There are various types of driver's licenses, and the conditions for obtaining each type of license are different. In addition, the license renewal period also differs, so you need to check each license you want to obtain.
Learn about the different types of driver's licenses, the requirements for obtaining one, and the differences in renewal dates.
table of contents
- Why you should know the types of driver's licenses
- Driver's license type
- What is the most common "ordinary driver's license"?
- Differences in driver's license color and expiration date
- Three categories of driver's licenses and their official names
- 9 types of licenses other than regular driver's licenses
- The acquisition conditions and renewal times vary depending on the driver's license.
Why you should know the types of driver's licenses
Why do you need to know the different types of driver's licenses? We'll explain why.
Understand the types of cars you can drive
By knowing the types of driver's licenses, you can understand which license allows you to drive which vehicle. There are many different types of vehicles, including private cars and public transportation such as taxis and buses.
The cars you can drive vary depending on the type of license you have, so you need to know the differences between each license in order to know whether you can drive the car you want.
You can check whether you are eligible to take the exam.
Not just anyone can obtain a driver's license; there are certain eligibility requirements. Also, keep in mind that the qualifications for this exam vary depending on the type of license.
For example, the age at which you can take the test varies depending on the type of license. Depending on the type, a certain level of driving experience may be required, so it is important to understand the type of license in order to correctly understand the eligibility requirements.
Driver's license type
There are various types of driver's licenses, which are divided into first and second types.
| License classification | Type of license | Types of cars you can drive |
|---|---|---|
| First class driving license | Ordinary license | Ordinary cars, small special cars, motorized bicycles |
| Semi-medium license | Semi-medium-sized cars, regular cars, motorized bicycles, small special cars | |
| Medium Truck License | Medium-sized cars, semi-medium-sized cars, regular cars, small special cars, motorized bicycles | |
| Heavy Truck License | Large cars, medium-sized cars, semi-medium-sized cars, regular cars, small special cars, motorized bicycles | |
| Large special license | Large special vehicles, small special vehicles, motorized bicycles | |
| towing license | towing vehicle | |
| Regular Motorcycle license | Regular motorcycles, small special vehicles, motorized bicycles | |
| Heavy Motorcycle license | Large motorcycles, regular motorcycles, small special vehicles, motorized bicycles | |
| Moped license | motorized bicycle | |
| Small special license | Small special purpose vehicle | |
| Class 2 driving license | Ordinary class 2 license | Ordinary car (required when transporting passengers by taxi, hire car, etc.) |
| Large class 2 license | Large car, medium-sized car, semi-medium-sized car, regular car (required for driving route buses and sightseeing buses) | |
| Medium-sized second class license | Medium-sized car, semi-medium-sized car, regular car (required when transporting passengers by microbus, etc.) | |
| Large special type 2 license | Large special vehicle (required when driving an excavator etc.) | |
| Towing class 2 license | Towing vehicle (required when driving a trailer bus, etc.) |
Driver's licenses are broadly divided into three categories: Type 1 driver's license, Type 2 driver's license, and provisional license. Not only do the types of vehicles that can be driven differ for each license, but some licenses are classified as AT-only or MT-only. Also, keep in mind that licenses come in different colors, and that the renewal period differs depending on the color.
What is the most common "ordinary driver's license"?
There are many types of driver's licenses, but the most commonly obtained license is the regular driver's license. Therefore, when people simply say "driver's license," they are often referring to the regular driver's license.
National qualification for driving a regular car
A regular car license is literally a license that allows you to drive a regular car.
A regular car refers to a general passenger car as well as a car that can seat 10 or fewer people. In addition to regular cars, this is a national qualification that allows you to drive motorized bicycles, small special vehicles, and trucks. A small special vehicle is a vehicle used for agricultural work, snow shoveling, etc., with an overall length of 4.7 m or less, an overall width of 1.7 m or less, an overall height of 2.0 to 2.8 m or less, and a maximum speed of 15 km/h or less.
