A driver's Driver's License is essential for drivers who drive a car. If it expires, your life and work may be disrupted.

A driver's Driver's License has an expiration date that determines when the driver can drive a car, so it must be renewed regularly. However, the expiration date varies depending on the color and type of driver's license, such as blue or gold licenses, so it is up to the individual to know how long their driver Driver's License can be used.

In this article, we will explain in detail the expiry date and renewal of your driver Driver's License. We will also introduce what to do in the unlikely event that you do not renew your license and your license has expired, so you may be wondering, ``What is going on with my license renewal?'' or ``Maybe I have forgotten to renew it.'' If you have any doubts, please take a look.

Driver's Driver's License color and expiration date

The character string indicating the expiration date of the driver's Driver's License (valid until 〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇) is decorated in three colors: green, blue, and gold, depending on the driver's career and accident history. . Depending on the color, the driver's license is expressed as a green license, blue license, or gold license.

Did you know that these three colors are also related to the renewal interval of your driver Driver's License? For example, the Gold License is given to excellent drivers, so it has a longer expiration date of five years than other licenses.

On the other hand, the green license is set for 3 years as it is considered to be a novice driver. Please note that there are many different types of blue driver's licenses, even if they are the same color.

In addition to color and type, there are also special deadlines for those who qualify as elderly drivers. Let's take a look at each color and expiry date.

3 years for green license

A license with a green band of characters indicating the expiration date is called a green license. A green license refers to a person who has newly acquired a driver's license, and applies to those who have not yet renewed their driver's license after receiving it for the first time.

The green license is valid for 3 years. It will be renewed three years after the first issue and will become a blue license. Those with green licenses are beginners in driving, so when renewing their driver's licenses they will take a two-hour course, which is twice as long as a regular driver.

Blue license varies depending on the case.

If the expiration date string is blue, it is treated as a blue license. Blue licenses are applicable to three people: first-time renewal drivers who have just changed from green licenses, regular drivers, and violative drivers, so it is not possible to determine the expiration date just by having a blue license.

Blue licenses apply to multiple drivers, so make sure you know the details for each one.

The expiration date for first-time renewal is 3 years.

Drivers with a blue license who have just renewed from a green license will be treated as first-time renewal holders. Those who renew their license for the first time are those who have been licensed for less than five years and who do not fall under the category of violative drivers listed below.

The validity period of a blue license for first-time renewal is 3 years. If you complete those three years without any accidents or violations, you will be able to hold a gold license as an excellent driver.

General driver's license is usually valid for 5 years

Drivers who have held a driver's license for more than five years and have had one relatively minor violation of 3 points or less (such as failing to wear a seatbelt or committing a parking violation). is treated as a blue license, which is treated as a regular driver.

The validity period of a blue driver's license is normally 5 years. The reason why the phrase "normally" is used is because drivers in their 70s and older are classified as elderly drivers, and the expiration date decreases depending on their age.

The expiration date for elderly drivers is explained in detail in the section below titled ``For elderly drivers, it varies depending on age.''

Violating drivers are valid for 3 years

A driver who has committed multiple driving violations or has caused an accident resulting in injury will be treated as a violative driver even if he or she has a blue license.

The violation driver's blue license is valid for three years. When renewing your license, you are required to take a 120-minute course, which is longer than other blue licenses.

Usually 5 years for gold license

Drivers who have held their license for more than five years and have achieved no accidents and no violations are treated as gold license holders. A gold driver's license is a proof of being a good driver, and is characterized by the color of the band with the string of characters that indicates the expiration date, which is gold.

Gold licenses are usually valid for 5 years, but unlike regular drivers, the training required for renewal is shorter. Renewal costs are low and drivers are excellent drivers, so they are given relatively preferential treatment.

Additionally, in some areas (Hokkaido, Chiba Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture), Gold License holders under the age of 70 will be able to complete renewal training online (renewals themselves will be done at a police station, etc.). A My Number card is required for use, and nationwide rollout is expected to begin in 2024.

