Car Tax

A car tax bill will be sent to people who owned cars on April 1, to be paid by May 31. You can pay the tax at the tax office or at your local bank. It is also possible to set up a direct payment from your bank account that will come into effect the year following your application.

Taxes on Yellow Plate Cars, Motorcycles, Scooters

Tax on light vehicles is charged to the person who owned the vehicle on April 1 of any given year. Once you register a car, you will receive notification of your tax obligations on a yearly basis, and you will be expected to pay the tax in May ever year. Make sure to register and deregister your car properly, so the bill goes to the correct person.

Procedures for Yellow Plate Cars, Motorcycles, Scooters

Procedures for regular cars are dealt with by the prefectural government. Procedures for light vehicles (including motorcycles and scooters) are handled by the city.Make sure to register and deregister your car properly, so your bills and notices go to the correct person.

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.

Traffic Accidents

If anyone is injured, dial 119 to call an ambulance. Move the involved vehicles to a safe place in order to prevent further accidents and to avoid obstructing traffic and then protect the scene with reflectors or flares. Call 110 for help and directions. Contact your insurance company.

Before the police officer comes, obtain the following information from other drivers involved:

• License number
• Driver's license number
• Address
• Name
• Phone number
• Names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses if any

Advice about Traffic Accidents

Are you worried about what will happen if you are involved in a traffic accident? Have you been involved in an accident and you are not sure about your options? If you would like to talk to someone about your concerns, the experts at the Traffic Accident Counselling Office will be happy to talk to you. A lawyer is available on an appointment basis in somewhere.

Registration of Motor Vehicles - Changing Ownership (meigi henkou)

Registration of Motor Vehicles - Changing Ownership (meigi henkou)

When you buy or are given a motor vehicle with a number or license plate on it, a change of ownership registration must be done, in person, within 15 days. You will need:

• Application form (approximately 100 yen)
• Revenue stamp form (500yen)
• Transfer deed (stamped with the seller's registered stamp (jitsu-in) or signed if a Signature Certificate is used)
• Stamp or Seal Certificates ( Inkan-shomei ) of the old and new owners (released within three months, if you have a registered stamp, or Signature Certificate)
• Registered Stamps or Seals ( Jitsu-in ) or Signatures
• Certificate of Automobile Inspection, "Shaken" (must be valid)
• Letter of Proxy signed or stamped by seller and the buyer (if necessary)
• Certificate of Parking (available at the police station or car dealer, released within one month, applied for by the buyer)
• Certificate of the new user's address (e.g. Certificate on Registered Matters, in case the user and the owner are different)
• Certificate of Automobile Liability Insurance

A Certificate of Change (e.g. Certificate on Registered Matters) is necessary when the car owner's addresses or names are different between the Certificate of Automobile Inspection and the Stamp or Seal Certificate. In the case of move-in from other Inspection and Registration Office areas, the car is necessary in order to change the license or number plate (1,520 yen). You should notify the Automobile Liability Insurance Company of the changes after you register with Tsuchiura Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Office.

Please inquire in other cases than buying and selling or if you have not reached the age of majority.

Changing Address or Name of Owner

When your address or name changes, you are required to register within 15 days of the change. You will need:

• Application form (approximately 100 yen)
• Revenue stamp form (350 yen)
• Certificate of Change (e.g. Certificate on Registered Matters before and after the change)
• Certification of the new user's address when the user changes (e.g. Certificate on Registered Matters)
• Certificate of Automobile Inspection, Shaken
• Letter of Proxy (if necessary)
• Certificate of Parking (available at Police station or car dealer, released within 1 month, applied by the car user when address changes.)
• Certificate of Automobile Liability Insurance.
• Stamp or Seal, or Signature

In the case of move-in from other Inspection and Registration Office areas, you will need to replace the plates. This will require bringing the car to the office and paying the fee (1,520yen). You should notify the Automobile Liability Insurance Company of the changes after you register with the Tsuchiura Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Office.

