International Driver's Permit/License

If you are a tourist from overseas and wish to drive in Japan...

You must have one of the following licenses:

1.International driving permit

International driving permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic

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2.Driver's license with Japanese translation

Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Slovenia (Estonia) and Monaco ***can you get Slovenia and (Estonia) on the same line together?

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3. Japanese driver's license

Driver's license issued in Japan for residents of Japan.

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1. International driving permit holders

You must present your (1) international driving permit, (2) original driver's license, and (3) passport.
① international driving permit

An international driving permit (IDP) must be issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention by a Convention signatory.

IDP is effective for one (1) year from the date of issuance. Please make sure that your IDP is effective during your rental period.

How to check the validity of IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention >>

② original driver's license

Driver's license issued in the countries/regions eligible to issue IDP (Please check the country/region your license has been issued).

For the holders of driver's license issued in France or Belgium, please go to "2. Driver's license with Japanese translation".

③ Passport

No nationality restriction.

How to check the validity of IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention

  • Front page

    • ①This IDP is issued by a 1949 Geneva Convention signatory.

      To find out signatories, please refer to the List of Parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention below.

    • ② The IDP is under the 1949 Geneva Convention.

      You can confirm it with the date specified as "19 SEPTEMBER 1949." IDP issued under the Geneva Conventions of other dates (e.g., 24 APRIL 1926) or other conventions are not valid to drive in Japan.

    • ③Your rental period is within one year from the date of IDP issuance.

      IDP is effective for a period of one year.

  • Photo page

    • ① Your family name, last name, country/region of birth, date of birth and address are provided.

      Please make sure that the provided country/region is a 1949 Geneva Convention signatory.

    • ② In the vehicle classification boxes, there are stamps on B, C and/or D.

      Boxes A-E indicate different classes of vehicles drivable overseas, and Boxes B-D apply to the validity of driving automobiles.

    • ③ Your photo is attached.

List of Parties to the Geneva Convenrtion (1949)
    Asia
  • The Philippines
  • India
  • Thailand
  • Bangradish
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • Cambodia
  • Lao D.P.R
  • South Korea
    Middle and Near East
  • Turkey
  • Israel
  • Syria
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Lebanon
  • United Arab Emirates
    Africa
  • South Africa
  • Central Africa
  • Egypt
  • Ghana
  • Algeria
  • Morocco
  • Botswana
  • DR Congo
  • Congo
  • Benin
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Lesotho
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mali
  • Niger
  • Rwanda
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Togo
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Zimbabwe
  • Namibia
  • Burkina
  • Faso
  • Nigeria
    Europe
  • United Kingdom
  • Greece
  • Norway
  • Denmark
  • Sweden
  • Netherlands
  • France
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Serbia
  • Montenegro
  • Spain
  • Finland
  • Portugal
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Poland
  • Ireland
  • Hungary
  • Romania
  • Iceland
  • Bulgaria
  • Malta
  • Albania
  • Luxembourg
  • Monaco
  • San Marino
  • Vatican
  • Kyrgyz
  • Georgia
  • Czech
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
    America
  • United States of America
  • Canada
  • Peru
  • Cuba
  • Ecuador
  • Argentina
  • Chile
  • Paraguay
  • Barbados
  • Dominica
  • Guatemala
  • Haiti
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela
  • Jamaica
    Oceania
  • New Zealand
  • Fiji
  • Australia
  • Papua New Guinea
    Administrative Region
  • Hong Kong
  • Macau
※ Please note that the following IDPs/cases are not accepted to drive in Japan:
  • ・IDPs issued under non-Geneva Conventions, including the 1968 Vienna Convention, 1926 Paris Convention and 1943 Washington Convention
  • ・IDPs issued by any organizations and private enterprises which have no authority of issuing IDP (e.g., DL, IAA, KIDA, IDD, IADA, ITDL)
  • ・IDPs issued by non 1949 Geneva Convention signatories (including fake IDPs with a similar format as the authorized one)
  • ・ IDPs issued by a signatory different from the signatory which issues his/her driving license (e.g., a combination of UK-issued IDP and Dutch-issued driving license)

Vehicle Classification Boxes

Vehicle categories that you can drive depend on the driving license/permit.

