When obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license, it will cost approximately 80,000 yen to 240,000 yen. Some people who are considering obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license may want to keep the acquisition cost down.
Acquisition costs can be reduced in several ways. Therefore, in this article, we will explain how to reduce the average cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license, as well as driving schools with reasonable prices.
There are two ways to obtain Heavy Motorcycle license: attending a driving school or taking a one-shot test. Of these, the most common method is to attend a driving school. Therefore, in this article, we will explain how to reduce the cost of attending a driving school.
[By condition] Cost price for Heavy Motorcycle license
The cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license varies depending on the type of license you have obtained. If you have already obtained a Regular Motorcycle license or regular license, the training time will be shorter than usual, so the fee will be lower.
In addition, there are two types of Heavy Motorcycle licenses: MT and AT-only, and the acquisition costs differ for each, so be sure to check how much you need in your case.
| Type of license obtained | MT/AT | Market price of acquisition cost | Training time (1 period 50 minutes) | Estimated acquisition period |
| MT Regular Motorcycle license | MT | Approximately 80,000 yen to 120,000 yen |
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Approximately 6 to 10 days |
| AT | Approximately 80,000 yen to 90,000 yen |
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| Ordinary license | MT | Approximately 140,000 to 180,000 yen |
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Approximately 16 to 30 days |
| AT | Approximately 170,000 to 180,000 yen |
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| No license or small special/moped license | MT | Approximately 200,000 to 240,000 yen |
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Approximately 18 to 40 days |
| AT | Approximately 250,000 yen |
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If you have already obtained a Regular Motorcycle license for MT
If you have already obtained a Regular Motorcycle license for MT, the acquisition cost is approximately 80,000 to 120,000 yen for MT and 80,000 to 90,000 yen for AT. You will be required to attend Driving Lessons from 9th to 12th period, but academic training will be exempted. The approximate acquisition period is 6 to 10 days.
The Road Traffic Act sets a maximum number of hours that can be taken in a day. As a result, the first stage can only be taken up to 2 periods, and the second stage can only be taken up to 3 periods. Depending on your schedule and the reservation status of your driving school, there may be days when you cannot take the maximum amount of lessons.
If you have already obtained a regular driver's license
If you have already obtained a regular driver's license, the average acquisition cost is around 140,000 to 180,000 yen for a MT and 170,000 to 180,000 yen for an AT. In addition to 24 to 31 hours of Driving Lessons, you will need to take one hour of academic training. The approximate acquisition period is 16 to 30 days.
If you do not have a license or have obtained a small special/moped license
If you do not have a license or have already obtained a small special/moped license, the acquisition cost is approximately 200,000 to 240,000 yen for a MT and 250,000 yen for an AT. Academic training and Driving Lessons are set to be longer than those for MT Regular Motorcycle licenses and regular licenses. The approximate acquisition period is approximately 18 to 40 days.
8 ways to reduce the cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license
The cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license varies depending on the type of license you have obtained. If you do not have a license or have already obtained a small special/moped license, the training time will be longer, so the acquisition cost will be higher accordingly. However, acquisition costs can be reduced with some effort.
1. Choose a driving school with low commuting costs
Course fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses vary depending on the driving school. You can save on acquisition costs by choosing a driving school with low fees. Also, if you are going to attend a driving school, consider the cost of transportation to and from the school in addition to the course fee.
Some driving schools also offer free shuttle buses. If you can use the shuttle bus, you can reduce transportation costs. In addition, please refer to the section ``[Region] Driving schools with low costs for obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license'' which introduces driving schools with low commuting costs by region.
2. Enroll at the driving school during the off-season
Driving school course fees vary depending on the season. The most expensive times are around February to March and July to August. At this time of year, when demand increases before a new life begins or during summer vacation, prices seem to be set at a higher rate in an attempt to increase profits. On the other hand, May to June and October to December are low seasons, so prices tend to be cheaper than during the busy seasons.
3. Take advantage of driving school campaigns and discount systems
Some driving schools have campaigns or discount systems that reduce fees if certain conditions are met. The main campaigns and discount systems are as follows.
- early bird discount
- Student discount
- Referral discount
- Group discount
- Family discount etc.