The types of trucks you can drive differ depending on when you obtained your license.
| When to obtain a regular car license | drivable truck |
|---|---|
| Before June 1, 2007 | Gross vehicle weight less than 8t, maximum load capacity less than 5t |
| June 2, 2007 - March 11, 2017 | Gross vehicle weight less than 5t, maximum load capacity less than 3t |
| If acquired after March 12, 2017 | Gross vehicle weight less than 3.5t, maximum load capacity less than 2t |
The gross vehicle weight and maximum loading capacity of trucks that can be driven change depending on the time of acquisition due to legal amendments. If you obtain a regular driver's license now, you can drive a truck with a gross vehicle weight of less than 3.5 tons and a maximum loading capacity of less than 2 tons (as of November 2022).
Can be obtained from the age of 18
A regular driver's license can be obtained from the age of 18. However, you can enter the driving school from the age of 17. However, you can only obtain a provisional license from the age of 18, so if you are attending a driving school at the age of 17, your education will stop at that stage until your birthday, even if your classes are progressing.
Some driving schools may have age restrictions for admission. In this case, the child will not be able to enter the school until the child reaches the appropriate age. Also, please note that there are cases where school rules such as high schools prohibit entry to driving schools, so be sure to check in advance.
There are AT limited license and MT license.
Regular cars are divided into two categories: AT-only licenses and MT licenses, and the types of cars you can drive differ. If you obtain an AT-only license, you can only drive automatic vehicles. Once you have a manual transmission license, you can drive both automatic and manual cars.
Driving a manual car with an AT-only license is a violation of the law. Currently, most cars in Japan are automatic, so if there is no possibility of driving a manual car in the future, there is probably no problem with an AT-only license.
Driving licenses have three categories and three colors.
There are three categories and three colors for driver's licenses. The classifications are "Class 1," "Class 2," and "Temporary License," and the colors are "Green," "Blue," and "Gold." Type 1 and Type 2 are standard vehicle licenses, medium-sized licenses, large-sized licenses, large-sized special licenses, and towing licenses.
The expiration date for each license varies depending on the color, age, violation history, etc. The details will be explained later, so keep in mind that there are three categories and three colors.
Although there are differences in the expiry date, the renewal period is one month before and after your birthday, and renewing your license during this period is the same for all colors.
Differences in driver's license color and expiration date
There are three colors of driver's licenses: green, blue, and gold. Each color has a different expiration date.
green
If you are getting your driver's license for the first time, the color of your license is green. Green licenses are valid for three years. Renewal of license is not counted from the date of acquisition, but from the third birthday after acquisition of license.
blue
When you get your license and go for your first renewal, the color will automatically change from green to blue. The expiration date of a blue license depends on your age and whether you have a history of violations.
| Driver classification | Age | date of expiry |
|---|---|---|
| First updater | Any age | 3 years |
| General driver | ~70 years old | 5 years |
| General driver | 71 years old | 4 years |
| General driver | 72 years old and up | 3 years |
| Violating Drivers | Any age | 3 years |
The first renewal will be valid for three years, but keep in mind that the next renewal will depend on your age and violation history.
gold
If you have had no accidents or violations in the 5 years prior to the expiration date of your license renewal period, your license will be colored gold as a good driver. Expiration date refers to the day one month before or after your birthday. In addition, to obtain a gold license, you must not only have no accidents or violations for a certain period of time, but also be free from aiding and abetting serious violations and causing death or injury while off the road.
| Driver classification | Age | date of expiry |
|---|---|---|
| good driver | ~70 years old | 5 years |
| good driver | 71 years old | 4 years |
| good driver | 72 years old and up | 3 years |
Becoming a good driver with a gold license will extend the expiration date of your license, but if you are over 71 years old, you will need to renew it every 3 to 4 years, just like other colors.
Three categories of driver's licenses and their official names
There are three categories of driver's licenses, and their official names are as follows.