  • B: standard-sized automobile   C: large-sized cargo vehicle    D: large-sized passenger vehicle
    For drivers with IDP:

    • Boxes on the photo page of IDP refer to the categories of vehicle. Stamped box(es) show the category you can drive overseas. For example, Box D with a stamp means that you can drive a large-sized passenger vehicle such as 10-seating car (WD class).

    • When it comes to the left figure, there is a stamp on Box B. This means you cannot drive a 10-seating vehicle. If you do, you will be considered driving without a license.

2. Original driving license holders with Japanese translation

To drive in Japan, you need to present (1) your original driver's license, (2) official Japanese translation of the license, and (3) your passport.
① Original driver's license

Driver's licenses issued by Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, or Monaco./p>

② Official Japanese translation of the driver's license

Valid translation must be issued by the respective country's embassies, general consulates or consulates in Japan, or by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). For Taiwan-issued license holders, please refer to the note below.

※The validity of translation is the same as your driver's license. Please make sure that your driver's license is effective during your stay in Japan. Please also note that you can drive up to one year from the date of entry into Japan, irrespective of the effective period of the license.

※For Taiwan-issued driver's license holders, valid translation must be issued by the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (driver's license center in Taiwan), Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, or Japan Automobile Federation.

※If any changes occur on information after the translation is issued, you must obtain a translation with new information.

③ Passport

No nationality restriction.

※For Taiwan-issued driver's license holders
  • Currently, driver's licenses issued in Taiwan has no specific expiry date. If your driver's license has an expiry date, please make sure that the license is effective during your stay in Japan. If the license expires, you must renew the license to make it indefinite. Translation must be made with a renewed license.
  • If the license exprires during your stay in Japan, you cannot drive in Japan.

How to issue a Japanese translation

You can ask for a translation at respective counties' embassies, consulates general or consulates in Japan, or Japan Automobile Federation offices. Taiwan-issued driver's license holders can only ask at the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (driver's license center in Taiwan), Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, or Japan Automobile Federation offices.
For Japan Automobile Federation, please go to the JAF Overseas Support page.

Vehicle Categories to Drive

  • For drivers with an original driver's license
    • If you hope to drive a car with 10 seats (WD class), please make sure that your license applies to the category shown on the right chart. If not, you are not allowed to drive the 10-seating car in Japan, or otherwise you will be considered driving with no license.
Up to 8 seats (WB class) 10 seats (WD class)
Countries except Taiwan B C D D1
Taiwan light vehicle, small combines car (passneger and cargo purpose) large passenger vehicle, large combined car (passenger /cargo purpose)

3.Japanese driver's license holders

    • If you have a driver's license issued in Japan, you do not need any other documents to drive in Japan.

Vehicle Categories to Drive

For drivers with Japanese driver's license

You are allowed to drive a car with up to 10 seats (WD class).

GUIDE
Rental Procedure

Branches
Find a branch

  • New Chitose Airport Terminal

    New Chitose Airport Terminal
    New Chitose Airport Terminal
    BLDG, Bibi, Chitose

    Branch information

  • Chitose Branch

    Chitose Branch
    11-1, Mamachi 4-chome, Chitose

    Branch information

  • Sapporo Station North Exit Branch

    Sapporo Station North Exit Branch
    1st Floor, Marumasu BLDG No. 18, 1-5, Kita 7 Nishi 1, Sapporo

    Branch information

  • Nango-dori Branch

    Nango-dori Branch
    1-37, Nango-dori 3-chome Kita, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo

    Branch information

Book via phone

0120-253-539

  • Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except the year-end and New Year periods.
  • For general information about renting a car, please call the reservation center.
  • For changing a rental schedule or canceling a reservation, please call the branch where the car is scheduled for pick-up.
  • This is unavailable to call from overseas. If you decide a pick-up branch, please call the branch directly to ask for information as well as to make, change or cancel the reservation.

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