In recent years, due to the increase in car accidents involving elderly people, an increasing number of people are voluntarily surrendering Driver's License. Although you will not be able to drive a car if you surrender your driver's Driver's License, you will receive various benefits. Depending on your age and personal condition, it may be better to return the vehicle instead of continuing to drive.

We will explain in detail what are the benefits of returning your driver Driver's License, when to return it, and how to return it.

5 benefits of returning your driver's Driver's License

There are five major benefits to returning your driver's Driver's License.

• Avoid car accidents
• Reduces the risk of your driver's license being misused
• Eliminates the hassle of renewing licenses
• No need for car expenses
• Benefits such as discounts and gift certificates may be available.

Let's learn about the benefits and find out what benefits you can receive by returning the item.

Avoid car accidents

By returning your driver's Driver's License, you will no longer be able to drive a car, and as a result, you will no longer be at risk of getting into a car accident.

When you get into a car accident, you not only injure yourself, but you can also injure the other person. In the case of a car accident involving another person, if you are the at-fault, you may be subject to punishment and may lose social credibility. Furthermore, if the aftereffects of an accident remain, there is a risk that it will affect future life plans.

Car accidents have a high fatality rate, and according to an announcement by the Cabinet Office, the fatality rate in car accidents for drivers aged 75 and over is approximately three times higher than for drivers under 75. The risks and disadvantages of accidents are very large, and being able to avoid them by returning your driver's Driver's License is a great advantage.

Reference source: Cabinet Office

Reduces the risk of your driver's Driver's License being misused

If your driver Driver's License is lost, it can be misused, but returning it reduces this risk. A driver's Driver's License can be used as a photo ID.

In fact, the following cases have occurred where someone misused someone else's driver Driver's License.

• take out a loan
• open a bank account
• Issuance of credit card
• Borrowing from consumer finance
• address is specified

Not only is there a financial risk as mentioned above, but there is also a non-zero possibility of being involved in a crime. Returning your driver's Driver's License has the great benefit of reducing the risk of losing it.

Eliminates the hassle of renewing licenses

One of the benefits of returning your car is that you won't need to renew your license.

Driver's Driver's License need to be renewed every 3 to 5 years, and applications are generally only accepted on weekdays. Applications may be accepted on Sundays, but they are often crowded and the process takes time. If you return your driver's Driver's License, you won't have to waste time renewing it.

Renewing your license requires a renewal fee of 2,500 to 3,850 yen, so the advantage of returning your license is that you can reduce the hassle and renewal fee of renewing your license.

No need for car expenses

Once you have returned your driver's Driver's License, you will no longer need a car, unless it is used by your family. This eliminates the need for the following costs associated with automobiles:

• car tax
• weight tax
• Parking fee
• Gasoline cost
• Insurance fee
• maintenance cost
• Vehicle inspection fee

Even if maintenance costs are low, the cost of owning a car is around 300,000 yen per year. Eliminating this expense would be a huge benefit.

Not being able to use a car can be an inconvenience, but if you live in a city with good transportation access, you won't have to worry too much about not having a car.

Since you can save money on cars, you can have more leeway in your lifestyle, and even if you use a taxi when necessary, it is often cheaper than the annual maintenance cost of a car, so you can get plenty of financial benefits. Masu.

You may also be able to take advantage of benefits such as discounts and gift certificates.

One of the benefits of returning your driver's Driver's License is that you can receive discounts on public transportation and gift certificates.

For example, if you use the Elderly Driver's License Voluntary Return Support Council or the Silver Supporter System, you can receive various benefits. In addition, some local governments offer special benefits to those who voluntarily surrender their driver's license, and by making good use of the system, you can receive various benefits.

Deadline for returning your driver Driver's License and the time to return it

Some people may be considering returning their driver's Driver's License, but are not sure when they should do so.

There is no deadline for returning a driver's license.

There is an age restriction that requires you to be at least 18 years old to obtain a driver's Driver's License, but there are no restrictions on returning it. Please understand that just because you are old, you do not necessarily have to return the money, and there is no set deadline.

Returning your driver's Driver's License is strictly voluntary, and regardless of your age, you will be responsible for deciding when to return your driver's license.

The recommended timing for renewal is after reaching the age of 70.

If you are considering returning your driver Driver's License, we recommend that you consider the timing of your first license renewal after you turn 70 years old. According to data released by the Metropolitan Police Department in 2019, over 420,000 people have returned their licenses in the past 10 years, an increase of approximately 8 times. The average age at which people return their licenses is 76.96 years old, and many people who return their licenses are over 70 years old.

Gold licenses need to be renewed every five years, but those aged 71 need to renew every four years, and those aged 72 and over every three years. Since it takes more time to renew your driver's license, the best time to return your driver's license is when you renew it for the first time after you turn 70.

In addition, many of the benefits that can be obtained by returning your driver's license are available to those over 65 years old, so it is recommended that you decide when to return your driver's license while comparing them with the benefits that you will receive.

Driver's Driver's License surrender procedure and required documents

In order to return your driver's Driver's License smoothly, be sure to understand the procedure. We will explain the entire procedure and required documents.

