When getting a driver's license, some people may be considering using a license training camp where they can receive intensive training in a short period of time. However, in order to take advantage of the license training camp, a lump-sum fee is required, so how to prepare the funds tends to be a source of worry.
Credit cards can be used effectively in situations like this. However, even if you are just using a credit card, it is important to understand the market price and cost breakdown and make the most of the benefits unique to credit cards.
In this article, we will introduce the benefits of paying for your license training camp with a credit card, as well as some recommended credit cards. We will also explain general knowledge regarding license training camps, such as costs and payment methods, so please refer to it if you are thinking of obtaining a driver's license at a license training camp.
Market price and breakdown of license training camp costs
Before you sign up for a service thinking that you can just use a credit card to pay for the service, take a moment to think about how much you will be charged and what type of fee you will be charged.
In particular, the market price for license training camps not only differs depending on the driving school and service, but also varies depending on the season, region, and type of license you want to receive. Become familiar with the market price and breakdown of license training camp costs.
Price of license training camp fee
Pick up a few available driving schools, compare the costs of driving license camps, find out the market price, and choose a license training camp with services and costs that you are satisfied with.
In addition, you can reduce the cost of license training camps by choosing seasons when there are fewer people attending license camps, areas where it is relatively inexpensive, or choosing AT-only license courses. Let's look at each cost in turn.
Market price by period
If you use the license training camp during the off-season, there is a difference of nearly 100,000 yen from the maximum price. Driver's license training camps are held mainly during summer and spring vacations for students who are about to enter higher education or start a new life, so the key to getting a driver's license at a good price is to use them outside of these busy periods.
If you actually compare the market prices by period, you will see the table below.
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
| Approximately 260,000 yen | Approximately 300,000 yen | Approximately 320,000 yen | Approximately 320,000 yen | Approximately 220,000 yen | Approximately 220,000 yen | Approximately 220,000 yen | Approximately 270,000 yen | Approximately 280,000 yen | Approximately 230,000 yen | Approximately 230,000 yen | Approximately 230,000 yen |
Market prices drop during the off-season months of May, June, July, October, November, and December.
Even during major holidays, prices tend to be particularly high during the new life season from February to April. If you want to get your driver's license as cheaply as possible, we recommend avoiding the peak season and participating during the off-peak season.
Market price by region
The cost of license training camps varies by region, and tends to be cheaper in regions where living and land prices are low. In areas where the fees are relatively high, license training camps may be advertised as having resort-like added value, so choose a camp based on your needs, such as ``I want to get a license cheaply'' or ``I want to get a license in a fun way.'' You can also.
A comparison of the average annual costs by region is shown in the table below.
| Hokkaido | Tohoku | Hokuriku | Kanto | Tokai | Koshinetsu | Kinki | China | Shikoku | Kyushu | Okinawa |
| Approximately 320,000 to 350,000 yen | Approximately 170,000 to 240,000 yen | Approximately 210,000 to 250,000 yen | Approximately 250,000 to 400,000 yen | Approximately 250,000 to 300,000 yen | Approximately 240,000 to 280,000 | Approximately 240,000 to 300,000 yen | Approximately 230,000 to 290,000 yen | Approximately 200,000 to 280,000 yen | Approximately 220,000 to 320,000 yen | Approximately 260,000 to 280,000 |
The cheapest areas are driving schools in the Tohoku area. In fact, license training camps in Yamagata Prefecture are very popular nationwide, and because there are many driving schools and competition is fierce, they are relatively inexpensive.
It is impressive that there is a huge difference in prices in the Kanto area, but this is because there is a large difference in prices between central Tokyo and other areas. Northern Kanto, Chiba, and Kanagawa are cheaper than Tokyo.
When choosing from resort areas, Okinawa's driver's license training camp prices may seem cheap, but please be aware that these prices may not include transportation costs such as airplanes and accommodation costs.
Market price by MT car/AT car
The driver's license for a regular car includes one for a manual transmission car (hereinafter referred to as MT car), which requires complex operations such as gear changes, and one for an automatic car (hereinafter referred to as MT car), which is easier to drive than a MT car. There are two types of "AT-only licenses", which are limited to AT vehicles (hereinafter referred to as AT vehicles).
If you take a course that includes MT cars, you will pay more for the number of sessions than the AT-only license course, so you can get your license at a lower cost at the AT-only license training camp.
However, if you later decide that you want to drive a manual transmission vehicle, you will have to incur the hassle and expense of attending a driving school to remove the restriction. Don't jump at it just because it's cheap, but consider whether it's okay to limit it to AT from a long-term perspective.
