Driving licence importance

[bigwig]

I have been reading some conflicting reports with regards to the importance that is put on potential applicants having a full driving license, Are candidates looked upon more favorably if they can drive? or is it just important in relation to determining where candidates are placed?

[Teishou]

It's more a matter of flexibility. Say you had a driver's license...sure, you could live in the city and take the trains and everything, but you also have the flexibility of living in the rural areas and driving yourself.

[Norsehawk]

I have been reading some conflicting reports with regards to the importance that is put on potential applicants having a full driving license, Are candidates looked upon more favorably if they can drive? or is it just important in relation to determining where candidates are placed?

Having a driver's license means that more boards of education could possibly hire you. If you have to visit multiple schools a week all over a prefecture, that could involve a lot of travel time, and there may not be adequate public transportation that could take you to each in a timely manner.

Have you ever heard of someone saying things like they are 50 miles away from the closest Walmart or 10 miles from the grocery store? That very well could be your situation out in the inaka ( 田舎 or Rural area). If you don't drive, you can't get to work, you can't get groceries, etc. As such, driving is quite an important skill to have. Even if you are in a larger area with better public transportation options, a car can still make your life a ton easier, imagine trying to haul a load of stuff from a Costco or Ikea trip back to your apartment or house via train or bus.

[Loerian]

I currently have my Irish learners permit I am hoping to apply for and achieve my full driving license within the required three month period before departure if I'm lucky enough to be selected, but will that stand against me if I don't have a full license ?

[Those]

I never really thought of this and now I'm a bit more worried. Haven't needed one since I live in NY and always use public transportation since it's much easier most of the time...

Hopefully it doesn't jeopardize our chances. I'm going to go for it and try to get one just in case. Always good to have anyway.

[Loerian]

Oh I'm sorry Those I didn't mean to stress you out further God knows everyone is fairly frantic already hopefully it should be ok worst comes to worst maybe we can apply for a learners permit in Japan

[bananathursdays]

I have heard from numerous JETs that being without a drivers license doesn't hurt your chances of being hired. It just helps them know where to place you.
I think JET realises that many applicants, especially those living in cities with good public transportation, have never had the need for a drivers licence.

[Rising_Sunshine]

Don't worry about it, even if it was important (which I don't think it is) there is nothing you can do about it now anyway. If you get an interview and your really worried about it you can always mention that you are planning to get one. Breathe everybody (I'm including myself too)

[EhimeDave]

Fun fact that has nothing to do with JET hiring practices: In many parts of Japan (even major cities), people who do not have a driver's license are assumed to not have them because of medical issues. This is why everyone applying for jobs in Tokyo puts their driving certification on their resume even though they will most likely never drive one.

[Elan]

I'm like many people and just never had the need for a driver's licence, but I'm considering getting one. I'll have a couple of months downtime between getting accepted and leaving (assuming I'll be hired, of course - fingers crossed and all that) and learned today that I can apply for public assistance to pay for a licence, so that would be a way to kill time. If I get quizzed on it in the interview I'll mention it, otherwise I think it's kind of unneeded information.

In the inaka you can still try to get a bike, so the only difference I see is in the distance they can have you travel. Up to 10km commute on a bike isn't that much of challenge... unless of course it's in the middle of summer, then I imagine it will suck.

[Viloxai]

Hi all, I've been thinking about the driver's license situation recently and it's got me a little worried. I have a full driver's license, and I put this on my application. But, if accepted onto JET, my preferred placement would be urban or semi-urban. Does this mean it'll decrease my chances even further of getting my placement choices? Also, second question; if I were to be placed in a rural area and told that I need to drive, do we have to buy a car in Japan ourselves? Or would we be provided with one, and receive fuel expenses? My worry is that if I get such a placement, and I'm told I have to buy a car with my own money, there's no way I would be able to afford one, nor afford the fuel to run it, therefore I'd have to ask for a placement change or ultimately drop out of the programme. Apologies for the doom and gloom, it's just bugging me a bit. I'm starting to wonder if it would've been better for me to say I don't have a license as it would probably increase my chances of getting a city placement if I were lucky enough to be accepted.

[Jax]

I believe I read somewhere on this forum from miami_coordinator that the driving question comes into consideration for alternates. They might skip over someone who says they're unwilling to drive if they have a placement opening that requires driving? Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about this at all hurting your chances. There was a program myths thread some time ago... it might've come up in there. Do a forum search.

therefore I'd have to ask for a placement change or ultimately drop out of the programme.

You take the placement you're offered, or you don't go. I've never heard of exceptions to this, but if there are then it's for sure not because the applicant can't afford a car.

[Siyris]

In the inaka you can still try to get a bike, so the only difference I see is in the distance they can have you travel. Up to 10km commute on a bike isn't that much of challenge... unless of course it's in the middle of summer, then I imagine it will suck.

