Until now, tractors with implements were prohibited from being driven on public roads, but a change in the law has made it possible for them to be driven on public roads. However, in order to drive on public roads, a large special license is required, and several other conditions must be met.

In this article, we will explain the conditions for driving a tractor on public roads and how to obtain a large special vehicle license for people who need to drive a tractor for farm work.

The conditions for obtaining a large special vehicle license, the process for obtaining it, and points to keep in mind

This article will introduce the tractor, so please use it as a reference if you need to drive a tractor for farm work.

Legal reform allows tractors with implements to be driven on public roads

Until now, tractors with attached implements were prohibited from being driven on public roads. However, a new law came into effect in April 2019, allowing them to be driven on public roads under certain conditions.

However, in order to drive a tractor with implements on public roads, you need a large special license. Even though it is now possible to drive on public roads, if you drive a tractor with implements on public roads without a large special license, you will be subject to penalties.

If you have a large special vehicle license

If you have a large special vehicle license, you can drive a tractor with agricultural implements attached on public roads.

Other vehicles that can be driven on public roads include forklifts, wheel loaders, excavators, and cranes.

If you do not have a large special vehicle license

If you do not have a large-sized special license, you will need to obtain a new large-sized special license in order to drive on public roads. In some cases, a small-sized special license may be sufficient if the tractor does not exceed the prescribed conditions, but in that case, make sure that the size and equipment of the tractor you are driving do not exceed the conditions.

If you don't need to operate cranes or bulldozers, and you only drive on public roads to travel between fields, you may want to consider obtaining a "Large Special Vehicle License (for farmers only)." A "Large Special Vehicle License (for farmers only)" is a license that states in the license conditions section that "Large special vehicles are limited to farmers." As stated, this license only allows you to drive agricultural vehicles such as tractors, so for farmers who don't need to drive other large special vehicles, this license is sufficient.

It is also possible to obtain a large-sized special license (for agricultural workers only) by participating in training courses held by the local JA or agricultural universities. Agricultural universities in particular often hold short-term training courses several times a year that are open to non-students, and the cost is usually just a few thousand yen, and it can often be obtained in as little as three days.

Conditions for driving a tractor with implement on public roads

In order to drive a tractor with implements on public roads, you need not only a license but also vehicle conditions. We will explain in detail the conditions for lighting, vehicle width, and stability.

Checking lighting equipment

Lights (headlights, width lights, tail lights, brake lights, reversing lights, turn signals, rear reflectors) must be visible to other vehicles.

Make sure that your lights are not obscured by work equipment.

Check vehicle width

The agricultural tractor alone must meet the following conditions, and when equipped with agricultural implements, the width of the vehicle must not exceed 1.7m.

• Length: 4.7m or less
• Width: 1.7m or less
• Height: 2.0m or less
• Maximum speed: 15km/h or less

In addition, if the agricultural tractor alone meets the above criteria and its width exceeds 2.5m when equipped with agricultural implements, a side mirror must be installed on the left side of the agricultural tractor.

Checking stability

Even if an agricultural tractor meets the stability standards by itself, it may no longer meet the safety standards when an implement is attached. If the safety standards are not met and stability has not been confirmed, the vehicle must be driven at a speed of 15km/h or less.

You can check on the website of the Japan Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers' Association whether the tractor you are operating complies with the safety standards.

*Reference: Japan Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association

How to get a large special vehicle license

From here, we will introduce how to obtain a large special vehicle license. There are two ways to obtain a large special vehicle license: attending a driving school or taking a one-shot test. Let's take a closer look at each method, the process, and costs.

Use a driving school and then take the test

After taking lessons at a driving school and graduating, you can take the test at a driver's license center. In this case, if you have a regular driver's license, you will be exempt from the written test, and you will have passed Final Driving Test (practice test) at the driving school, so you will only need to take an aptitude test such as eyesight at the driver's license center.

