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[8 ways to reduce the cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license] Introducing recommended driving schools by region

When obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license, it will cost approximately 80,000 yen to 240,000 yen. Some people who are considering obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license may want to keep the acquisition cost down.

Acquisition costs can be reduced in several ways. Therefore, in this article, we will explain how to reduce the average cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license, as well as driving schools with reasonable prices.

There are two ways to obtain Heavy Motorcycle license: attending a driving school or taking a one-shot test. Of these, the most common method is to attend a driving school. Therefore, in this article, we will explain how to reduce the cost of attending a driving school.

[By condition] Average cost of Heavy Motorcycle license

The cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license varies depending on the type of license you have obtained. If you have already obtained a Regular Motorcycle license or regular license, the training time will be shorter than usual, so the fee will be lower.

In addition, there are two types of Heavy Motorcycle licenses: MT and AT-only, and the acquisition costs differ for each, so be sure to check how much you need in your case.

Type of license obtained MT/AT Market price of acquisition cost Training time (1 period 50 minutes) Estimated acquisition period
MT Regular Motorcycle license MT Approximately 80,000 yen to 120,000 yen
  • Academic training: Exemption
  • Driving Lessons: 12 hours
Approximately 6 to 10 days
AT Approximately 80,000 yen to 90,000 yen
  • Academic training: Exemption
  • Driving Lessons: 9 periods
Ordinary license MT Approximately 140,000 to 180,000 yen
  • Academic training: 1 period
  • Driving Lessons: 31 periods
Approximately 16 to 30 days
AT Approximately 170,000 to 180,000 yen
  • Academic training: 1 period
  • Driving Lessons: 24 hours
No license or small special/moped license MT Approximately 200,000 to 240,000 yen
  • Academic training: 26 hours
  • Driving Lessons: 36 hours
Approximately 18 to 40 days
AT Approximately 250,000 yen
  • Academic training: 26 hours
  • Driving Lessons: 29 hours

If you have already obtained a Regular Motorcycle license for MT

If you have already obtained a Regular Motorcycle license for MT, the acquisition cost is approximately 80,000 to 120,000 yen for MT and 80,000 to 90,000 yen for AT. You will be required to attend Driving Lessons from 9th to 12th period, but academic training will be exempted. The approximate acquisition period is 6 to 10 days.

The Road Traffic Act sets a maximum number of hours that can be taken in a day. As a result, the first stage can only be taken up to 2 periods, and the second stage can only be taken up to 3 periods. Depending on your schedule and the reservation status of your driving school, there may be days when you cannot take the maximum amount of lessons.

If you have already obtained a regular driver's license

If you have already obtained a regular driver's license, the average acquisition cost is around 140,000 to 180,000 yen for a MT and 170,000 to 180,000 yen for an AT. In addition to 24 to 31 hours of Driving Lessons, you will need to take one hour of academic training. The approximate acquisition period is 16 to 30 days.

If you do not have a license or have obtained a small special/moped license

If you do not have a license or have already obtained a small special/moped license, the acquisition cost is approximately 200,000 to 240,000 yen for a MT and 250,000 yen for an AT. Academic training and Driving Lessons are set to be longer than those for MT Regular Motorcycle licenses and regular licenses. The approximate acquisition period is approximately 18 to 40 days.

8 ways to reduce the cost of getting Heavy Motorcycle license

The cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license varies depending on the type of license you have obtained. If you do not have a license or have already obtained a small special/moped license, the training time will be longer, so the acquisition cost will be higher accordingly. However, acquisition costs can be reduced with some effort.

1. Choose a driving school with low commuting costs

Course fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses vary depending on the driving school. You can save on acquisition costs by choosing a driving school with low fees. Also, if you are going to attend a driving school, consider the cost of transportation to and from the school in addition to the course fee.

Some driving schools also offer free shuttle buses. If you can use the shuttle bus, you can reduce transportation costs. In addition, please refer to the section ``[Region] Driving schools with low costs for obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license'' which introduces driving schools with low commuting costs by region.

2. Enroll at the driving school during the off-season

Driving school course fees vary depending on the season. The most expensive times are around February to March and July to August. At this time of year, when demand increases before a new life begins or during summer vacation, prices seem to be set at a higher rate in an attempt to increase profits. On the other hand, May to June and October to December are low seasons, so prices tend to be cheaper than during the busy seasons.