Like blue licenses for ordinary drivers, the expiry date changes for older drivers. If you are approaching the age of 70, it is important to check the regulations for senior citizens rather than assuming that just because you have a gold license, it will be valid for five years.

For elderly drivers, it depends on their age.

Regardless of whether it's green, blue or gold, older drivers have special regulations regarding the expiry date of their driver Driver's License. Because there are differences in circumstances such as physical ability from younger drivers, standards are set a little more strictly.

The expiration date for an elderly driver's license is set at 4 years for those who will be 70 years old at the time of expiration (those who will turn 71 on their birthday immediately before the expiration date of the renewal period), and 3 years for elderly drivers over 71 years old. .

Additionally, drivers aged 70 to 74 are required to take a senior citizen course before renewing Driver's License. Please note that you cannot renew your license unless you take the senior citizen training course. In addition to classroom lectures and aptitude tests, senior citizen courses include actual training in a car.

Please note that the entire course takes about 2 hours, and there is an additional cost for the senior citizen course itself in addition to the renewal fee.

In addition, people over the age of 75 are eligible for cognitive function tests that measure memory and judgment. If the test results indicate that you are at risk of dementia, you will need to have a doctor diagnose your condition. If dementia is recognized, the driver's license will be canceled or its validity suspended.

When and how to renew your driver's license

Each driver Driver's License has a set expiration date depending on the color and type of driver, and in order to keep it from expiring, it is necessary to renew it. Let's take a look at when and how to renew your driver's license.

Driving license renewal period is one month before and after birthday.

Driver's License renewal can be done one month before or after the driver's birthday.

If the last day of the renewal period falls on a holiday, such as a Saturday, Sunday, national holiday, or New Year's holiday, the renewal period will be extended to the next day or the next weekday. For example, if the last day is Saturday, the actual renewal period is until the following Monday.

You can check the exact renewal date on the postcard (driver's Driver's License renewal notice) that you will receive shortly before your license renewal date.

You will receive a postcard with instructions when your driver's license renewal period approaches.

When your driver's license is nearing its renewal period, the Public Safety Commission will send you a notification postcard.

This postcard is a document called a driver's license renewal letter, and it contains the actual renewal period, where to perform the renewal procedure, and the fee required for the renewal procedure.

It will be sent approximately one month before your birthday. It will be sent to the address listed on your driver Driver's License, so if you change homes due to a new life or job transfer, be sure to change the address on your driver Driver's License in advance.

You can change the address on your driver's Driver's License at the police station, driver's license renewal center, or driver's license exam center that has jurisdiction over your new address.

You can renew it at the license center or driver's license test center.

You can renew your driver's license at the driver's license center or driver's license examination center in each prefecture. In addition, excellent drivers who are eligible for a gold license and those who have completed the senior citizen course can renew their license at a designated police station.

On the day, you will have to fill out an application form, take a class, take an aptitude test, take photos, etc., and it will take some time including the class. Please check the acceptance date and time of the renewal location in advance so that you can fit your schedule smoothly. It can be crowded depending on the day of the week and time of day, so it's important to do your homework to ensure a smooth experience.

Driver training is required for renewal, but the length and content of this training varies depending on the type of driver. Good drivers will receive a 30-minute training course, regular drivers will receive a 60-minute training course, and violative drivers and first-time trainees will receive a 120-minute training course, so be sure to check which category you fall under.

What to do if your driver's license has expired

It is best not to forget to renew, as the procedure if you forget to renew is more troublesome than regular renewal. However, there may be cases where you simply cannot proceed with the renewal process.

Even if you cannot renew your driver's Driver's License and it has expired, there are ways to deal with it. Let's take a look at what to do when your driver's license expires, depending on the situation at the time of expiration.

If within 6 months after driver's license expires

If it has been less than six months since your driver Driver's License expired, the measures you take will vary depending on the reason you were unable to renew it.

