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In order to ride a large special vehicle that is used at construction sites or agricultural scenes, a large special license is required.

Some people may be required to drive a large special vehicle for work and are considering obtaining a large special vehicle license. Therefore, in this article, we will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the process for obtaining a large special license, the acquisition cost, and the types of cars you can drive.

We will also explain how to obtain one in a short period of time, so if you want to obtain a large special license as soon as possible, please read on.

What is a large special vehicle license?
Types of vehicles that can be driven with a large special license
Conditions for obtaining a large special vehicle license
Pass rate for large special vehicle license
General procedure for obtaining a large special vehicle license
How to get a large special vehicle license in a short period of time
Cost of obtaining a large special vehicle license
Points to note when obtaining a large special license
Get a large special vehicle license for your needs

What is a large special vehicle license?

Under the Road Transport Vehicle Law, automobiles are classified into the following seven types.

Ordinary car
small car
Light vehicle
large special vehicle
Small special purpose vehicle
Class 1 motorized bicycle
Class 2 motorized bicycle

*Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Types of Vehicles”

Each car differs in overall length, total displacement, etc. Vehicles that meet the following conditions are classified as large special vehicles.

item	Content
full length	12 meters or less
full width	2.5 meters or less
Total height	3.8 meters or less
Total displacement	No limit
maximum speed	No limit

If any of the above conditions are exceeded, the vehicle will not be eligible for large special vehicles. In principle, there is no limit to the maximum speed, but as speeds over 49 km/h are dangerous, there is a voluntary regulation to keep speeds below 49 km/h.

Types of vehicles that can be driven with a large special license

The cars you can drive depend on the driver's license you obtain. Once you obtain a large special license, you will be able to drive the following vehicles:

classification	Types of cars that can be driven with a large special license
General use for construction	shovel loader tire roller road roller grader road stabilizer scraper rotary snowplow asphalt finisher tire dozer motor sweeper damper wheel hammer wheel breaker forklift fork loader wheel crane straddle carrier Turret-type on-site transportation vehicle A vehicle whose chassis is bent to steer the vehicle. Vehicles with a caterpillar structure designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and vehicles with a special structure designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
for agricultural work	agricultural tractor Agricultural chemical sprayer Reaping and threshing work vehicle Rice transplanters and agricultural vehicles designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Others	Pole trailers and vehicles with special structures specified by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

*Source: Road Transport Vehicle Act Enforcement Regulations “Appended Table 1 (Related to Article 2)”

Even within the same type of vehicle, if the total length is 4.7 meters or less, the total width is 1.7 meters or less, the total height is 2.8 meters or less, and the maximum speed is 15 kilometers or less, it is classified as a small special vehicle. A small special license is positioned as a subordinate license to a large special license. Therefore, if you have a large special license, you can also drive a small special vehicle.

Conditions for obtaining a large special vehicle license

In order to take the test for a large special license, you must meet all of the following requirements.

conditions	Content
age	18+
eyesight	Binocular 0.7 or more 0.3 or more in each eye
Color Identification	Ability 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	There are no disabilities that may interfere with driving. It must be recognized that there is no risk that driving will be hindered by the use of auxiliary measures.

If the visual acuity in one eye is less than 0.3, or if you cannot see, the conditions can be met if the visual field in the other eye is 150 degrees or more left and right and the visual acuity in both eyes is 0.7 or more. There are also two types of large special licenses: type 1 and type 2.

For Type 2, in addition to the above items, you must have already obtained a large-sized license, medium-sized license, semi-medium-sized license, regular license, or large-sized special license, and have a total of 3 years or more of driving experience to take the exam.

Please note that even if you meet all of the above acquisition conditions, if you have had your certificate revoked in the past, you will not be able to take the exam unless you have taken the revocation course within one year and the period of disqualification has passed.

Pass rate for large special vehicle license

The exam implementation status for large special licenses in 2021 is as follows.

type	Number of examinees	Number of successful applicants	Pass rate
First class	89,895 people	77,373 people	86.1％
Second type	1,524 people	501 people	32.8％

*Source: National Police Agency Traffic Bureau Driver's License Division: Driver's License Statistics 2021 edition "(2) Driving license test implementation status during 2021"

The pass rate for Type 1 last year was 85.8%, so there is a slight upward trend in 2021. On the day of the large-scale special license test, after passing the aptitude test, a written test will be held. The questions and marks for the academic exam are as follows:

Question content	The number of questions	Point allocation
word problems	90 questions	1 point each
illustration problem	5 questions	2 points each

Each illustration question has three questions, and only if you answer all of them correctly will you receive 2 points. The passing standard is 90 points or higher out of 100 points. The content of the written exam is the same as that for a regular license, and does not include anything specific to large-scale special licenses.

Additionally, with a large special license, it is possible to take a one-shot test at a driving license center without entering a driving school. In the case of a one-shot test, there is no road test conducted by a driving school.

