Car rentals Japan - International Driving Permits (IDP)

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International Driving Permits (IDP)

INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMITS (IDP): An international driving permit issued in the United States by the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) is required of short-term visitors who drive in Japan. International driving permits are not issued by the U.S. Embassy or by its Consulates, and must be obtained prior to arriving in Japan. IDP’s issued via the Internet and/or by other organizations are not considered valid in Japan. IDP’s issued to Americans in third countries where they are not resident are often considered invalid, or are subject to close scrutiny.

“Residents” are expected to convert to 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 "non-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. In short, an international license is not a permanent or expedient substitute for a valid Japanese license. You can learn more at http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-drive.html.

Japan requires American citizens to take not only a written but also a road test in order to obtain a Japanese driver's license.

We have heard from several Americans who were told by the police that it is illegal to use an International Driver's License for more than a year from the date of their first entry to Japan (even if one leaves and reenters Japan within 3 months, the first entry date is still considered the date of entry for the one-year period), or if they have a Japanese Alien Registration Card, or if they are planning to stay more than 90 days, or to use one after exiting and then returning to Japan, or when residing in Japan, or to use an International Driver's License obtained by mail while you are in Japan. In such circumstances, Americans have been charged with driving without a license, a serious offense. Driving without a legal license may also void insurance coverage.