3. Take advantage of driving school campaigns and discount systems

Some driving schools have campaigns or discount systems that reduce fees if certain conditions are met. The main campaigns and discount systems are as follows.

  • early bird discount
  • Student discount
  • Referral discount
  • Group discount
  • Family discount etc.

Discount details and conditions vary depending on the driving school. If you take advantage of the campaign, the price can be reduced by more than 10,000 yen. If there are multiple driving schools nearby, compare the availability of campaigns and discount rates, and choose the one that offers the lowest price.

Four. Aim to pass all exams straight.

If you fail the test at a driving school or driver's license center and retake the test, you will be charged a test fee each time. If you pass all exams on the first try, there are no additional fees, so you can keep your acquisition costs down.

If you fail the provisional license, the cost of remedial training and re-examination may cost over 10,000 yen depending on the driving school. Additionally, the graduation certificate issued by the driving school has a one-year validity period.

If you do not pass within the expiration date, you will have to re-enter the driving school, which will increase the cost, so aim to pass as soon as possible after graduation.

Five. Use Driving Camp

If you want to save on training fees, consider using Driving Camp. Driving Camp is a method of staying at a lodging facility for a certain period of time and receiving intensive training. The average cost of Driving Camp is as follows:

Type of license obtained Market price of costs
MT Regular Motorcycle license
  • MT:10万円程度
  • AT: Approximately 80,000 yen to 90,000 yen
Ordinary license
  • MT: Approximately 160,000 to 200,000 yen
  • AT: Approximately 140,000 to 190,000 yen
No license or small special/moped license
  • MT: Approximately 220,000 to 310,000 yen
  • AT: Approximately 200,000 to 300,000 yen

In addition to the training fee, the cost includes accommodation, meals, transportation, etc. Therefore, if you look only at the training fees, they tend to be cheaper than commuting to a driving school. You can also save money by choosing private accommodation rather than a hotel, and choosing a shared room rather than a single room.

6. Aim to pass the exam on the first try

All driver's licenses, including Heavy Motorcycle licenses, can be obtained by passing a skill test and a written test without attending a driving school. The method of obtaining a license by taking the test directly at a driver's license center is called the one-shot test.

The cost for the one-shot test is as follows:

item cost
Examination fee 2,600円
Test vehicle usage fee 1,450円
Driver's License issuance fee 2,050円
Training fee upon acquisition 12,150円
First aid treatment training fee 3,750円

In the case of a one-shot test, you will be required to take a certification course and a first aid course after passing the test. The total acquisition cost is 22,000 yen, so you can get a license cheaper than attending a driving school or Driving Camp.

7. Obtain a regular motorcycle license in advance

Eligibility for taking Heavy Motorcycle license exam does not matter whether you have another motorcycle license or not. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a license even if you do not have a Regular Motorcycle license or medium-sized motorcycle license (regular motorcycle license).

However, if you try to obtain Heavy Motorcycle license from the beginning, Driving Lessons may not go well and you may be forced to take additional training. Additional training costs money and may exceed your budget.

In order to pass Driving Lessons smoothly, one option is to first obtain Regular Motorcycle license. Even if you take Heavy Motorcycle license training after obtaining Regular Motorcycle license, there is not much difference in cost if you pass the training on the first try.

[By region] Driving schools with low costs for obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license

From here, we will introduce driving schools with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses by region.

Driving school in Tokyo

The driving schools in Tokyo with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses are as follows.

Driving school name cost address nearest station
Tokyu Driving School 94,900 yen - 276,800 yen 3-6 Karakida, Tama City, Tokyo
  • Odakyu Line Karakida Station
  • Keio Sagamihara Line Keio Horinouchi Station
New Tokyo Driving School 101,860 yen - 300,960 yen 1-2364 Ogawamachi, Kodaira City, Tokyo
  • Seibu Haijima Line Ogawa Station/Takanodai Station
  • Kokubunji Line Ogawa Station/Takanodai Station
  • JR Musashino Line Shin-Kodaira Station
Heiwabashi Driving School 128,800 yen 7 - 316,040 yen 1-3-16 Higashitateishi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo Keisei Oshiage Line Keiseitateishi Station

Driving school in Saitama

The driving schools in Saitama Prefecture with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses are as follows.

