Do you know what options you have for obtaining a driver's license? There are other ways to obtain certification than attending a driving school, and it is possible to obtain certification in a shorter period of time than expected. If you have a driver's license, your range of movement in daily life will expand and you will be able to move freely without being tied to transportation. It's a useful qualification that allows you to do more at work.

Even for people who find owning their own car burdensome due to the maintenance costs, being able to rent a car or car share makes it easier to travel and shop.

Therefore, in this article, we will explain in an easy-to-understand way how to obtain a driver's license, the types and the process for each.

According to the National Police Agency's 2022 edition of driver's license statistics, there are 80 million holders of this license. The average pass rate for the exam is over 70%, so it is not difficult. Use this article as a reference to get your driver's license smoothly.

There are three ways to get a driver's license

There are three ways to obtain a driver's license:

• attend a driving school
• Get it in one test
• Obtain Driving Camp

If you can pass the exam using any method, the result will be the same, but the cost and time required will vary greatly. We will explain each feature in detail.

attend a driving school

If you attend a driving school, you will learn traffic rules and driving techniques at a designated driving school approved by the Public Safety Commission. After graduating, you will be able to obtain a driver's license by passing the written test at the Driver's License Center.

At the driving school, please take 26 academic periods with each period of 50 minutes, and 31 to 34 periods of skills training. Driving Lessons is limited to 31 hours for regular AT cars and 34 hours for MT cars, and there is a limit to the number of hours that can be taken in a day. Some driving schools are open until 8:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., so you can attend while commuting to work or school.

The estimated time to graduate is 2 to 3 months, but if you plan accordingly, it can be shortened to about 1 month. The average cost is 240,000 to 300,000 yen, which varies depending on the driving school you use, the time of year, and ongoing campaigns. Prices tend to be cheaper during the off-peak seasons, such as April to June and October to December, so if you're on a budget, you may want to adjust the timing of your visit.

Get it in one test

The one-shot test is a way to obtain a driver's license by passing the academic and skill exams at the Driver's License Center without attending a driving school. This is an option if you are in a hurry to obtain it, but it is more difficult than other methods.

Regarding the subject, it is easy to study on your own because problem books are published. However, when it comes to skills, you can only practice without a license on private land with no traffic. It is not realistic for people with no driving experience to obtain a driver's license in one test, and it is mainly used by people who have had their license revoked to obtain it again.

If the only driver's license you want to get is a moped, there is no skill test and the one-shot test is suitable. All you have to do is pay a fee of several thousand yen, pass a written exam, and take a course, so you can get it in as little as one day.

Obtain Driving Camp

With Driving Camp, you will receive intensive training in the subjects and skills necessary for graduation from a driving school over a period of about two weeks while staying at a provided accommodation facility. The cost starts from around 180,000 yen, which is a significant savings compared to commuting. Some driving schools have plans where you won't have to pay for additional courses even if you fail the exam before graduation, so you can get your driver's license within your expected budget.

With Driving Camp, you can meet people with the same goals and have the advantage of experiencing the feeling of traveling. Some people choose plans outside the prefecture for sightseeing purposes and enjoy gourmet food and sightseeing in their free time. Some will even pay for transportation to the location, making it easy to expand your options.

On the other hand, in order to participate in Driving Camp, it is necessary to secure a set schedule. It may be difficult for people who cannot free their schedules due to work or part-time jobs to use it. Also, if you choose a single room rather than a shared room, or if you choose a luxurious training camp facility, the cost will be high.

[By type] Recommended ways to get a driver's license

There are different recommendations for how to obtain a driver's license for students and working adults, depending on how easy it is to find time and how much it costs. We will explain the reasons in detail, so you can decide on the timing that suits you.

student

If you are a university student, we recommend that you take advantage of your long vacation in the summer or spring to obtain Driving Camp. It is cheaper than attending a driving school and you can graduate in a shorter period of time. In some cases, student discounts can be applied, and many people save money from part-time jobs to participate.

For high school students, the situation changes depending on the school they attend and their birthday. The timing and conditions for obtaining a driver's license are determined by school regulations, and if it is discovered that you are hiding information, it will have a negative impact on your ability to go on to higher education or get a job. If your school allows you to do so, and your 18th birthday is close to your long vacation, you can use Driving Camp.

If you are in your third year of high school and have already decided where to go to college or find a job, we recommend attending a driving school between October and December. It is easy to get permission from the school, and the cost is likely to be lower than the busy season of February and March, when the driving school is off-season.

society

It is more difficult for working adults to secure enough vacation time to participate in Driving Camp than for students, and it is more difficult to obtain a driver's license from scratch, so it is recommended that they attend a driving school. The cost is often higher than Driving Camp.

If you don't have time during the day on weekdays due to work, look for a driving school that offers night courses. There are some places that are open until around 10pm, so if you can leave work on time, you can come here. Or, if you choose a Saturday and Sunday course, you won't have to worry about sudden overtime work disrupting your schedule.

For people who have a high degree of freedom in their working hours, such as through a flextime system, it is recommended that they attend the driving school during the day. There may be an additional fee for taking night courses, so you can save money by attending during the day.