There is a compelling reason

If you have not been able to renew your license due to unavoidable reasons, you can proceed with the regular renewal procedure by submitting documents that prove this fact.

If you were hospitalized due to injury or illness, submit a hospitalization certificate or medical certificate, or if you were not in Japan on a long-term overseas business trip, submit a document that shows the dates of entry and departure, such as a passport.

There is no unavoidable reason

Even if you personally feel that it is unavoidable, such as accidentally forgetting it, being busy with work, or sending the postcard to the wrong address, it will generally be accepted if you were hospitalized, were outside of Japan, or were in custody ( This may include detention in a penal institution such as a prison or detention center, or personal detention).

After a certain period of time, similar procedures cannot be carried out unless the Public Safety Commission deems it unavoidable.

However, even if there is no reason, you can still renew your driver's license normally within 6 months after it expires.

If it has been more than 6 months since your driver's license expired

Even if there is no unavoidable reason, there is no big difference and you can complete the procedure within 6 months after the expiration.

If it has been more than six months since your driver's license expired, the conditions will change to within three years if there is a compelling reason, or within one year if there is no unavoidable reason.

Within 3 years if there are unavoidable reasons

If you are unable to renew for unavoidable reasons, you will need to submit documents proving the reason, such as a hospitalization certificate or passport, and complete the procedures as in the case of renewal within 6 months.

A license can be issued within one month from the end of the act or situation that caused the accident. For example, a person who has been hospitalized for more than 6 months but within 3 years of expiration can complete the procedure within 1 month of his or her discharge.

Within 1 year unless there is an unavoidable reason

If your license expires for more than 6 months without any reason, you will be required to obtain a new driver's license. However, tests other than the aptitude test will be exempted within one year.

In this case, you will first receive a provisional license, then take an aptitude test and then take an official test to obtain a driver's license. If you are unable to complete the procedures by this time and there is no unavoidable reason, you will have to reacquire your driver's license from the beginning.

If your driver's license has expired for more than 3 years

Only if there is an unavoidable reason, and within one month from the end of the act or situation that gave rise to the reason, a license will be issued simply by passing the aptitude test and the written test.

As with other "cases where there is an unavoidable reason", documents proving the reason are required. Please note that if you cannot meet these conditions, your driving license will be reissued.

Points to note when renewing an expired driver's license

To renew a driver's license that has passed its expiration date, you may be required to provide documents that are not included in regular renewals. Let's take a look at the points you should keep in mind when preparing these documents.

Required documents vary depending on the period since expiration.

Documents must be submitted when your driver's license expires, but the required documents vary depending on how long it has been since the license expired. Please refer to the table below to understand which documents are required depending on your situation.

Please note that these documents must be submitted in original form. Please prepare the original as copies will not be accepted.

Examples of documents that can prove that there is an unavoidable reason

There are basically three things that the Public Safety Commission recognizes as ``unavoidable'': hospitalization, residence overseas, and detention. In these situations, it is considered that the reason is unavoidable because it is impossible to go to the renewal procedure counter freely.

For hospitalization, this applies to hospitalization certificates and medical certificates; for those living overseas, documents that can confirm the date of entry and departure, such as passports and residence certificates; and for those living under detention, documents that can confirm the date of entry and departure, etc. Please avoid submitting copies as originals are required for these documents.

Know the expiration date of your driver's license and take action

Driver's licenses have expiration dates for each type and age, so if you forget to renew your license, it will expire. Don't forget to update. You can determine the exact expiration date by checking not only the color such as blue or gold, but also whether you are a regular driver or an elderly person.

As the renewal period approaches, you will receive a postcard for renewal procedures, so please follow the instructions. If you are unable to renew, please do not panic and take appropriate measures such as preparing documents to prove the reason.

Be sure to know the expiration date of your driver's license and be prepared to renew it smoothly.