A comparison of the license training camp fees for a license that includes an MT vehicle and an AT-only license is as follows.
| MT car | AT car |
| Approximately 200,000 to 320,000 yen | Approximately 180,000 to 300,000 yen |
Especially if there is a possibility that you will be using a car for work, it may be a good idea to check in advance whether you can really drive only an AT car.
Breakdown of license training camp costs
The cost of the license training camp is basically a package fee system. These package prices basically include the following costs:
- enrollment fee
- Departmental training fee
- Skill training fee
- Accommodation fee
- insurance fee
Some license training camp plans include meals and round-trip transportation costs.
Meal costs vary depending on the plan, with some cases including three meals and others just dinner. There are also self-catering plans that do not include meals, so if you have a choice, choose the one that suits you.
Regarding transportation expenses, there may be an upper limit set, the stations where transportation expenses start from are limited, or there are cases where students are required to temporarily pay in advance and pay at the time of graduation. It is not guaranteed that the full amount of transportation expenses will be paid, and conditions may be stipulated, so be sure to check in advance.
exam fee
In order to obtain a driver's license, you will not only need to pay the license training camp fee to the driving school, but also the test fee to take the test at the police station. If you fail the exam, you will have to pay to retake the exam until you pass. When taking a license exam, the following exam fees will be charged nationwide.
| Ordinary provisional license exam fee | Ordinary license exam fee |
|
2,850円 【breakdown】
*A re-examination fee of 1,700 yen is required from the second time onwards. |
3,800円 【breakdown】
|
*All fees are tax exempt
How to pay the license training camp fee
The cost of a license training camp is a large sum of money, so in most cases financial services are used instead of paying in cash at the driving school. Common payment methods, including credit cards, include:
- Bank transfer
- Convenience store payment
- Pay-as-you-go
- driving license loan
- pay by a credit card
Payment methods vary depending on the driving school, so please check in advance which services are available for payment.
Bank transfer
In the case of bank transfer, you must transfer the amount in one lump sum to the bank account specified by the driving school by the specified date. Bank transfer is the basic payment method for license training camps, so it is accepted at most driving schools.
For cash transfers exceeding 100,000 yen, you will be required to present identification documents (insurance card, passport, student ID card, etc.), so be sure to have them ready in advance. You will also need to pay the transfer fee.
Convenience store payment
If your driving school supports this, you can also make a lump sum payment in cash at a convenience store. Please complete the payment at the convenience store designated by the driving school by the designated date.
Some driving schools may not charge payment fees, so you can save money compared to bank transfers. There is the advantage that payments can be made 24 hours a day if the convenience store is open, but payments over 300,000 yen are not possible.
Pay-as-you-go
Page is an electronic payment service that can be used through internet banking and ATMs. By using Pay-G, you can make a lump-sum payment of 300,000 yen or more, which was not possible with convenience store payments.
Basically, there are no payment fees, but there may be overtime fees when using an ATM. You need to check whether your driving school's account is compatible with Page.
driving license loan
For those who find it difficult to pay in full, one option is to use a driver's license loan. With a loan, you can pay in installments, which can reduce your immediate financial burden.
However, just like other loans like home loans, driver's license loans are subject to review. You cannot use the loan unless you pass the screening. Also, if you are late in repaying your loan, your credit history will be damaged, so we do not recommend using a loan unless you can come up with a clear repayment plan.
pay by a credit card
Many driving schools, with some exceptions, accept credit card payments. This payment method is recommended for people who do not have enough money at the time of application but are looking to receive money soon, or for those who want to pay in installments. The following sections will explain the benefits of paying by credit card.
Advantages of paying for license training camp with a credit card
Paying for your license training camp with a credit card has the following benefits:
- Earn points
- Can be paid in installments
This is an advantage that other payment methods do not have, so if you can pay with a credit card, please consider it.
Earn points
If you use a credit card that gives you points back, you can pay for your license training camp more economically. The point return rate for regular credit cards is 0.5%, so you can expect to get back about 1,000 to 1,500 yen at a driver's license training camp that costs about 200,000 to 300,000 yen.
Can be paid in installments
By using the credit card you already have, you can pay in installments without having to go through a new loan screening process. Even if there is no problem with the screening itself, it will take some time to get a new loan. If you already have a credit card, you can use it right away.
Driving schools may limit credit card payments to one-time payments, but you may be able to specify payment in installments or revolving payment by contacting the credit card company directly at a later date. Even if the driving school specifies a lump-sum payment, some credit card companies allow you to pay in installments, so this is an effective option for those who want to lighten their financial burden for the time being.