Deregistration and Disposal of Vehicle

When your motor vehicle is to be disposed of, you must register within 15 days of disposal. You will need:

• Application form (approximately 100 yen)
• Revenue stamp form (350 yen)
• Stamp or Seal Certificate (Inkan-shomei) of the owner (released within three months, if you have a registered stamp), or Signature Certificate
• Stamp or Seal, or Signature
• Certificate of Automobile Inspection (shaken (If you cannot hand in this certificate, you must submit a letter explaining why.)
• License Plates (If you cannot hand in the license plates, you must submit a letter explaining why.)
• Certificate of Auto Disposal
• Letter of Proxy (if necessary)

The Certificate of Auto Deregistration is necessary for you to use the car again.

Driving in Japan

Driving rules are particular to each country, so be careful to learn the local rules of the road before you start driving. In particular, pay attention to the fact that cars drive on the left-side of the road and that no turns can be made on a red light.

Cell Phones and Driving

From Nov 1, 2004, it has become illegal to talk on a cell phone, write mail, check mail, or even have your phone in your hand while driving. If you are caught doing any of these things, you will be fined and have at least one point taken off your license.

Driver Symbols

There are symbols that represent certain kinds of drivers in Japan.

• New drivers have to display the green and yellow beginner symbol (shoshinsha mark), also known as the young leaf symbol (wakaba mark).
• Elderly drivers have to display the orange and yellow welfare symbol (fukushi mark), also known as the maple leaf symbol (momiji mark).
• You have probably seen the accessibility symbol in various places around Tsukuba. Drivers with disabilities may display the blue and white wheelchair symbol (kurima isu mark), or the disabilities symbol, also know as the clover symbol (yotsuba mark). Public buildings such as city hall offices and hospitals display this symbol along with some private enterprises such as supermarkets. Whenever you see this mark on a parking space, it means that the space is reserved for people with disabilities. Be a considerate driver and leave these spaces open for the people who need them. Keep in mind that even though the symbol shows a person in a wheelchair, it is meant to indicate all people with disabilities. People with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, are also allowed to park in those spots. You may not be able to see a person's disability, so please be sensitive to drivers who park there.

If you notice that a driver has one of these marks, please be a considerate driver and treat them with special care. Do not tailgate (follow too closely) or change lanes suddenly.

Protect Your Car

Be careful not to leave anything in your car that might be tempting to a thief, like a bag, a wallet, or bank cards, especially when leaving your car overnight on the roadside or in a little-used parking lot. Thieves will break the glass or destroy the locks to try to get at your valuables. This happens most often from 10pm to 4am. Also, it is not safe to leave your car running and unlocked outside a convenience store or in front of your house. Crimes involving idling cars are increasing. To protect yourself: don't park illegally, lock your doors and close your windows completely, use anti-theft devices, and don't leave valuables in your car.

Where you can get a certificate related to driving in Japan?

Japan Safe Driving Center provide service on issuing certificate related to driving in Japan.
The Center issues a certificate of traffic accidents on behalf of police, using the information of the
police. The certificate enables one involved in a traffic accident to get the proper compensation.
The Center issues a certificate of driving record, cumulative points, and driver's license history at a
driver's request.
It also issues a certificate at a driver's request which proves one has had no traffic
accident or offense. The Center grants the SD Card as a sign of a safe driver when one doesn't have a traffic accident or
offense on the driving record certificate.
The Center hold training courses in Central Training School for Safe Driving in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki
Prefecture. People can learn the danger of driving and safe driving techniques there.
The Center conducts the research and study of safe driving.
The results are used as data in administrative organs as well as in driving schools for driver's
education. They are also used for the management of safe driving in companies.
The Center writes to people who will get suspension of driver's license or administrative punishment. It
also writes to people who are about to get the punishment.
For example, it writes to people who have already 4 or 5 points, in order to encourage safe driving.