- First class driving license
- Class 2 driving license
- provisional driving license
Keep in mind that the driver's license you see every day actually has an official name.
First class driving license
A Class 1 driver's license is the most common type of driver's license.
- drivers license
- Semi-medium vehicle license
- Medium-sized car license
- Large vehicle license
- Moped license
- Ordinary motorcycle license
- Large motorcycle license
- Small special vehicle license
- Large special vehicle license
- Towing vehicle license
Especially among the first class, many people have obtained a regular driver's license, which allows them to drive a private car or motorized bicycle.
Class 2 driving license
A Class 2 driving license is a license required to drive passenger vehicles such as taxis and buses. It is also required when driving a substitute driver's car, and you can think of it as a license used for work where you drive and pick up customers.
The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 is whether or not you can get paid to carry passengers.
Not everyone can obtain a Class 2 driver's license; you must have a Class 1 driver's license and have at least three years of driving experience. Additionally, if you have a driving history of 3 years or more, excluding the period of suspension, if your license has been suspended, you must have a driving history of 3 years or more, excluding that period.
In addition, due to the enforcement of laws that partially amend the Road Traffic Act, the eligibility requirements for medium-sized vehicle licenses, large-sized vehicle licenses, and class 2 licenses have been relaxed since May 13, 2020. By completing the "Examination Eligibility Special Training Course", you can take the exam if you are 19 years of age or older and have held a regular driver's license for at least one year.
provisional driving license
A provisional driver's license is commonly known as a provisional license. A provisional driving license is a license obtained by students at a driving school, and you must obtain a provisional driving license in order to take on-road training.
In addition, when taking on-road training with a provisional driver's license, the condition is that the passenger has obtained a Type 1 driving license and has a driving history of 3 years or more, or has acquired a Type 2 driving license. is.
The official name should be written down to the category.
When writing a resume for applying for a part-time job or job hunting, you can also include your driver's license as a qualification. When writing it on your resume, the correct way to write it is to include the category. For example, if you have a regular car license, you must write "Class 1 regular car driver's license" instead of "regular car driver's license."
9 types of licenses other than regular driver's licenses
There are various types of licenses other than regular driver's licenses.
- Semi-medium vehicle license
- Medium-sized car license
- Large vehicle license
- motorized bicycle
- Ordinary motorcycle license
- Large motorcycle license
- Small special vehicle license
- Large special vehicle license
- Towing vehicle license
There are 10 types of first-class driver's licenses, including the nine listed above and a regular driver's license.
Semi-medium vehicle license
The semi-medium vehicle license is a new license established by the law revision on March 12, 2017. The classification is between a regular car license and a medium-sized car license.
Additionally, if you obtained a regular vehicle license before the law was revised, you may be able to drive a semi-medium-sized vehicle depending on when you obtained it.
| Acquisition date | Type of license | Vehicle total weight | Maximum loading capacity | Riding capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After March 12, 2017 | Semi-medium vehicle license | 3.5 tons or more but less than 7.5 tons | 2 tons or more but less than 4.5 tons | 10 people or less |
| Before March 11, 2017 | drivers license | Less than 5 tons | Less than 3 tons | 10 people or less |
| Before June 1, 2007 | drivers license | Less than 8 tons | Less than 5 tons | 10 people or less |
The difference from a medium-sized vehicle license is not only the size of the car you can drive, but also the age restriction, which means you can get one from the age of 18.
Medium-sized car license
You can take the test for a medium-sized vehicle license if you are 20 years of age or older and at least two years have passed since you obtained a regular driver's license. However, from May 13, 2020, those who have completed special training will be able to obtain a license if they are 19 years of age or older and have held a regular driver's license for at least one year.
Typical examples of cars that can be driven are as follows.
- 4 ton car
- microbus
- garbage truck
- fire engine
- ambulance
Because a medium-sized vehicle license requires entrance examination qualifications, it takes longer to obtain a medium-sized vehicle license than a regular or semi-medium-sized vehicle license.