I can speak from experience that my placement REQUIRES a car. Sure, I could get to work and back without one -- I'm only 3 km from my further away school. But the nearest grocery store is 45 km away and on the other side of two large mountains. There is a bus that runs on weekends twice a day in each direction, so I suppose technically it would be possible to make do without a car... but it is highly unlikely. Especially considering that I have monthly meetings in which I have an hour between when my classes end and when the meeting starts -- couldn't make that 45 km trip in that time on a bike and the bus doesn't run then.

Not to stress anyone out. I think what it boils down to is that marking on your application that you are able and willing to drive gives them a better idea of if you will be able to work well in a placement like mine. Super rural placements usually require driving. More urban placements don't as much. Also, biking 10 km in the middle of summer would suck... but so would biking 10 km in the middle of winter with a meter of snow all around you and ice under your tires. It's doable, but there are some inaka placements where it is simply practical to get a car.

For those thinking about getting a license -- if you've never driven a car before, don't rush out to get a license now. If you have a learner's permit (like I think the OP does?) then it might be worth getting a full license. Just not if you overreach that 3 month mark.... if you come to Japan with a license that has less than 3 months on it, you will be able to use your international drivers permit just fine for the first year, and then when you take the Japanese drivers test... you'll have to pay close to US$2000 for driving classes as well as the test, whereas if you have those three months before you come, you only have to pay for the test (something like US$30-60). It makes a big difference. Past that though, I don't think it really makes a big difference.

Also, second question; if I were to be placed in a rural area and told that I need to drive, do we have to buy a car in Japan ourselves? Or would we be provided with one, and receive fuel expenses? My worry is that if I get such a placement, and I'm told I have to buy a car with my own money, there's no way I would be able to afford one, nor afford the fuel to run it, therefore I'd have to ask for a placement change or ultimately drop out of the programme.

As Jax said, there's no such thing as asking for a different placement. It doesn't happen. As for buying a car and paying for fuel -- the JET salary is more than enough to do both of those things. And buying a used car in Japan is far cheaper than it is anywhere else I've heard of. For example, I paid the equivalent of US$2000 for my car. It's in perfect running order and had a year and a half left on it's shaken (a bi-yearly check up for your car that can be rather expensive, but as long as you plan for it properly it's not a problem). As for the cost of fuel, first year JETs next year will be paid roughly $2500 a month. That is more than enough to buy a tank of gas every two weeks... or even every week. Yes, the cost of the car up front is difficult, but a lot of predecessors are willing to work out a payment scheme for their cars, and if you buy from a dealership, they also will usually work out a way you can pay in installment payments up to 6 months. It's certainly doable. The fuel expenses are considered part of your responsibilities as you are considered a professional adult -- all of your coworkers pay for their gas, so you should pay for yours as well, I promise the salary is more than enough to cover it.
That said, there are a few BoEs that will provide the ALT a car -- however, if that is the case, it may not be available for the ALT to use whenever he/she likes. So you might not be permitted to use it for grocery shopping but only to get to and from school. To me, my own vehicle seems more useful at that point than using a borrowed car.


Really though, you shouldn't let yourselves stress out too much about these questions at this stage of the game. For now, save up money, and breathe. You can worry about specifics and what-ifs later. Good luck everyone!

[AVN]

Hi all, I've been thinking about the driver's license situation recently and it's got me a little worried. I have a full driver's license, and I put this on my application. But, if accepted onto JET, my preferred placement would be urban or semi-urban. Does this mean it'll decrease my chances even further of getting my placement choices? Also, second question; if I were to be placed in a rural area and told that I need to drive, do we have to buy a car in Japan ourselves? Or would we be provided with one, and receive fuel expenses? My worry is that if I get such a placement, and I'm told I have to buy a car with my own money, there's no way I would be able to afford one, nor afford the fuel to run it, therefore I'd have to ask for a placement change or ultimately drop out of the programme. Apologies for the doom and gloom, it's just bugging me a bit. I'm starting to wonder if it would've been better for me to say I don't have a license as it would probably increase my chances of getting a city placement if I were lucky enough to be accepted.

Well it is true that stating you have a license increases the chances of a rural placement which requires a car it does not guarantee it.

Also if you're required to drive FOR work then you will be compensated for the fuel costs, or, as is often the case, there will be a work car.

I know of only one ALT who was required to drive her personal car for work but even there until she was able to get one, they made arrangements to have her driven around.

Note this is when the car is required FOR work not to get TO work.

[Viloxai]

Thanks for clearing things up for me. You've all helped me out a lot there. It's probably better if I stop worrying so much. I don't object to having to buy a car or anything, nor would being placed in a completely rural area put me off going if accepted onto JET. The only thing I'm concerned about is ending up being out of pocket to go and work. Taking into account the worst possible situation, having to pay a tonne of key money, expensive rent, and then finding out I'd have to buy a car, that would just make me unable to afford to go as I'd be fresh out of university with hardly any money. Although I do have a job as well, most of my wage goes on rent, so I highly doubt I'd have much left to buy a car with if I got to Japan. But knowing that there's always a way to work out transport in the first month or so makes me feel better I did ask the person about all this who did a presentation for JET when he came to my university, although he didn't really know much about such a situation because he lived in a city when he was on JET.