Driving school name cost address nearest station
Asuka Driving College Kawaguchi 124,000 yen to 140,000 yen 2-17-5 Kawaguchi, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture
  • Kawaguchi station
  • Nishikawaguchi Station
  • Akabane Station
  • Akabaneiwabuchi Station
unmotor school 102,850 yen to 316,800 yen 797-1 Futatsunomiya, Nishi-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture Sashiogi Station
Iwatsuki Driving School 97,700 yen - 145,220 yen 880 Jionji, Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture Toyoharu Station

Driving school in Aichi

The driving schools in Aichi Prefecture with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses are as follows.

Driving school name cost address nearest station
Miyoshi Driving School 115,100 yen to 138,700 yen 55 Moriso, Miyoshi-cho, Miyoshi City, Aichi Prefecture
  • Nisshin station
  • Akaike Station
  • Miyoshigaoka Station
  • Toyota City Station
Aichi Driving School 235,400 yen 1-6-50 Joganji, Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture Kurokawa Station
Asahi Driving School 140,240 yen 39 Kokiri, Uji-cho, Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture Katsuhata Station

Driving school in Osaka

The driving schools in Osaka Prefecture with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses are as follows.

Driving school name cost address nearest station
Izumi Driving School 69,850 yen - 162,250 yen 2-6-22 Shinanmatsu, Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture
  • Kumatori Station
  • Hineno Station
  • Nankai Izumisano Station
Osaka Kori Driving School 61,600 yen - 117,040 yen 13-5 Kiyamachi, Neyagawa City, Osaka Prefecture Keihan Korien Station
Osaka Minato Driving School 41,800 yen - 209,550 yen 3-9-15 Isoji, Minato-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture
  • Osaka station
  • Tennoji Station
  • Honmachi Station

Driving school in Fukuoka

The following driving schools in Fukuoka Prefecture have low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses.

Driving school name cost address nearest station
Isle Motor School Buzen 107,800 yen 1381-1 Matsue, Buzen City, Fukuoka Prefecture
  • Yukuhashi Station
  • Nakatsu Station
  • Saigawa Station
Isle Motor School Moji 97,350 yen - 288,750 yen 120 Hata, Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture
  • Kokura Station
  • moji station
  • Komorie Station
  • Mojiko Station
  • Shimozone Station
Iizuka Driving School 110,770 yen to 151,250 yen 95 Kawazu, Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
  • Shin-Iizuka Station
  • Urata Station
  • Namazuta Station

Costs incurred after obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license

The cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license can be reduced by choosing a driving school with low commuting costs or using Driving Camp. However, acquiring one does not free you from worrying about costs.

Even after obtaining a license, maintenance costs such as insurance and vehicle inspection fees will be incurred, so it is important to check this in advance.

Compulsory automobile liability/voluntary insurance fee

When purchasing a large motorcycle, you will need to pay for insurance such as automobile liability insurance and voluntary insurance. Automobile liability insurance is generally referred to as compulsory automobile liability insurance.

According to the Automobile Liability Insurance Act, all owners of automobiles, including motorized bicycles, are required to purchase compulsory automobile liability insurance. Insurance costs vary depending on the motorcycle's displacement and region.

Period of insurance Over 250cc Over 125cc and under 250cc
12 months
  • Areas other than remote islands: 7,270 yen
  • Remote island area: 5,860 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,330 yen
  • Areas other than remote islands: 7,540 yen
  • Remote island area: 5,570 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,370 yen
13 months
  • Areas other than remote islands: 7,440 yen
  • Remote island area: 5,910 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,340 yen
24 months
  • Areas other than remote islands: 9,270 yen
  • Remote island area: 6,480 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,430 yen
  • Areas other than remote islands: 9,770 yen
  • Remote island area: 5,840 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,470 yen
25 months
  • Areas other than remote islands: 9,440 yen
  • Remote island area: 6,520 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,440 yen
36 months
  • Areas other than remote islands 11,230 yen
  • Remote island area: 7,080 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,520 yen
  • Areas other than remote islands: 11,960 yen
  • Remote island area: 6,180 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,580 yen
37 months
  • Areas other than remote islands: 11,390 yen
  • Remote island area: 7,130 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,530 yen
48 months
  • Areas other than remote islands: 14,110 yen
  • Remote island area: 6,520 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,680 yen
60 months
  • Areas other than remote islands: 16,200 yen
  • Remote island area: 6,760 yen
  • Okinawa Prefecture: 5,780 yen

The longer the period of insurance, the cheaper the annual premium will be. Although optional insurance is not required by law, it is a good idea to subscribe to it in case of an accident. The amount of insurance premium varies greatly depending on the scope of coverage.

