The company instructed me to obtain a “semi-medium-sized license”, and a semi-medium-sized license? ,What that? , the name of the license that I heard for the first time. Not a regular license! ? ? ? ?

Are you worried because you don't know what it is? In this article, we explain what a semi-medium-sized license is using diagrams so that anyone can easily understand. By understanding it correctly, there is no doubt that it will be useful as a professional driver's license, which is effective for both employment and skill improvement.

Furthermore, we have thoroughly analyzed how to obtain a medium-sized vehicle license: "commuting" vs. "training camp." We will explain in detail the cheapest, fastest, and most reliable way to obtain one. Once you have finished reading, you will no longer have to worry about obtaining a medium-sized vehicle license. (As of February 19, 2026)

The recommended way to obtain a medium-sized vehicle license is through a training camp.

Here, we will specifically compare "commuting", which is done while attending, and "training camp", which involves lodging, in order to obtain a semi-medium license and to choose a driving school.

1. So different acquisition periods (schooling period vs. training camp period)

as a premise

・Advantages of attending classes: You can book and proceed with lessons according to your own schedule.
Disadvantages of commuting: If the driving school is crowded, it may be difficult to make a reservation and lessons may progress slowly.

・ The advantage of attending a training camp is that you will have lessons every day, so it is much faster than commuting to school.
-The disadvantage of a training camp is that you cannot make other plans during the camp as you will have to concentrate on your lessons.

2. The fastest way to obtain a medium-sized vehicle license is through a training camp!

It is much faster to obtain a medium-sized vehicle license by taking a "Driving Camp."

If someone without a driver 's license wants to obtain a semi-medium driver's license, the training time is 68 hours, which is a long time, so a training camp is definitely recommended. Generally, many driving schools only have one or two semi-medium-sized vehicles, so if you are commuting to school, reservations will be crowded and the acquisition period will be extended accordingly. At the training camp, all reservations for Driving Lessons are reserved until graduation, so you can complete the training in the shortest possible number of days.

Even if you have a regular driver's license and want to obtain a semi-medium driver's license, it will take about half the time compared to commuting to school. If you really want to get it quickly or have a deadline, we recommend a training camp.

If you have a semi-medium vehicle license (limited to 5 tons) and want to obtain a semi-medium vehicle license, we recommend commuting to school. There is only 4 hours of Driving Lessons and no academic training, so it is possible to graduate in as early as 3 days.

The process from enrollment to graduation to obtaining a license

The diagram below shows the process from STEP 1 to STEP 14, from enrolling in a driving school to graduating and obtaining a driver's license.
The training period will be 9 months from the start of STEP 3 training.
In fact, lessons are not only given in medium-sized vehicles, but in the first stage of on-site practice, 14 hours of lessons are given in regular vehicles and 4 hours in medium-sized vehicles. In the second stage of on-road practice, 13 hours of lessons are given in regular vehicles and 10 hours in medium-sized vehicles. The test vehicles for Driving Test and Final Driving Test are medium-sized vehicles.

Training camps for medium-sized vehicle licenses are cheap!!

1. “Training camp” is the cheapest way to obtain a semi-medium license!

It can be said that it is cheaper to obtain a medium-sized vehicle license by taking a `` Driving Camp.''

If you go from not having a driver's license to getting a semi-medium-sized license at a training camp, there may be a difference of about 50,000 yen compared to going to school, so a training camp is definitely recommended in terms of cost.

In addition, the training camp fee generally comes with a guarantee that there will be no additional charges until graduation. In principle, there are no additional charges for accommodation or meals when you extend your stay. Transportation costs to the training camp are also included.
If you have a regular driver's license and are seeking a medium-sized driver's license or have your vehicle restrictions removed, the cost is not much different from going to school.

2. So different training fees (commuting fees vs. training camp fees)

Here we looked at the cost of commuting to schools to obtain a semi-medium-sized vehicle license in Japan's 10 largest cities (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka). *Provisional license fees are excluded (as of February 19, 2026).

The average sales amount for commuting is

Next, the fee if you obtain a semi-medium license at a training camp.

The average sales price for a training camp is

Illustrated thorough explanation of the medium-sized vehicle license!

1. No driving experience required! Professional driver qualification available from age 18

A semi-medium driver's license is a completely new driver's license between a regular driver's license and a medium driver's license. To put it simply, it is a ``professional driver qualification'' that can be obtained even by an 18-year-old with no driving experience.