5 Recommended Credit Cards for Paying License Training Camp Fees
There are a wide variety of credit card services, so even if a credit card is recommended, you may be confused as to what kind of card to look for and use.
For those who are considering signing up for a new credit card, in this article we will introduce five recommended credit cards from among the many available.
Sumitomo Mitsui Card (NL)
The Sumitomo Mitsui Card (NL) provided by the SMBC Group is a credit card that can be applied for by anyone over the age of 18, excluding high school students. (NL) is an abbreviation for numberless, which maintains high security as the name and card number are not printed on it.
Details of Sumitomo Mitsui Card.
| Sumitomo Mitsui Card (NL) | |
| Annual fee | Free forever |
| Point return rate | 0.5％～5.0％ |
| Period until card issuance | Minimum 5 minutes (The actual card will be mailed at a later date) |
| international brands | Visa, Mastercard |
| Compatible electronic money | iD, WAON |
amex green card
The Amex Green Card, one of the American Express cards, is highly reliable as it is a well-known high-brand Amex card, and has a high point return rate of up to 1%.
Although it offers plenty of benefits and compensation, it has a relatively high annual fee and strict screening criteria. Please keep in mind that part-time workers, part-time workers, and students may not be able to apply.
Amex green card details.
| amex green card | |
| Annual fee | 13,200 yen (1,100 yen x 12 months) |
| Point return rate | 0.3％～1.0％ |
| Period until card issuance | Usually 1-3 weeks |
| international brands | AMEX |
| Compatible electronic money | QUICPay |
JCB CARD W plus L
JCB CARD W plus L is a JCB credit card exclusively for women aged 18 to 39. The big advantage is that the annual fee is free forever and the return rate is high.
Details of JCB CARD W plus L.
| JCB CARD W plus L | |
| Annual fee | Free forever |
| Point return rate | 1％～10％ |
| Period until card issuance | Minimum 5 minutes |
| international brands | JCB |
| Compatible electronic money | Apple Pay, Google Pay, QUICPay |
Mitsubishi UFJ Card VIASO Card
Mitsubishi UFJ Card VIASO Card is a credit card from the MUFG Group. A major feature of this service is that the accumulated points are automatically redeemed as cash back, making it difficult to waste points.
Mitsubishi UFJ Card VIASO Card details.
| Mitsubishi UFJ Card VIASO Card | |
| Annual fee | Free forever |
| Point return rate | 0.5％～12.5％ |
| Period until card issuance | The next day at the earliest |
| international brands | Mastercard |
| Compatible electronic money | PayPay, Google Pay, QUICPay, Suica |
d card
d card is a credit card provided by NTT DOCOMO. This card is especially recommended for Docomo users as it allows you to accumulate d points. This card is easy to use even for students and part-time workers, so it is compatible with credit card payments at license training camps.
d card details.
| d card | |
| Annual fee | Free forever |
| Point return rate | 1% d points for every 100 yen (tax included) |
| Period until card issuance | Minimum 5 days |
| international brands | Visa, Mastercard |
| Compatible electronic money | iD |
[Q&A] Frequently asked questions regarding credit card payment for license training camp fees
Before you actually pay with a credit card, be sure to understand the frequently asked questions and answers regarding credit card payments for driver's license training camp fees. By checking any trivial questions you may have in advance, you can plan with more peace of mind.
How high should the limit be set?
This card is only for paying the license training camp fee, and if you don't plan to use it regularly for the time being, it is sufficient to set the limit to around 300,000 yen, which is enough to pay the license training camp fee.
However, one of the benefits of having one credit card is that you can use it in case you lose your cash. If you use your card to the limit, you may not be able to make a payment in an emergency, which can be inconvenient. Also, if you set your license training camp cost at the last minute, you may end up exceeding your budget when setting up optional plans and may not be able to pay. Therefore, it is a good idea to set the amount at least 100,000 yen more than the expected usage amount.
What if I can't make a card?
If there is someone in your family who can make a card, you can have that person make their own card first, and then have them make a family card.
A family card is a nearly equivalent credit card that can be issued to a member's family members, and is primarily intended for spouses, parents, and children. One of the features of the Family Card is that it is convenient to manage household finances because the account is shared with the Omoto member.
Use a credit card to pay for the license training camp in installments.
Because the license training camp costs a certain amount of money, some people prefer to pay in installments using a credit card instead of paying all at once. Another notable benefit is that you can earn points with a credit card, which can end up being a better deal than paying with other means.
In addition to using a credit card, consider reducing the total cost by considering the timing of the driving camp, the region of the driving school, and the classification of the license.