How to get a driver's license at a driving school

There are two types of driving schools: designated driving schools that are exempt from taking skill tests at driving license exam centers, and undesignated driving schools that are not exempt. To obtain a driver's license at a designated driving school, there are 7 steps:

1. Enrollment
2. Orientation and Aptitude Test
3. 1st stage
4. Driving Test and provisional license
5. 2nd stage
6. Graduation skill test
7. Examination at the license center

We will introduce what to do at each step, so please use it as a reference to solidify your image before entering the school.

1: Enrollment

When choosing a driving school, compare the plans and prices of the driving schools you can attend. If you live in an area with low traffic and plan to move to an urban area with high traffic after getting your driver's license, consider taking a paper driver course at the nearest driving school after you move. please look. Driving becomes more difficult when there is a lot of traffic, so getting used to driving at driving school will reduce the risk of an accident.

When enrolling in a school, it is common to pay the fees all at once. Save up in advance or find a place that accepts credit cards. If you have no options and are short on money, consider a driver's license loan. The cost will increase if interest is included, but it can be used even by students.

2: Orientation and aptitude test

On the first day at the driving school, there is an orientation and aptitude test. During the orientation, we will explain how to use the driving school and its facilities. All you have to do is follow the instructions, gather in the classroom, and listen to what the instructors have to say.

The following three things will be done in the aptitude test:

• Visual acuity test: 0.3 or higher in one eye and 0.7 or higher in both eyes for regular cars
• Motor ability test: You will be asked questions about your hearing and any disabilities that may interfere with driving in a questionnaire format.
• Driving aptitude test: Answers about behavior and personality in questionnaire format

If your child does not pass the vision test, he or she will be re-tested before entering the school. If you are concerned, please consult an ophthalmologist or optician in advance, and prepare glasses or contacts if necessary.

In the motor ability test, even if you have a disability or are hard of hearing, you can still take lessons if you can get help. The purpose of the driving aptitude test is to find out your driving aptitude, and any results will not affect your admission to the school.

3: 1st stage

In the first stage, please take one 50-minute lecture for each subject and skill for the following periods.

• Academic training: 10 periods
• Driving Lessons: 15 hours for MT cars, 12 hours for AT cars only

The content of the academic training is basic traffic rules and pedestrian protection. There are 10 types, and there is no restriction on the order, so take the ones that are available to you. The lessons will follow the provided textbook, so please bring it with you each time.

During Driving Lessons, you will learn basic starting and stopping skills, turning left and right at intersections, and how to judge traffic conditions on roads. An instructor sits in the passenger seat and provides appropriate guidance, and even if you drive in a dangerous manner, the brakes on the passenger seat will stop you.

The wheels may come off the first time you run an S-curve or crank. Don't be afraid of failure and get used to the previous analysis. People who get a driver's license in a manual transmission car are likely to stall when switching the clutch. When starting on a hill, learn how to avoid sudden starts.

4: Driving Test and provisional license

After completing the first stage of all subject and skill training, a skill Driving Test and a provisional license test will be taken before driving on the road. Driving Test is based on a demerit point system, in which you drive on a course within the driving school and check what you have learned during Driving Lessons. If you fail, you will have to take one or more hours of remediation before taking the exam again, and you will not be able to move forward until you pass.

For the academic exam, students will solve true/false questions within the scope of academic training. If you can answer 50 questions within 30 minutes and get 45 or more correct, you will pass. There are some trick questions that are easy to get wrong if you don't read the question carefully, so be sure to repeatedly solve the practice questions and past questions that are distributed to you. If you fail, you will have to undergo at least one period of Driving Test and then retake the exam, just like with the final exam. Both require additional fees, so aim to pass on the first try.

One thing to note about the written exam is that if you fail to pass Driving Test, you will have to start over from Driving Test. Even if you are a working adult and have a busy day-to-day work schedule, please take the exam as soon as possible with enough time in your schedule.

5: 2nd stage

In the second stage, similar to the first stage, students will receive training for the following periods in subjects and skills.

• Academic training: 16 classes
• Driving Lessons: 19 hours (same for both manual and automatic vehicles)

The content of the academic training becomes more specialized from the first stage, and students learn how to prevent traffic accidents and how to drive in adverse conditions. In the first aid training course, you will learn skills such as resuscitation and how to use an AED.

In Driving Lessons, you will start driving on the road. Please do not obstruct the flow of traffic as you will be running alongside other vehicles. In the first half, you drive the course according to the instructor's instructions, and in the second half, you are given only the goal and plan your own route. There is also one lesson on the expressway, so you can learn the difference between driving on a regular road and on a regular road.

Training on hazard prediction must be taken over three consecutive periods, combining academic subjects and skills. If you don't take it, you won't be able to move on to the next stage, so please leave some space in your schedule.

6: Graduation skills test

Once you have completed all the lessons in the second stage, you will proceed to the graduation skills test. It is conducted in the training course and on the road, and is scored using a deduction system similar to Driving Test. Dangerous acts such as ignoring traffic lights or failing to stop temporarily will result in suspension of the test, but minor cases such as violation of right/left turning methods or parking/stopping measures will be granted a grace period. Don't rush and keep driving until the end.