Light vehicle tax/weight tax

Owners of Heavy Motorcycle vehicles as of April 1st of each year are subject to light vehicle tax and weight tax. The light vehicle tax amount varies depending on engine displacement, but it is a flat rate of 6,000 yen for motorcycles over 251cc. In addition, the amount of weight tax changes depending on the weight of the motorcycle and the number of years that have passed since the first registration.

The weight tax for motorcycles over 251cc is as follows:

displacement Tax amount (per year)
251cc or more and 400cc or less
  • First registration to 12th year: 1,900 yen
  • 13th to 17th year: 2,200 yen
  • 18 years or more; 2,500 yen
401cc or more
  • First registration to 12th year: 1,900 yen
  • 13th to 17th year: 2,200 yen
  • 18 years or older: 2,500 yen

The amount of weight tax increases as the number of years that have passed since initial registration increases.

Regular vehicle inspection fee

Motorcycles over 251cc are required to undergo vehicle inspection every two years. When you undergo a vehicle inspection, you will need to pay legal fees, basic fees, and maintenance fees if necessary. Legal fees include weight tax, compulsory automobile liability insurance fee, and stamp fee.

The basic price includes the inspection fee and inspection fee, and the price varies depending on the location where the vehicle is inspected. The cost of having your vehicle inspected at a dealer is approximately 40,000 to 60,000 yen, including legal fees and maintenance costs.

Furthermore, if you bring your motorcycle to the Land Transport Bureau for a user vehicle inspection, you will only have to pay the legal fees, so you can save on vehicle inspection fees.

Other maintenance costs

In addition to compulsory automobile liability insurance and vehicle inspection fees, owning a large motorcycle incurs various maintenance costs such as:

  • Gasoline cost
  • Parking fee
  • Consumables fees etc.

If you cannot secure a parking space at home, you will need to pay a monthly parking fee. Purchasing a car model with excellent fuel efficiency will help you save money on gas.

Frequently asked questions about the cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license

Finally, we will introduce some frequently asked questions regarding the cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license.

Are there any subsidies available?

At present, there is no subsidy system available for obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license. However, it is eligible for the education and training benefit system, so if you meet the conditions, you can receive a subsidy of 20% of the acquisition cost.

The education and training benefit system is a system that allows those who have completed education and training designated by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare to pay part of the cost. Heavy Motorcycle licenses are eligible for the education and training benefit system, but please note that not all driving schools support this.

In order to receive the benefit, you must take the course at a driving school that is designated as a course eligible for the education and training benefit.

Can I save money at a non-accredited school?

There are two types of driving schools: accredited schools and non-accredited schools. An accredited school is a driving school certified by the Public Safety Commission, and students are exempt from taking skill exams after graduation.

On the other hand, non-accredited schools are not accredited by the Public Safety Commission, so after graduation, students must take a skill test in addition to a written test. When it comes to accredited schools and non-accredited schools, non-accredited schools have lower fees.

If you pass the driver's license center test straight, you can save money by attending a non-accredited school. However, non-accredited schools are not exempt from taking the skill test, so you will need to take the written test at the same time as the written test at the driver's license center.

Get Heavy Motorcycle license while keeping costs down

If you are aiming for a Heavy Motorcycle license without any other license, it will cost around 200,000 to 250,000 yen. However, it is possible to reduce the acquisition cost by choosing a driving school with low commuting costs or enrolling during off-season periods.

Additionally, even if you successfully obtain your license, as long as you own a motorcycle, you will still need to pay maintenance costs such as compulsory automobile liability insurance and light vehicle tax. Therefore, it is important to consider your life after obtaining your license and make a budget plan that allows for some leeway.

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ZIPLUS Editorial Department Driver's License Concierge

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