Instead, you will need to take the road test on the premises of the venue where the written test will be held. It may be difficult to obtain a large special license for the first time, as you will be facing the actual test without sufficient practice.

If you are worried about taking the road test, one option is to practice on-site at a driving school to get used to driving before taking the test.

General procedure for obtaining a large special vehicle license

The general process for obtaining a large special license is as follows.

Enroll in a driving school
First stage subject and skill training
Second stage subject and skill training
Driving school Final Driving Test
Test at driver's license center

If you enroll in a driving school, you can obtain a driver's license in about a week. If you already have a regular driver's license, you will be exempt from all academic training and part of Driving Lessons, so you can aim to obtain it in about 4 days.

1. Enroll in a driving school

The following documents are required when enrolling at a driving school:

Certificate of residence
Driving Driver's License (only if you have one)
Identity verification documents
Glasses or contact lenses (only if needed)
Training fee
signature stamp
writing utensils

Please prepare a resident card that has been issued within 6 months. If you have a driver's Driver's License other than an IC Driver's License, you do not need a residence card. Identification documents vary depending on the driving school, but in many cases health insurance cards, passports, basic resident registration cards, etc. are specified.

2. First stage subject and skill training

There are 1st and 2nd stages of academic training and Driving Lessons. The content you will learn in the first stage is as follows.

classification	Content
academic training	Driver's knowledge follow the signals Obey signs, signs, etc. Places where cars can pass and places where cars should not pass Priority for emergency vehicles, etc. Traffic at intersections, railroad crossings, etc. Safe speed and following distance pedestrian protection etc. Safety confirmation and signals, use of horns Change of course etc. passing misunderstanding Driving license system, traffic violation notification system
Driving Lessons	Getting in and out of a car and driving posture Handling of automobile mechanisms and operating equipment Starting and stopping Adjusting speed Traveling position and course Starting and stopping at the right time Stopping on target Navigating curves and corners Passing on a slope Recession passing through narrow streets Selection of traffic location and route change Dealing with obstacles Traffic according to signs and markings Driving according to traffic lights Passing through an intersection (go straight) Intersection traffic (left turn) Intersection traffic (right turn) Traffic at intersections with poor visibility Passing a railroad crossing Confirmation of training effectiveness

3. Second stage subject and skill training

The content you will learn in the second stage is as follows.

classification	Content
academic training	Risk prediction discussion first aid Knowledge of safe driving Automobile maintenance management parking and stopping Riding and loading towing In the event of a traffic accident Things to keep in mind for car owners and the insurance system Route design driving on the highway
Driving Lessons	Precautions when driving on the road and preparations before driving on the road Driving according to the flow of traffic Appropriate traffic location change of course Driving according to traffic lights, signs and markings intersection traffic Protection of pedestrians etc. Driving according to road and traffic conditions Parking/stopping Turning, parallel parking Sudden braking Independent route setting Driving in anticipation of danger Confirmation of training effectiveness

Four. Driving school Final Driving Test

In the case of a large special license, unlike a regular license, there is no need to obtain a provisional license or take on-the-road lessons. After all training is completed, a skill test will be held at the driving school's on-site course. This skill test corresponds to Final Driving Test. Once you pass Final Driving Test, you will finally take the aptitude test and written exam at the driver's license center.

Five. Test at driver's license center

There is no need to make reservations for the aptitude test and written test; applications can be made on the day at the driver's license center. Reception hours vary depending on the venue and whether or not you have a driver's license, so be sure to check in advance.

At the driver's license center, you will need to bring the following:

Whether or not you have a driver's license	Things necessary
No driving license	Copy of residence card (one without My Number written on it) Identity verification documents 1 photo for application Graduation certificate
Driving license available	driver's Driver's License 1 photo for application Graduation certificate

The identity verification document is one of the following:

Health insurance card
My number card
Basic resident register card
passport
Residence card
Special permanent resident certificate
Documents such as Driver's License, permits, or qualification certificates issued by government agencies pursuant to the provisions of laws and regulations.
A document issued by a government agency to an employee to prove their identity
Something sufficient to prove your identity such as a student ID or employee ID

Application photos have the following rules regarding size, background, etc.

Size: Height 3cm x Width 2.4cm
No hat
front
upper third body
no background
Photographs taken within the last 6 months

In addition to this, a test fee and issuance fee are also required. The details will be explained in "Cost of obtaining a large special license" below.

How to get a large special vehicle license in a short period of time

If you want to obtain a large special license faster, Driving Camp and one-shot tests are also options.

Participate in Driving Camp at a driving school

Some driving schools offer Driving Camp. Driving Camp is a way to stay at a lodging facility for a certain period of time, receive intensive academic and Driving Lessons, and aim to graduate sooner than if you were to attend school.