Furthermore, from May 13, 2020, those who have completed special training will be able to obtain a license if they are 19 years of age or older and have held a regular driver's license for at least one year.
Large vehicle license
A large vehicle license allows you to drive a vehicle even larger than a medium-sized vehicle. You can drive large trucks, dump trucks, etc., and the specific conditions are as follows.
- Gross vehicle weight 11t or more
- Maximum loading capacity 6.5t or more
- Capacity: 30 or more people
To obtain a large vehicle license, you must meet the age limit of 21 years or older. In addition, you are also eligible to take the exam if you have obtained either a medium-duty license, semi-medium-duty license, regular license, or large-sized special license, and have driving experience of three years or more.
Furthermore, from May 13, 2020, those who have completed special training will be able to obtain a license if they are 19 years of age or older and have held a regular driver's license for at least one year.
Motorized bicycle license
A motorized bicycle license allows you to drive a so-called moped. You can only drive a motorized bicycle with a motorized bicycle license of 50cc or less. You must be 18 years of age or older to obtain a driver's license, but you must be 16 years of age or older to obtain a motorized bicycle.
Additionally, you can obtain a motorized bicycle license in as little as one day. It is possible to drive a moped even if you have obtained a regular driver's license, and if you already have a driver's license, there is no need to obtain a separate license.
Ordinary motorcycle license
A regular motorcycle license allows you to drive a motorcycle of 50cc or more but less than 400cc. Regular motorcycle licenses are divided into the following four types:
- AT small size limited Regular Motorcycle license
- Small-size limited Regular Motorcycle license
- AT-limited Regular Motorcycle license
- Regular Motorcycle license
If you have an automatic transmission-only license, you cannot drive a manual vehicle. Also, if you have a small-size standard Regular Motorcycle, you can drive motorcycles up to 125cc. Standard motorcycle licenses, like motorized bicycle licenses, can be obtained from the age of 16.
Large motorcycle license
A large motorcycle license allows you to drive a motorcycle over 400cc. The age restriction is 18 years or older. There are two types of large motorcycle licenses: AT-only and MT licenses, and if you have an AT-only license, you cannot drive a manual vehicle.
Small special vehicle license
A small special vehicle license allows you to drive a vehicle that meets the following conditions:
- Vehicle length 4.7m
- Vehicle width 1.7m
- Vehicle height 2.0m
- Small special vehicles with a total displacement of 1.5L or less and speeds not exceeding 15km/h
A typical example of a vehicle that meets the above conditions is a forklift. A small special vehicle license can be obtained by anyone over the age of 16. Also, like a motorized bicycle license, it can be obtained in as little as one day.
Large special vehicle license
A large special vehicle license is a license that allows you to drive large heavy machinery. You can ride on large heavy machinery that is mainly operated at construction sites and construction sites. The specific conditions for vehicles that can be driven with a large special vehicle license are as follows.
- Vehicle length 12m
- Overall width 2.5m
- Vehicle height 3.8m or less
There are no restrictions on total engine displacement for large special vehicle licenses. The age limit for obtaining the certificate is 18 years or older. To obtain a license, you must take a skill course, but if you pass the certification test at a driving school, you will be exempt from taking the skill test at a driving test center.
Towing vehicle license
A tow vehicle license is a license that allows you to drive while towing another vehicle. If you have a license, you can hitch a vehicle with a gross weight of over 750 kg and tow it.
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and have a regular driver's license or higher. Even if you have a motorized bicycle license, it does not qualify you to take the exam.
The acquisition conditions and renewal times vary depending on the driver's license.
There are various types of driver's licenses, and each has different requirements for obtaining one. Some licenses can only be obtained based on age restrictions, while others require you to have another license and have a driving history of at least a certain period of time. It is also important to note that the renewal period varies depending on the driver's license.
Accurately understand the acquisition conditions and renewal period, and obtain a driver's license that suits your purpose.
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