Transport/Commute

Driving & License

Master the Japanese you need for Driving & License in natural keigo. Scene-by-scene flow ยท NG examples ยท politeness levels ยท 9-language parallel translations

Synergia Editorial Team

This page helps foreign residents and long-term visitors handle "Driving & License" with daily Japanese phrases for living in Japan, practical examples, and common mistakes to avoid.

What this page helps you say in Japan

This page focuses on Driving & License and teaches useful Japanese phrases for daily life in Japan, including natural replies, polite alternatives, and practical wording for foreigners living in Japan.

What You'll Learn on This Page

Practice Phrases (10 Total)

ๅค–ๅ›ฝๅ…่จฑใ‹ใ‚‰ๆ—ฅๆœฌๅ…่จฑใธใฎๅˆ‡ๆ›ฟใ‚’ใ—ใŸใ„ใฎใงใ™ใŒ

ใŒใ„ใ“ใใ‚ใ‚“ใใ‚‡ใ‹ใ‚‰ใซใปใ‚“ใ‚ใ‚“ใใ‚‡ใธใฎใใ‚Šใ‹ใˆใ‚’ใ—ใŸใ„ใฎใงใ™ใŒ

I'd like to switch from foreign to Japanese license.

POINTIt is called โ€œGaimen Switchโ€

ๅฟ…่ฆใชๆ›ธ้กžใ‚’ๆ•™ใˆใฆใ„ใŸใ ใ‘ใพใ™ใ‹

ใฒใคใ‚ˆใ†ใชใ—ใ‚‡ใ‚‹ใ„ใ‚’ใŠใ—ใˆใฆใ„ใŸใ ใ‘ใพใ™ใ‹

Could you tell me the required documents?

POINTForeign driver's license + driving record certificate + residence card, etc.

ใƒฌใ‚ฎใƒฅใƒฉใƒผๆบ€ใ‚ฟใƒณใงใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™

ใƒฌใ‚ฎใƒฅใƒฉใƒผใพใ‚“ใŸใ‚“ใงใŠใญใŒใ„ใ—ใพใ™

Regular, full tank please.

POINTGas station standard

ใƒใ‚คใ‚ชใ‚ฏ3000ๅ††ๅˆ†ใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™

ใƒใ‚คใ‚ชใ‚ฏ3000ใˆใ‚“ใถใ‚“ใŠใญใŒใ„ใ—ใพใ™

High octane, 3000 yen worth please.

POINTSpecify by "~ yen"

ๆด—่ปŠใ‚‚ใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใงใใพใ™ใ‹

ใ›ใ‚“ใ—ใ‚ƒใ‚‚ใŠใญใŒใ„ใงใใพใ™ใ‹

Could you wash the car too?

POINTBoth self and full support

ใ“ใฎ้ง่ปŠๅ ดใฏ1ๆ—ฅใ„ใใ‚‰ใงใ™ใ‹

ใ“ใฎใกใ‚…ใ†ใ—ใ‚ƒใ˜ใ‚‡ใ†ใฏใ„ใกใซใกใ„ใใ‚‰ใงใ™ใ‹

How much per day for this parking?

POINTConfirmation of cancellation fee

่ปŠๆคœใฎ่ฆ‹็ฉใ‚‚ใ‚Šใ‚’ใŠ้ก˜ใ„ใ—ใพใ™

ใ—ใ‚ƒใ‘ใ‚“ใฎใฟใคใ‚‚ใ‚Šใ‚’ใŠใญใŒใ„ใ—ใพใ™

Could I get a car inspection estimate?

POINTLegal inspection every two years

ไบ‹ๆ•…ใซ้ญใฃใฆใ—ใพใ„ใพใ—ใŸ

ใ˜ใ“ใซใ‚ใฃใฆใ—ใพใ„ใพใ—ใŸ

I was in an accident.

POINTReport to 110/119

ไฟ้™บไผš็คพใซ้€ฃ็ตกใ—ใŸใ„ใงใ™

ใปใ‘ใ‚“ใŒใ„ใ—ใ‚ƒใซใ‚Œใ‚“ใ‚‰ใใ—ใŸใ„ใงใ™

I want to contact my insurance company.

POINTImmediately contact your insurance company

ไบค้€š้•ๅใงๅ‘ผใณๆญขใ‚ใ‚‰ใ‚Œใพใ—ใŸ

ใ“ใ†ใคใ†ใ„ใฏใ‚“ใงใ‚ˆใณใจใ‚ใ‚‰ใ‚Œใพใ—ใŸ

I was stopped for a traffic violation.

POINTPolice response is polite

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the conditions for switching from a foreign driver's license to a Japanese driver's license?
A. Must have at least 3 months of driving experience in your home country, acquired before staying in Japan. Some countries (Switzerland, Germany, etc.) are exempt from practical skills.
Q. How long can I drive with an international license?
A. Only for one year from arrival in Japan. Valid only if issued by a country that is a member of the Geneva Convention.
Q. Is car insurance necessary?
A. Compulsory automobile liability insurance is compulsory, and voluntary insurance is practically required. It is recommended that personal damages be unlimited.
Q. What is the approximate vehicle inspection cost?
A. Light cars cost 70,000 to 100,000 yen, regular cars cost 100,000 to 150,000 yen, and large vehicles cost 150,000 to 250,000 yen. Varies depending on maintenance details.
Q. What is the procedure in case of a traffic accident?
A. 1) Ensure safety 2) Call 110 (also 119 for people involved) 3) Contact insurance company 4) Obtain accident certificate 5) Visit hospital.