Has anyone here renewed their Japanese driving licence?

[Block]

Hello,

Has anyone here renewed their Japanese driving licence? What was involved in renewing it?

Thank you.

[captainspoke]

What color is your license? That kind of determines how long it will take.

[goodandbadjapan]

If I remember correctly it was just a case of going to the police station, filling in a form and having an eye test. But I'm on a gold license. If you have been caught for any violations you usually have to sit and listen to a long lecture, which, in my area is at the nearest Driving Licence Centre. Either way, it's pretty easy.

[Deep Blue]

I did mine at the Shinjuku TMG office building, very easy and painless - in and out in half an hour.

[adamu]

Check the website of your local police authority for instructions.

[Nancy]

Take the postcard that you are sent, along with your old license and I think you foreigner ID card, money, and a photo. They are kind of picky about the photo so it might be better to have it taken at the renewal place. During COVID, they didn't let you renew at the local places (usually near the police station), so you had to go to one of the driving centers, but now, I think that the smaller places are open again. Even though I have never had any problems (I don't actually drive in Japan) I have had to sit through a safety movie each time, so not sure who has that requirement.

[goodandbadjapan]

Take the postcard that you are sent, along with your old license and I think you foreigner ID card, money, and a photo. They are kind of picky about the photo so it might be better to have it taken at the renewal place. During COVID, they didn't let you renew at the local places (usually near the police station), so you had to go to one of the driving centers, but now, I think that the smaller places are open again. Even though I have never had any problems (I don't actually drive in Japan) I have had to sit through a safety movie each time, so not sure who has that requirement.

When I've had no problems there has been a safety movie while you wait for the new license to be made, but if you have bean caught for speeding or something, there is a much longer lecture thing you have to attend.

[RetireJapan]

Here in Miyagi you go to the license center (there are several).

Turn up, fill in some forms, get in line, have an eye test, get your photo taken, then go into a lecture hall where a retired police officer does a slide presentation about traffic safety and regulations.

People with a gold license are allowed to leave after 30 minutes I believe.

Others have to stay longer. If you have committed a traffic offense you have to stay the longest.

The fees are around 3,000 yen, slightly more if you have the longer lectures (adding injury to insult)

[northSaver]

You can take the lecture online now. At least I could a few months ago when renewing a gold licence in Hokkaido. They take your photo and ask you questions every now and again (all automated) to make sure you're actually watching

[RetireJapan]

You can take the lecture online now. At least I could a few months ago when renewing a gold licence in Hokkaido. They take your photo and ask you questions every now and again (all automated) to make sure you're actually watching

Woah!