S. Forces Japan Operator’s Permit for Civilian Vehicle and ID card of your base, please bring them to the departure outlet.

(1) U.S. Forces Japan Personal Vehicle Operation Permit

 

Please confirm that there is “AUTO/JEEP” in the permitted vehicle category.

*Items with a “BASE ONLY” or “ON BASE” stamp is valid only on the base and cannot be accepted. *The one with the “STUDENT DRIVER PERMIT” stamp is a provisional license and cannot be accepted.

(2) ID card of your base

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