Insurance

In Japan, every car owner must be insured in accordance with the Japanese law (compulsory insurance). You are recommended to insure yourself further for more indemnity. You can take out an optional insurance at any private insurance company.

Compulsory Insurance (jidousha songai baisho sekinin hoken or jibaiseki hoken) is government-mandated, third-party automobile liability insurance. This insurance provides basic injury coverage for all mopeds, motorized bikes, and cars. Owners of vehicles under 250cc (motor-ized bikes and light 2-wheeled vehicles), which are not required to undergo the required motor vehicle safety inspections, need to make sure that their insurance policy hasn't expired. www.jibai.jp (in Japanese)

Extra Accident Insurance

This insurance provides an allowance to subscribers who are hospitalized and/or killed due to a traffic accident. Drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists are eligible, but payments are only for people involved in traffic accidents involving cars.