The process for someone with a regular driver's license, from enrolling in a driving school to receiving their license at the driver's license center, is as follows.

1. Enroll in a driving school (aptitude test)
2. Driving Lessons (first stage: at least 3 hours)
3. First stage identification
4. Skills training (second stage: minimum 3 hours)
5. Second stage assessment
6. Final Driving Test
7. Upon passing, a "graduation certificate" will be issued.
8. Aptitude test at the Driver's License Center
9. After passing the exam, you will be issued a large special vehicle license.

If you have a regular driver's license, you can take Final Driving Test after a minimum of 6 hours of Driving Lessons. After passing Final Driving Test, you can take the graduation certificate and regular driver's license to the license center, take the aptitude test, and obtain your license.

Acquisition cost

The cost of obtaining a license varies depending on whether or not you have a regular license and the driving school. If you have a regular license and you attend a driving school to obtain a license, the average cost is about 80,000 to 100,000 yen.

There is also a training camp option available at driving schools. Training camps aim to help you acquire skills efficiently in a short period of time according to a schedule set by the driving school. If you have a regular license, the shortest time to obtain it is about 4 days, and the average cost is about 100,000 yen. If you are in a hurry to obtain your license, you may want to consider using a training camp.

Some driving schools do not offer large special vehicle licenses at their training camps, so please check the driving school's website or materials.

Aiming to pass the exam on the first try

A one-shot test is a way to take the test directly at a driver's license center without attending a driving school. In this case, if you have a regular driver's license, you are exempt from the written test.

The process to obtain a license in one go is as follows:

1. Make a reservation at the Driver's License Center
2. On the day of the test, register at the license center
3. aptitude test
4. Skills Test
5. After passing, you will be issued a license.

If you have a regular driver's license, you will take a practical test and an aptitude test at the license center, but large special vehicles are difficult to operate because they are different from regular cars in terms of width, equipment, weight, etc., and you may fail the test if you take the test without practicing. Therefore, if you are taking the one-shot test, it may be difficult unless you have an environment where you can actually practice driving a large special vehicle, such as on your workplace's premises or at a practice field rented by a truck association.

You can find out how to operate it on the Internet or through videos, but if you want to be taught how to use it, you will also need to find and ask someone to teach you.

Acquisition cost

For a one-shot test, the total cost of obtaining a license is 6,100 yen, broken down as follows:

• Examination fee: 2,600 yen
• Test vehicle usage fee: 1,450 yen
• License issuance fee: 2,050 yen

However, if you fail, you will have to retake the test until you pass. Note that you will have to pay the test fee and test vehicle usage fee each time you take the test, so if you continue to fail, the costs will increase.

▼Please also refer to this article.

What are the conditions for obtaining a large special vehicle license? We also introduce the process for obtaining the license and the acquisition costs.

Conditions for obtaining a large special vehicle license

The age and vision requirements for obtaining a large special vehicle license are as follows:

Age	18+
Vision and color discrimination ability	The eyesight must be 0.7 or higher in both eyes and 0.3 or higher in each eye, and the eyes must be able to distinguish between red, blue, and yellow.
hearing	The sound of a 90 decibel horn can be heard at a distance of 10 meters.
Exercise capacity	Ability to recognize the necessary cognitive skills to drive safely or to operate the steering wheel and other devices at will

If your vision in one eye is less than 0.3 or you are blind, you can take the test if your other eye has a visual field of at least 150 degrees to the left and right and your vision is at least 0.7. You are also allowed to use vision correction devices such as glasses and contact lenses. Similarly, hearing aids are allowed for hearing tests, so if you need one, don't forget to bring it to the test center.

The physical ability test checks whether you have any physical disabilities that would interfere with your ability to drive a car, and if you have a disability, whether you can use auxiliary measures to address the problem.

Important points to remember when obtaining a large special vehicle license

We will introduce things you should keep in mind when obtaining a large special vehicle license and cases where you can save money.