If you attend a driving school, it will take approximately one week to obtain your driver's license. If you are unable to attend school every day due to school or work commitments, it will take more than a week. On the other hand, with Driving Camp, you can graduate in as little as 4 days.

Although you will have to spend a certain amount of time restrained while staying at an accommodation facility, this is an easier way to obtain a large special license in a shorter period of time than going to a driving school.

Take the one-shot test at the driver's license center

It is also possible to obtain a large special license by taking a one-shot test at a driving license center without attending a driving school. The advantage is that you can reduce costs because you do not receive academic or Driving Lessons at a driving school.

The one-shot test includes an aptitude test, a written test, and a skills test in addition to passing the skill test to obtain a driver's license. However, large special vehicles are difficult to operate, so if you fail the test, you may have to take the test multiple times until you pass. If you are re-acquiring your license, it is worth considering taking the one-shot test, but if you are acquiring your license for the first time, you may want to be prepared to take the test again.

In addition, large-sized special licenses do not require courses such as high-speed courses or first aid courses.

Cost of obtaining a large special vehicle license

The cost of obtaining a large special license varies depending on which method you choose.

When commuting to a driving school

The estimated cost of attending a driving school is as follows:

If you have a regular license	Approximately 70,000 yen to 130,000 yen
If you do not have a regular license	Approximately 160,000 yen to 170,000 yen

If you do not have a regular license, the cost to obtain one is approximately 160,000 to 170,000 yen. If you have a regular license, you will be exempted from all academic training and part of Driving Lessons, so the acquisition cost will be lower accordingly. Please note that the approximate acquisition cost varies depending on the driving school, so be sure to check in advance.

If you participate in a training Driving Camp at a driving school

The estimated cost for obtaining Driving Camp is as follows:

If you have a regular license	Approximately 89,100 yen to 96,525 yen
If you do not have a regular license	Approximately 194,700 yen to 216,700 yen

Driving Camp requires lodging and food expenses, so the cost to obtain it is set to be slightly higher than that for commuting. Please note that the approximate acquisition cost varies depending on the driving school and time of year, so be sure to check in advance.

If you take a one-shot test at a driver's license center

The cost to take the one-shot test at a driver's license center is 6,100 yen. The breakdown of the acquisition cost is as follows.

breakdown	cost
Examination fee	2,600円
Test vehicle usage fee	1,450円
Driver's License issuance fee	2,050円

Unlike using a driving school for a one-shot test, you will need to pay a fee for the use of the test vehicle used in the skill test. Additionally, the test fee for graduates of a driving school is 1,750 yen, but the one-shot test is set at 2,600 yen.

Points to note when obtaining a large special license

There are some caveats to a large special license, such as not being able to drive a regular car even if you obtain it alone, and some driving schools not allowing you to obtain one. In order to smoothly obtain your driver's license and use it afterwards, be sure to keep in mind the following points.

A separate license is required for work on special vehicles.

A large special license only allows you to drive large special vehicles such as forklifts and wheel cranes on public roads. Please note that a separate work license is required when operating large special vehicles at construction sites, agriculture, etc.

For example, forklift operators and rough terrain vehicle operators. If you operate without obtaining a work license, the business owner will be sentenced to up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, and the operator will be fined up to 500,000 yen.

You cannot drive a regular car with just a special license.

The vehicles that can be driven with a large special license are limited to three types: large special vehicles, small special vehicles, and motorized bicycles, and regular cars are not eligible.

In order to drive a regular car, you need a driving license, either a regular license, a medium-sized license, or a large-sized license.

There are driving schools where you cannot obtain a large special license.

Please note that you cannot obtain a large special license at any driving school. Since it is not as common as a regular license, there may not be a course for a large special license.

Depending on your area of residence, you may not be able to find a driving school nearby. If you cannot find one in your area, consider obtaining Driving Camp.

The training period is relatively short at 3 months.

If you are going to attend a driving school to obtain a large special license, make sure you have a schedule that allows you to graduate in a short period of time. The training period for a regular driver's license is 9 months, while a large special driver's license has a shorter training period of 3 months.

The deadline is set by the Road Traffic Law Enforcement Regulations, and extensions for personal reasons are not permitted. If you miss the deadline, you will be expelled from the school and will have to pay the fees and re-enroll.

*Source: Road Traffic Law Enforcement Regulations

Get a large special vehicle license for your needs

A large special license can be obtained in about one week. If you want to obtain your license faster, one option is to take the one-shot test at a driver's license center. Please note that even if you successfully obtain a driver's license, it does not mean that you will be able to operate a large special vehicle.

In order to operate it, a separate work license is required. If you need to work immediately due to finding a job or changing jobs, it is efficient to obtain a driver's license and a work license at the same time.

Some driving schools offer courses where you can obtain a large special license and a work license as a set. If you are aiming to obtain a set, look for a driving school that offers courses.