Even if you fail the graduation skills test, you can try again after receiving repairs. Please pass the exam within 3 months after completing all lessons. If you miss the deadline, you will be considered expelled from the school, the fees you paid will not be refunded, and you will have to attend the driving school all over again.

If you pass, you will receive a graduation certificate from the driving school. Please keep it in a safe place as you will need it in the next step. In the case of Driving Camp, the steps up to this point will be condensed. Those who are unable to graduate on time will have to extend their stay and aim to pass the exam.

7: Examination at the license center

The final step in obtaining a driver's license is to take a written test at a driver's license center. You must solve 90 true/false questions worth 1 point per question and 5 illustration questions worth 2 points per question within 50 minutes to score 90 points or more. You can take the test as many times as you like within one year of graduation, but you will not be able to take the test after even one day has passed. Exams are not held on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or the year-end and New Year holidays, so if you repeatedly fail, it will be difficult to adjust your schedule.

On the day of the test, please bring the following items with you to the license center.

• Driving school graduation certificate
• Driver's License
• Identity verification documents (health insurance card, my number card, passport, student ID, etc.)
• Certificate of residence
• ID photo
• writing utensils
• Exam fee

Successful applicants will be issued a driver's license on the same day. Don't forget to mark yourself as a beginner for one year. Display is also required when driving a vehicle other than a private vehicle, such as a rental car or a company car. If you violate the rules, you will be deducted one point and fined 4,000 yen.

How to get a driver's license using a one-shot test

The process of obtaining a driver's license in one test is the following 4 steps.

1. aptitude test
2. provisional license exam
3. Main license exam
4. Attend specific training or training at the time of acquisition

There are fewer steps than attending a driving school, but the knowledge and skills you need to acquire are the same. Let's take a closer look, keeping in mind the differences.

1: Aptitude test

The aptitude test can be taken at the nearest license center, so please prepare the following documents and complete the registration process.

• Certificate of residence
• ID photo
• Identity verification documents (health insurance card, my number card, passport, student ID, etc.)
• Exam fee

The test fee varies depending on the license center, so it is best to check the official website of the police station in your jurisdiction.

The following four tests are conducted in the aptitude test:

• Visual acuity test: 0.3 or higher in one eye and 0.7 or higher in both eyes for regular cars
• Color discrimination ability test: Can you distinguish red, blue, and yellow?
• Hearing test: Can you hear a sound of 90 decibels (equivalent to reading out loud) at a distance of 10 meters?
• Athletic ability test: Does it interfere with driving a car?

For visual acuity and hearing, the use of glasses and hearing aids is permitted, and for motor ability, even with prosthetic arms and legs, driving is acceptable.

2: Provisional license exam

In the provisional license exam, academic and skill tests are conducted, and just like at the driving school, you will pass if you exceed the following criteria.

• Academic exam: Answer 45 or more correctly out of 50 true/false questions.
• Skill test: Obtain a score of 70 or more using the deduction method

For written exams, you can use commercially available books, but for skill exams, you need to practice somewhere. It is better to be prepared to take the exam multiple times.

Even if you pass the academic exam in the morning and the skill exam in the afternoon, that's all you can do on the first day. Get Driver's License and be ready for the next day.

3: Main license exam

Once you have obtained Driver's License and have taken on-road lessons at least 5 times over 5 days (each time is 2 hours or more), you will be able to proceed to the actual exam. The conditions for passing this test are the same as those for the graduation skill test at a driving school and the license center test, and are as follows.

• Academic exam: Solve 95 questions within 50 minutes and get a score of 90 or higher
• Skill test: Obtain a score of 70 or more using the deduction method

The skill test involves driving on the road, so if you forget Driver's License, you will not be able to take the test. You can take the subject the day after passing the skill test, and the difficulty level is the same as attending a driving school and getting a driver's license.

4: Attend specific training or training at the time of acquisition

Specific training is to be taken before the main license exam, and acquisition training is to be taken after the main license exam. In the course, you will learn high-speed driving, danger-predicting driving, and first aid. If you take the specific training and pass the main driver's license test, you will be issued a driver's license on the same day. Prices vary, so please take the course at a time that is convenient for you.

There are a total of 7 study periods for the three study periods, so it's a good idea to leave your schedule open for the day. Depending on the license center, the training dates may be fixed, or may span multiple days. If you don't check in advance, you may end up getting a driver's license later than expected.

How to get a driver's license: choose the plan that's right for you

There are three ways to obtain a driver's Driver's License, and the most common one is attending a driving school, but for those who want to obtain a license in the shortest period of time or who want to keep costs down, Driving Camp is recommended. There is also a one-shot test, but a skill test without practice is highly difficult and is not recommended.

The cost is 240,000 to 300,000 yen for a driving school, and 180,000 yen for Driving Camp, which can be expensive if you are staying at a luxurious accommodation. No matter which way you graduate, you are required to take a written exam at a licensing center and must pass it within 3 months. Consider the plan that suits you and aim to obtain your driver's license.