Until the revised Road Traffic Act in March 2017, the conditions for obtaining a medium-duty license to qualify as a professional driver were as follows: 2 years or more of driving experience and being at least 20 years old.

However, since the revised Road Traffic Act in March 2017, it is now possible to obtain a semi-medium vehicle license from the age of 18, even if you have no driving experience.

In the transportation industry, there are high expectations as cargo truck drivers can be hired from the age of 18.

First of all, I will explain in detail the meaning and contents of the semi-medium license.

Under the latest Road Traffic Act, Class 1 licenses are classified into six types as follows.
There are four licenses (1.3.5.6.) and two restricted licenses (2.4.) that were created due to differences between before and after the revision of the Road Traffic Act.

1. Ordinary license
2. Semi-medium license (5t limited)...*1
3. Semi-medium license
4. Medium-sized license (8t limited)...*2
5. Medium license
6. 大型免許　　  の6区分が存在しています。

*1: Those who obtained a regular license between June 2007 and March 2017 will be automatically transferred to a semi-medium license (limited to 5 tons).

*2: Those who obtained a regular license before June 2007 are currently automatically transferred to a medium-sized license (limited to 8 tons).

A new "medium-sized vehicle license" was created in 2007, followed by a new "sub-medium-sized vehicle license" in 2017.
In other words, the fact that two new licenses have been created in the last 10 years or so makes understanding the current licensing system very complicated.

2. Obtaining a semi-medium license (all 3 patterns)

There are 3 ways to obtain a semi-medium license:

1. If you do not currently have a license and are acquiring one for the first time

1. Graduated from a designated driving school (41 hours of Driving Lessons, 27 hours of theoretical training)
2. Pass the academic test and aptitude test (eyesight test, etc.) at the driver's license center and get a semi-medium driver's license!

2. If you have obtained a regular license (if you obtained a regular license after March 12, 2017)

Under the current system, even if you obtain a regular license, when you renew your license it becomes a "semi-medium vehicle license (limited to 5 tons)".

1. Graduated from a designated driving school (13 hours of Driving Lessons, 1 period of theoretical training)
2. Pass the academic test and aptitude test (eyesight test, etc.) at the driver's license center and get a semi-medium driver's license!

3. Restriction removal: If you have a medium-sized 5t limited manual transmission license (if you obtained a regular driver's license after June 2, 2007)

Under the current system, the semi-medium license is automatically limited to 5 tons. If this 5 ton restriction is lifted, it will become a semi-medium license. This is called restriction release.

1. Graduated from designated driving training (4 hours of Driving Lessons) *If your regular car license is limited to AT, you will need to separately cancel the AT limitation.
2. After passing the aptitude test at the Driver's License Center, your license will be issued.

There are three ways to obtain a license, and the costs and periods vary greatly, so please be careful.

Next, we will explain the types, sizes, and weights of vehicles that can be driven with a semi-medium license or semi-medium license (limited to 5 tons).

3.What is the size and weight of a car that can be driven with a semi-medium license?

With a medium-sized vehicle license, you can drive vehicles with a maximum load capacity of less than 4.5 tonnes, a total vehicle weight of less than 7.5 tonnes, and a seating capacity of 10 people or less.
With a medium-sized vehicle license (5 tonnes only), you can drive vehicles with a maximum load capacity of less than 3 tonnes, a total vehicle weight of less than 5 tonnes, and a seating capacity of 10 people or less.

It's not a commonly used term, so it's hard to imagine what it means. The semi-medium-sized license is the perfect size for what is commonly called a 2-ton truck. A 2-ton truck is a small truck with a total vehicle weight of less than 5 tons and a maximum load capacity of 2 tons to 2.9 tons.

Vehicles that can be driven with a medium-sized vehicle license have a maximum load capacity of less than 4.5 tons and a total vehicle weight of less than 7.5 tons, so in principle you can drive either.

What types of vehicles can you drive with a medium-sized license?
Isuzu: Elf
Mitsubishi Fuso: Canter
Hino: Dutro
Hino: Atlas is one example.

Ton, ton, ton, ton, Hino's two-ton truck (HINO commercial) (http://www.hino.co.jp/)
The car featured in this commercial is suitable for a medium-sized vehicle license.

summary

・In terms of time and cost required to obtain a medium-sized vehicle license, we recommend going to a training camp.
・運転経験必要なし！18歳から取得できるプロドライバー資格
・Industry is also paying close attention! Despite efforts to resolve the driver shortage, the seller's market continues

What do you think? I hope this information will be useful for those who are considering obtaining a medium-sized vehicle license.

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