Return procedure flow

The flow of the driver Driver's License return procedure is as follows.

1. At the return procedure counter, notify the person that you wish to return the item.
2. Fill out the required documents
3. Receive a driving record certificate

Procedures can be completed at a license renewal center, driver's license exam center, or police station. However, please note that if you lose Driver's License, it will only be accepted at the driving license test center.

Generally, the person returning the vehicle must complete the procedures, but if the driver's Driver's License is still in hand, it is possible to create a power of attorney and have an agent handle the procedures.

The opening hours vary depending on the return location.

*Reference: Metropolitan Police Department

Reception hours and days off vary depending on location, so be sure to check in advance.

Documents required for return procedure

The following documents are required for the driver's Driver's License return procedure.

• driver's Driver's License
• 1 photo for application
• Power of attorney (if requesting a representative)

Additionally, a return fee of 1,100 yen is required. You will no longer be able to drive from the moment you hand in your license, so either have someone else drive you to the venue or use public transportation to get to the venue. A power of attorney is not required and should be prepared only if the return procedure is performed by a representative.

Disadvantages of surrendering your driver's Driver's License

There are many benefits to surrendering your driver's Driver's License, but you should be aware that there are also disadvantages.

• It costs money to reacquire
• Life becomes inconvenient in some areas
• Fewer jobs to choose from

Make sure to understand not only the advantages but also the disadvantages before deciding whether to return your driver's Driver's License.

It costs money to get Driver's License reissued.

To re-obtain a driver's Driver's License, you must follow the same steps as when you first obtained a driver's Driving Camp or attending a driving school. Therefore, it will cost 200,000 yen to 300,000 yen or more to reacquire.

There is also a way to pass the driver's license exam on the first try without going to a driving school, but even in this case you will need to pay around 30,000 yen.

Life becomes inconvenient in some areas

Depending on where you live, surrendering your driver's Driver's License may make your life inconvenient. For example, in areas where trains and buses run infrequently, or where stations and bus stops are far away, getting around can often be a hassle.

There is not much of a problem in urban areas, but it is important to understand that life can be inconvenient in suburban areas where transportation facilities are not available.

Fewer jobs to choose from

One of the disadvantages of returning your car is that you will be unable to drive a car, which will reduce the number of jobs you can choose from. Depending on the type of job, a driver's license is often required, reducing the number of job options that require the use of a car.

Especially if you want to continue working even after you get older, the types of jobs you can choose from may be severely limited due to your age. There aren't many jobs to choose from, and not having a driver's license means your options are even fewer.

People who should consider surrendering their driver's Driver's License

It's not just the elderly who should give back their driver's Driver's License. Regardless of age, if you are not fit to drive, you should consider surrendering your license.

The following is an example of a person who is not suitable for driving.

• people who can't control their emotions
• impatient and aggressive person
• a person who often forgets things
• People whose ability to drive is affected by after-effects of illness

If you have any idea that the above conditions apply to you, or if you have been pointed out by others, consider returning your driver Driver's License regardless of your age.

people who can't control their emotions

There are times when you are forced to make calm decisions in order to drive a car safely. Therefore, people who are passionate and easily irritated, or who are easily depressed, are unable to make calm decisions and are more likely to cause accidents.

Car accidents don't always involve a single person; they can also involve people around you. If you find it difficult to remain calm all the time, we recommend surrendering Driver's License.

impatient and aggressive person

In order to avoid car accidents, it is important to yield to each other when driving. People who are impatient or aggressive tend to be unable to yield and drive dangerously, which can sometimes lead to accidents. Aggressive driving, which has become a problem in recent years, is often caused by impatient or aggressive personalities.

To avoid dangerous driving, you may want to consider returning your driver's Driver's License.

a person who often forgets things

To drive a car safely, you must remember traffic rules and signs.

Therefore, people who often forget things are not suitable for driving, and for safety's sake, you should consider surrendering your driver's Driver's License.

For people aged 70 and over to renew their driver's license, there is a senior citizen training course. Those eligible for the elderly training course will not be able to renew their licenses if they are diagnosed with dementia by a doctor.

If you are forgetful, driving is a big risk, so if you have any concerns, consider surrendering your driver's Driver's License.

People whose ability to drive is affected by after-effects of illness

If you are suffering from the aftereffects of an accident or illness, consider returning Driver's License. Depending on the after-effects, your ability to drive may be affected, such as memory loss, visual acuity, or difficulty moving your limbs.

Also, if you have any residual symptoms, please consult your doctor or check with the ``Safe Driving Consultation'' counter. Returning the vehicle is a personal choice, so even if it is determined that there are no after-effects, there is an option to return the vehicle if you are concerned about it.

If you are unsure about driving, consider returning your driver's license.

There is no time limit and no age limit for returning your driver Driver's License. Therefore, if you are elderly and have concerns about driving or are unsuited to driving, consider returning your vehicle.

Returning Driver's License has various benefits, such as avoiding the risk of accidents and reducing maintenance costs. Of course, there are not only advantages but also disadvantages, so be sure to understand both before considering returning it.