You can drive a truck even with a regular license. However, the types of trucks you can drive vary depending on when you obtained your driver's license.

In this article, we list the total vehicle weight, maximum loading capacity, and passenger capacity of trucks that can be driven depending on when you obtained your license.

We also provide a detailed explanation of the cost and period for acquiring semi-medium, medium, and large vehicle licenses, so please refer to it.

If you have a regular driver's license, you can drive a truck.

Trucks can be driven by anyone who has a regular driver's license. But not all trucks can be driven.

For trucks that can be driven with a regular license, the total vehicle weight, maximum loading capacity, and passenger capacity vary depending on when the license was obtained. Please note that this information is written on the vehicle inspection certificate.

The size of trucks that can be driven with a regular driver's license varies depending on the date of license acquisition.

Before the license system reform that came into effect on June 2, 2007, there were only two types of licenses: regular licenses and large licenses. The revision on June 2, 2007 added medium-sized licenses, and the revision on March 12, 2017 added semi-medium-sized licenses.

Before the revision in 2007, there was a wide range of types of trucks that could be driven with a regular license, but with each revision, the types of licenses were further divided, so the size of the trucks that can be driven with a regular license has gradually become smaller. .

If you obtained your license before June 1, 2007

Those who obtained a license before June 1, 2007 can drive a truck that meets the following conditions.

Currently, it is treated as a medium-sized 8t limited license, so you can drive a 4t truck (medium-sized truck).

If you obtained your license between June 2, 2007 and March 11, 2017

Those who obtained a license between June 2, 2007 and March 11, 2017 can drive trucks that meet the following conditions.

Currently, it is treated as a semi-medium 5t limited license, so you can drive 2t and 3t trucks (light trucks).

If you obtained your license after March 12, 2017

Those who obtained their license after March 12, 2017 can drive trucks that meet the following conditions.

Trucks that can be driven are light trucks and 1t trucks. If you want to drive a 2t truck, you will need to obtain a semi-medium-duty license.

What happens if you drive a truck that you can't drive with a regular driver's license?

If you drive a truck that does not fall under the license classification of a regular license, you will be punished as ``driving without a license.''

However, if you have obtained your license by March 11, 2017, depending on the vehicle classification, you will be treated as a "violation of license conditions" rather than driving without a license.

The penalty for driving without a license is 25 violation points and imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen. If you violate the license conditions, you will be fined 2 points and a fine of 7,000 yen.

Therefore, if you want to drive a truck that does not fall under your current license classification, you will need to remove the restriction or obtain a license appropriate for the vehicle.

Trucks that can be driven with a semi-medium, medium or large license

The types of trucks you can drive depend on your license classification. Here, we will explain which trucks you can drive depending on the type of license.

Types of trucks that can be driven according to license classification

There are different types of car driver's licenses, such as a regular license, a semi-medium license, a medium license, and a large license. To drive a truck, you must obtain one of four licenses.

[Regular license]

Before the revision of the license system in June 2007, trucks with a gross vehicle weight of less than 8 tons, a maximum load capacity of less than 5 tons, and a passenger capacity of 10 people or less could be operated.

Currently, the total vehicle weight is less than 3.5t and the maximum load capacity is less than 2t.

[Semi-medium license]

It is divided between a regular license and a medium-sized license, and was newly established in March 2017.

It is possible to obtain a license without a regular driver's license.

Trucks that can be operated have a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tons to less than 7.5 tons, a maximum load capacity of 2 tons to less than 4.5 tons, and a passenger capacity of 10 people or less.

[Medium license]

Trucks that can be operated have a gross vehicle weight of 7.5 tons to less than 11 tons, a maximum loading capacity of 4.5 tons to less than 6.5 tons, and a passenger capacity of 11 to 29 people.

For medium-sized licenses and large-sized licenses, the license period is set in the examination qualification.

[Large license]

Trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 11 tons or more, a maximum load capacity of 6.5 tons or more, and a passenger capacity of 30 people or more can be operated. You can also drive dump trucks and tank trucks.

The license period is set in the qualifications for taking the exam.

Conditions for obtaining semi-medium, medium-sized, and large-sized licenses

There are two types of licenses: 1st class driving license and 2nd class driving license.

A Class 1 driving license is a license required to drive on public roads in Japan. A Class 2 driver's license is required to drive a passenger vehicle such as a bus or taxi.

The requirements for obtaining a Class 1 driving license and Class 2 driving license are different. If you are driving a truck, you should obtain a Class 1 driver's license since you will not be transporting passengers.

The conditions for obtaining a Class 1 license are as follows.

In addition, due to the revision of the Road Traffic Act, from May 13, 2020, the age and license holding history of the eligibility requirements for large-sized licenses, medium-sized licenses, and class 2 licenses have been relaxed.

