Drivers’ License Conversion: Prepare NOW!

[greenleaf44]

Just my two cents' worth....I asked about driving in Japan at my interview, and one of the panel members said the IDP is not a good idea if you're in more rural areas, because if you get pulled over, the cop probably won't know how to handle it which can cause major misunderstandings/fines. He also said that he'd tested for his motorcycle license in Japan, which made the whole licensing thing easier, which makes me wonder...if you have a motorcycle endorsement in the states, can that part transfer overseas? Or are we USians just out of luck as far as license transference?

[AVN]

Just my two cents' worth....I asked about driving in Japan at my interview, and one of the panel members said the IDP is not a good idea if you're in more rural areas, because if you get pulled over, the cop probably won't know how to handle it which can cause major misunderstandings/fines. He also said that he'd tested for his motorcycle license in Japan, which made the whole licensing thing easier, which makes me wonder...if you have a motorcycle endorsement in the states, can that part transfer overseas? Or are we USians just out of luck as far as license transference?

Wow I've never heard of anyone having a problem with their IDP within that first year of issuance and being in Japan.
Even in the inaka, where I live, all of my preds have started with an IDP and as far as I know it never caused a problem. They just transferred to a Japanese license before their first year was up.

[Kain of the Wired]

I've read in quite a few places now that IDPs are going out of favor here.

From US Embassy site (http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-drive.html)

International Driving Permits (IDP)

"Residents" are expected to convert or obtain a Japanese drivers license. Persons using an international drivers license who are resident in Japan can be subject to fines or arrest. The exact boundary between "resident" and "not resident" is unclear. In practice it seems to involve more than simply visa status or length of stay in Japan and is determined by the police.

We have heard from several Americans who were told by the police that using an International Driver's License for more than a year, or using one after exiting and then returning to Japan, or using one when you are residing in Japan, or after you have obtained an Alien Registration Card, or after 90 days in Japan, or using a license obtained by mail while you are in Japan, is illegal. In two instances, following accidents, Americans were charged with driving without a license, a serious offense. Driving without a license may also void your insurance coverage.

[AVN]

I've read in quite a few places now that IDPs are going out of favor here.

From US Embassy site (http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-drive.html)

International Driving Permits (IDP)

"Residents" are expected to convert or obtain a Japanese drivers license. Persons using an international drivers license who are resident in Japan can be subject to fines or arrest. The exact boundary between "resident" and "not resident" is unclear. In practice it seems to involve more than simply visa status or length of stay in Japan and is determined by the police.

We have heard from several Americans who were told by the police that using an International Driver's License for more than a year, or using one after exiting and then returning to Japan, or using one when you are residing in Japan, or after you have obtained an Alien Registration Card, or after 90 days in Japan, or using a license obtained by mail while you are in Japan, is illegal. In two instances, following accidents, Americans were charged with driving without a license, a serious offense. Driving without a license may also void your insurance coverage.

As far as I understood as long as you're within your first year in Japan an IDP is legal. Even if there was confusion it would be cleared up as long as you followed the proper proceedures for obtaining your IDP. It should have nothing to do with having an alien registration card or no JET would ever be allowed to have an IDP. I think it sounds like those special cases were misunderstandings because otherwise why would JET advise us to get an IDP and why would they tell us it was valid for a year?

[Kain of the Wired]

I've not personally heard of anyone having trouble with their IDP either but it seems they are recently more wary of scammers as detailed here http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/for ... ku1eng.pdf
I guess if your paperwork is good you'll be probably be fine...

[DjinnWired]

The other thing to keep in mind, perhaps, is that contesting something in court is extremely expensive. We've had two ALTs have to pay large settlements for accidents that were not their fault because their legal advice was "taking this to court will cost more even if you win". I have no idea about the IDP (this thread is the first I have heard about problems), but perhaps the cost of contesting a wrongful fine is a factor.

[domotomo]

This is good information to ponder. I have vision problems in one eye that made it a hassle to get my license renewed here in the US. I'm worried what I'll need to do to account for that in Japan. I'll check out all the information everyone has linked... even though I am still fairly skeptical about my interview performance. XD;

I don't suppose anyone knows what your vision needs to be to drive easily in Japan? As long as I have both eyes open, I'm very nearly blind in my right eye ._.; The other eye is 20/20, but here in the US they still hassle me about it even with optometrists giving me the a-okay for driving safely.