Look for a driving school that is easy to get to

If you use a driving school, it is best to choose one that is convenient for you to get to. However, there are some driving schools that do not handle large special vehicle licenses, so you should check in advance.

In addition, the training period for a large special license is three months. Since this is shorter than the nine months for a regular driver's license, it is best to find a place that is easy to get to and aim to graduate as soon as possible after starting your training.

Save money with the education and training subsidy system

You can save money by taking advantage of the "educational training benefit system." The educational training benefit system is a system in which an insured person under the employment insurance scheme (or a former insured person who has left the job) who meets the conditions can receive 20% of the cost (up to 100,000 yen) of the training course designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare when they complete the course.

The conditions for use are that if you are using the system for the first time, you must have been enrolled in employment insurance for at least one year, and if you are using the system for the second or subsequent time, you must have been enrolled for at least three years.

The documents required for application are as follows:

• Education and Training Grant Application Form
• Education and training completion certificate
• Training receipt
• Identification document (driver's license, etc.)
• Address verification document (copy of residence certificate, etc.)
• Employment insurance certificate

Applications for the education and training grant system are made at the Hello Work office in your area.

* Reference: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare "Education and Training Benefit System"

Also consider obtaining a towing license

When using an agricultural tractor to tow a tow-type implement such as a manure spreader, boom sprayer, or roll baler on public roads, a separate "towing license" is required.

If you plan to drive, it is a good idea to obtain both at the same time. There are driving schools and Driving Camp that offer plans where you can obtain both a large special vehicle license and a towing license as a set.

Frequently asked questions about tractors with implements and large special license

We will introduce what to do if you do not have a large special vehicle license or cannot obtain one immediately, as well as the penalties for driving on public roads without a license.

What if I can't get my license right away?

If you do not have a large special vehicle license but need to drive on public roads, depending on the size of the tractor, you may be able to drive it by removing the implements.

If the tractor meets the vehicle requirements of "length less than 4.7m, width less than 1.7m, height less than 2.0m" when the implement is removed, it can be driven on public roads with a small special vehicle license if the implement is removed.

You can also ask a friend who has a large special license to help you when you are driving on public roads, but it can be a hassle to ask them and you may have insurance issues. You can also use a proxy service, but if you pay a fee each time, your expenses will increase.

Therefore, if you frequently drive on public roads, even if you are only crossing the road between fields, it would be better to obtain a large special vehicle license or a large special vehicle license exclusively for agricultural use.

Are there penalties for breaking the law?

Driving without a license on a public road is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen. The penalty points for this violation are 25 points. This will result in the license being revoked and you will be unable to obtain a license for at least two years, which is a major problem for farmers.

In addition, in the event of poor maintenance, a fine of 7,000 yen will be imposed and the violation will receive 7 points.

Even if you are only crossing a few meters of public road from the field to the garage, it is a violation if you do not have a large special vehicle license. Therefore, if you are going to drive on a public road even for a short distance, you should obtain a large special vehicle license.

If you want to drive a tractor on public roads, get a large special vehicle license.

Since April 2019, a change in the law has allowed tractors with implements to be driven on public roads. However, a large special vehicle license is required to drive on public roads, and the vehicle must also meet three conditions: lighting, width, and stability.

If the size of the vehicle without the implements meets the conditions for a vehicle that can be driven with a small special license, then it is possible to drive it on public roads with the implements removed. However, if you frequently drive on public roads for regular farm work, it would be more convenient to obtain a large special license.

There are two ways to obtain a large-sized special vehicle license: attending a driving school or taking a one-shot test. If you attend a driving school, you can also participate in a training camp and obtain the license in the shortest possible time. If you are a farmer, you can obtain a large-sized special vehicle license through training at a local agricultural university or JA.

Obtain a large special vehicle license in a way that suits you and be able to drive a tractor with an implement on public roads.