RetireJapan

Hello everyone,

I have a question about getting one's driving license from scratch in Japan (Kanagawa and nearby places).
Basically I do not speak fluent Japanese (upto N4 only) and I do not have driving license of my country (so cannot just convert).

From my research there is Koyama Driving school providing license to to foreigners with english support but its at a lefty cost of 400K JPY as below link suggests. They do everything inhouse, however paying such a price seems too much for just a driving license.
https://www.koyama.co.jp/english/english_02_01.html

I would like to know if there are any cheaper options that can help me get my license. Or if anyone is providing same service at a lower cost(or even like a side job).
Since driving license involves taking offline lessons and on-road practice, and is a long process, so cost of 100K-150K is understandable, but 400K is just too much...

If this question is repeated, apologies and please direct me to correct link that is answered already.
Thank you in advance

I don’t have any answers, but I have the same question (for the Kyoto area).

One of my colleagues just got his license from scratch (he had a license from home country but had allowed it to expire).

First he tried just taking the test at the driving center, but gave up after 4-5 fails (they are super strict, which has nothing to do with the fact that many staff from the driving center end up getting jobs at driving schools afterwards).

Then he went to the local driving school. His Japanese is not great, but it seems the driving school has a lot of the documents in English and you can take the written tests in English too.

Seems to be on track to get the license next week.

So it is not necessary to go to the super-expensive special school for foreigners. You might be able to find a local place that can accommodate you.

I heard the price for the average school in Japan is between 200,000 and 300,000 yen. Possibly more depending where you live. I think you could study up about the test and course as much as possible and just walk in and do the test. Most people I know here who do that fail at least a few times because of how ridiculously strict they are about the smallest detail. Although this may not be a great option if you’ve never driven before. It honestly might be better (and cheaper) to take a trip back home and get your license there, and then convert it (if you let country is on the transferable license list).

It honestly might be better (and cheaper) to take a trip back home and get your license there, and then convert it (if you let country is on the transferable license list).

Depending on the country/state, it might have to be a long trip home; I think many authorities have residency requirements to be eligible to take the test, presumably to prevent ‘test tourism’ whereby people travel cross-border to take a test with lower fees/standards.

Hi tofusoba14,

I was in a similar situation, I started from scratch a few months ago and I am almost finishing it. I will have the last practice exam in the next weeks and if I pass it, I will be ready to graduate (after the graduation at the driving school you have to take the theory exam at the driving license examination center).

I would recommend you to go to a Japanese driving school, don't worry too much. My Japanese level is N2, let's say conversational level, but at the end is not that important, since you can take the test in English (and other languages as well). I bought this book which includes tons of multiple choices practice questions, and I passed all the exams in the first try. I did not want to take the risk and retake them, but questions are not that difficult and with common sense you can pass without too many difficulties.
https://doro-kotu.co.jp/2021/08/18/%e5% ... h-version/

Regarding the practice part, most of the instructors in my school although strict are very nice if you show them that you take it seriously, and if you are kind and respectful with then. So I presume the same applies for most of the schools, you can check the ratings in Google maps just in case. At the end its only understanding basic words such as stop, right, left, look ahead, etc.

I paid around 285,000 yen, plus the book 10,000. Which is around 100,000 yen less than Koyama school. I was in the same dilemma a few months ago, and I am glad I took this decision. Maybe there is a cheaper option if you take the chance and take the test directly, unfortunately I do not have that experience and I do not know anyone who went that path.

Good luck!

kuma wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:44 am

It honestly might be better (and cheaper) to take a trip back home and get your license there, and then convert it (if you let country is on the transferable license list).

Depending on the country/state, it might have to be a long trip home; I think many authorities have residency requirements to be eligible to take the test, presumably to prevent ‘test tourism’ whereby people travel cross-border to take a test with lower fees/standards.

I seem to remember 3 months of owning the license while in the country of issuance is required, at least for USA. Not sure if you can do it over multiple trips or just in a single shot.

For Americans, the switchover requires an easy test in English and then a not-so-strict driver's test. I took the automatic one since I had never driven a lefty manual.

Then 20 years later wanted a manual sports car (and to legally drive my in-law's kei truck). Failed once, went to a driving school and paid 5,000 for an hour of practice, and passed on the second go. Pretty proud of myself, as the two Japanese guys with me didn't pass.

TJKansai wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:39 am

kuma wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:44 am

It honestly might be better (and cheaper) to take a trip back home and get your license there, and then convert it (if you let country is on the transferable license list).

Depending on the country/state, it might have to be a long trip home; I think many authorities have residency requirements to be eligible to take the test, presumably to prevent ‘test tourism’ whereby people travel cross-border to take a test with lower fees/standards.

I seem to remember 3 months of owning the license while in the country of issuance is required, at least for USA. Not sure if you can do it over multiple trips or just in a single shot.

That rule also applies to my country in Europe, and had to submit quite a few documents to prove that I lived 3 months in my country after getting the license. Submited my university diploma and payment slips from the job that I had 8 years ago (hoarding every document finally proved to be useful ). After that only needed to take an eye test and that was it, no other pratical or written tests. So if you are planning in spending 3 months back in your country, that most likely will be the cheapest and easiest way to do it.

2 years ago, I was in the same situation as you.
N4 level nihongo and I had no driver’s license from home country.
I inquired to 3 driving school and the average cost is 300k yen.
So I just enrolled to the one that had the highest rating and coincidentally the nearest from my house.
They were hesitant at first because of my Japanese level but I assured them that I understand basic Japanese. I just have to study basic words related to driving. And english textbook was 6kyen additional.
The classroom lecture was in Japanese and I did not understand a thing.
Just read the English textbook, praticed English mock tests, and took English final exam.

So, I think there is no need to pay extra for English lectures/instructors. 400k is too much but I’m not sure if there are school that go for less than 200k.

The recommendation to go abroad as an easier option seems a bit crazy to me. I can't see how long haul flights, double bureaucracy getting the licence in your home county, having to stay for at least three months, dealing with coronavirus tests and paperwork, potential double quarantine and the possibility of not being allowed to re-enter Japan works out easier or cheaper than getting the licence here.

There is also the fact that although mostly similar, road rules vary slightly between countries, so if you're planning to mostly drive here, learning to do so here will put you in the best position.