This is slightly off-topic, but I got all excited when I read your post since I have a similar eye problem! My left eye has near-perfect vision, but my right eye is horrible (-4.25). I have contact lenses for my right eye only, which I had to get when I was 15 in the US in order to get my drivers permit/license. I still wear contact lenses on my right eye now (went to the eye doctor here in Japan and got some more boxes just last month actually), and I was wearing it when I took the vision test to get my Japanese drivers license last year. I didn't tell the driving center here that I wear contacts on one eye, and it was also never listed on my US drivers license either, so no one really knows about it. But I can see clearly using both eyes, so it hasn't been an issue.

[darlo]

My left eye is pretty much dead. I can see colours, but can't focus on anything. To put it in perspective, when you have your eyes tested (in the UK I'm on about here) you have a chart with letters which also has a HUGE single letter on the top. I can't even see the chart, let alone that beast. Anywho, I was straight-up and honest with the test center when I converted my license before the eye exam. They tested it anyway and my right eye is strong enough to still drive without glasses, contact lenses (which don't help anyway), or any other faff.

[skenshi]

My friends from JET told me Canadians could get their IDP at CAA. Best to get it just before you leave because it only last a year. When you are in Japan, convert it to a Japanese drivers license because that process takes longer.

http://www.caa.ca/travel/travel-permits-e.cfm

[MapleVic]

I've hunted around online, but I haven't been able to find an answer...

What is the minimum license level needed to get an IDP? I assume [Canadian] G, but I was wondering if G2 was sufficient.

[Kirari]

I'm from the US. My Florida license shows the issue date, which was in 2007 (it will expire November 2013). Given this, it seems that I must go to AAA to get an IDP; then if I recontract for the next year, I need to get a Japanese license. Since my license shows the issue date as being 2007, is that enough to prove that I was in the US three months before I left for JET? And because my license expires in 2013, will I need to go back home in order to renew? And I suppose I will have to take a driving test - will there be a written test, and would there be English-language resources available to help me do this (assuming my Japanese is not good enough by that time)? Sorry for all the questions - just want to be clear and plan ahead.

[word]

I'm from the US. My Florida license shows the issue date, which was in 2007 (it will expire November 2013). Given this, it seems that I must go to AAA to get an IDP; then if I recontract for the next year, I need to get a Japanese license. Since my license shows the issue date as being 2007, is that enough to prove that I was in the US three months before I left for JET? And because my license expires in 2013, will I need to go back home in order to renew? And I suppose I will have to take a driving test - will there be a written test, and would there be English-language resources available to help me do this (assuming my Japanese is not good enough by that time)? Sorry for all the questions - just want to be clear and plan ahead.

You'll be fine. You'll get an IDP that will last from July/August 2012 until July/August 2013. You'll convert your license to a Japanese license (take a test and all that). The fact that your American license will expire four months later doesn't really matter, and they won't care. If your license shows 2007 as an issue date, you'll be just fine.



NOW IS THE TIME, PEOPLE. Get your drivers' license if you haven't already! You only have a couple of weeks window remaining! DO IT!!!

[merkypie]

When is it good to get the IDP? Now, later? two days before departure?

[happytofu]

Wow... I'm also in the one-eye-sucks club. I got away with it for years, somehow, but then one day I had to take a routine physical for university and I couldn't read the second row from the top with my one eye covered. The other eye is 20/20!

@Merky- I'm submitting my application on Monday. You can specify the activation date... so I don't see any reason to wait.

[ume no hana]

Wow... I'm also in the one-eye-sucks club. I got away with it for years, somehow, but then one day I had to take a routine physical for university and I couldn't read the second row from the top with my one eye covered. The other eye is 20/20!

@Merky- I'm submitting my application on Monday. I recall reading somewhere that it takes 6-8 weeks and I know you can specify the activation date... so I don't see any reason to wait.

6-8 weeks to get your IDP? really? Where did you apply for it at? I called my local AAA and they said that I could get it the same day....
I recommend your local AAA and asking them....