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.

How to get a semi-medium, medium or large vehicle license

You can obtain a license by attending a driving school or participating in Driving Camp. here

, I will explain three main methods.

attend a driving school

There are two ways to go to a driving school and obtain a license from scratch, and to have the restrictions lifted.

Obtain a medium-sized or large-sized license from scratch

The method is to attend a driving school and obtain a license. You can make reservations during your holidays or free time and go at your own pace. You can choose a driving school close to your home and enroll, saving you the hassle of commuting.

To obtain a medium-sized or large-sized driver's license at a driving school, you will take ``theoretical training'' and `` Driving Lessons.'' The amount of training hours required will vary depending on the license you already have.

[When obtaining a medium-sized license]

[When obtaining a large license]

After receiving academic and Driving Lessons, you can graduate from the driving school by passing Final Driving Test. After graduation, you will take an aptitude test at a driver's license examination center and, if you pass, you will be able to obtain a driver's license.

Please note that medium-sized and large-sized licenses are different from regular licenses, and if you have graduated from a driving school, you are exempt from taking an exam at an exam center, and only have to take an aptitude test.

Remove restrictions

If you remove the restrictions, you can change to a license with no restrictions.

Regular licenses obtained before June 1, 2007 are currently treated as medium-sized 8t-limited licenses, and will become medium-sized licenses when the restriction is lifted.

Regular licenses obtained from June 2, 2007 to March 11, 2017 are currently treated as semi-medium 5t limited licenses, and the restriction must be lifted in order to change to a semi-medium sized license.

To remove the restriction, take a skills course at a driving school and pass a skills examination. After that, apply at the license center.

Participate in Driving Camp at a driving school

This is a way to obtain a license or remove restrictions by participating in a Driving Camp at a driving school with accommodation facilities.

You can obtain a license or have your license lifted in a shorter period of time than commuting to school.

At the training camp, you can obtain a semi-medium license in as little as 4 days, a medium-sized license in 8 days, and a large-sized license in as little as 10 days.

The minimum training camp for lifting the restriction is 4 days for medium-sized 8t, and 6 days for semi-medium 5t.

Please note that the number of training camp days for obtaining a license and lifting restrictions varies depending on the driving school. Some driving schools do not hold training camps after the restrictions are lifted.

Get it in one test

This is a method of studying skills and subjects on your own and taking the test at a driver's license exam center or driver's license center. Compared to other methods, it does not take much time or money to go to a driving school, but it cannot be obtained in one day. It can be obtained in as little as 7 days.

Cost and time required to obtain a semi-medium, medium or large vehicle license

The cost and period of obtaining a driver's license vary depending on the type of license and driving school. Here we will introduce the approximate cost and period.

[When obtaining a semi-medium license while attending school]

If you obtain a semi-medium license while attending school, it will cost around 350,000 yen.

The acquisition cost for medium-sized and large-sized licenses varies depending on the type of license you already own.

[When obtaining a medium-sized license by attending school]

For example, if you have a semi-medium-sized license when you get a medium-sized license by commuting to school, the cost will be around 130,000 to 150,000 yen. If you have a regular license, it will cost around 170,000 to 200,000 yen.

[When obtaining a large license while attending school]

When you get a heavy-duty driver's license while commuting to school, it will cost around 230,000 to 330,000 yen if you have a medium-sized driver's license, and 280,000 to 350,000 yen if you have a semi-medium driver's license. If you have a regular license, it will cost around 340,000 to 400,000 yen.

The acquisition period differs depending on the license category, acquisition method, and driving school. The dates below are approximate.

If you are commuting to school, it may take around 3 months to obtain a license as it may be difficult to make a reservation during the busy seasons at the driving school, from February to April and from July to September.

In the case of Driving Camp, the shortest time is 4 days for a semi-medium license, 8 days for a medium-sized license, and 10 days for a large-sized license. If you take the one-shot test, you can obtain any license in as little as 7 days.

There are only a limited number of trucks that can be driven with a regular driver's license.

You can drive a truck even with a regular license. However, the types of trucks you can drive vary depending on when you acquired the license.

Those who have obtained the license by June 1, 2007 are currently treated as a medium-sized 8t limited license, so they can drive a 4t truck (medium-sized truck).

Those who obtained the license between June 2, 2007 and March 11, 2017 are currently treated as semi-medium-sized 5-ton licenses, and can drive 2-ton and 3-ton trucks (light trucks).

Those who obtained the license after March 12, 2017 can only drive light trucks and 1-ton trucks.

Therefore, if you want to drive a truck that does not fall under the license category you currently have, you should remove the restriction and obtain a license in a way that suits you, such as commuting to a driving school or using Driving Camp.