Discount details and conditions vary depending on the driving school. If you take advantage of the campaign, the price can be reduced by more than 10,000 yen. If there are multiple driving schools nearby, compare the availability of campaigns and discount rates, and choose the one that offers the lowest price.
Four. Aim to pass all exams straight.
If you fail the test at a driving school or driver's license center and retake the test, you will be charged a test fee each time. If you pass all exams on the first try, there are no additional fees, so you can keep your acquisition costs down.
If you fail the provisional license, the cost of remedial training and re-examination may cost over 10,000 yen depending on the driving school. Additionally, the graduation certificate issued by the driving school has a one-year validity period.
If you do not pass within the expiration date, you will have to re-enter the driving school, which will increase the cost, so aim to pass as soon as possible after graduation.
Five. Use Driving Camp
If you want to save on training fees, consider using Driving Camp. Driving Camp is a method of staying at a lodging facility for a certain period of time and receiving intensive training. The average cost of Driving Camp is as follows:
| Type of license obtained | Market price of costs |
| MT Regular Motorcycle license |
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| Ordinary license |
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| No license or small special/moped license |
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In addition to the training fee, the cost includes accommodation, meals, transportation, etc. Therefore, if you look only at the training fees, they tend to be cheaper than commuting to a driving school. You can also save money by choosing private accommodation rather than a hotel, and choosing a shared room rather than a single room.
6. Aim to pass the exam on the first try
All driver's licenses, including Heavy Motorcycle licenses, can be obtained by passing a skill test and a written test without attending a driving school. The method of obtaining a license by taking the test directly at a driver's license center is called the one-shot test.
The cost for the one-shot test is as follows:
| item | cost |
| Examination fee | 2,600円 |
| Test vehicle usage fee | 1,450円 |
| Driver's License issuance fee | 2,050円 |
| Training fee upon acquisition | 12,150円 |
| First aid treatment training fee | 3,750円 |
In the case of a one-shot test, you will be required to take a certification course and a first aid course after passing the test. The total acquisition cost is 22,000 yen, so you can get a license cheaper than attending a driving school or Driving Camp.
7. Obtain a regular motorcycle license in advance
Eligibility for taking Heavy Motorcycle license exam does not matter whether you have another motorcycle license or not. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a license even if you do not have a Regular Motorcycle license or medium-sized motorcycle license (regular motorcycle license).
However, if you try to obtain Heavy Motorcycle license from the beginning, Driving Lessons may not go well and you may be forced to take additional training. Additional training costs money and may exceed your budget.
In order to pass Driving Lessons smoothly, one option is to first obtain Regular Motorcycle license. Even if you take Heavy Motorcycle license training after obtaining Regular Motorcycle license, there is not much difference in cost if you pass the training on the first try.
[By region] Driving schools where the cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license is low
From here, we will introduce driving schools with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses by region.
Driving school in Tokyo
The driving schools in Tokyo with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses are as follows.
| Driving school name | cost | address | nearest station |
| Tokyu Driving School | 94,900 yen - 276,800 yen | 3-6 Karakida, Tama City, Tokyo |
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| New Tokyo Driving School | 101,860 yen - 300,960 yen | 1-2364 Ogawamachi, Kodaira City, Tokyo |
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| Heiwabashi Driving School | 128,800 yen 7 - 316,040 yen | 1-3-16 Higashitateishi, Katsushika-ku, Tokyo | Keisei Oshiage Line Keiseitateishi Station |
Driving school in Saitama
The driving schools in Saitama Prefecture with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses are as follows.
| Driving school name | cost | address | nearest station |
| Asuka Driving College Kawaguchi | 124,000 yen to 140,000 yen | 2-17-5 Kawaguchi, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture |
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| unmotor school | 102,850 yen to 316,800 yen | 797-1 Futatsunomiya, Nishi-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture | Sashiogi Station |
| Iwatsuki Driving School | 97,700 yen - 145,220 yen | 880 Jionji, Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture | Toyoharu Station |
Driving school in Aichi
The driving schools in Aichi Prefecture with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses are as follows.
| Driving school name | cost | address | nearest station |
| Miyoshi Driving School | 115,100 yen to 138,700 yen | 55 Moriso, Miyoshi-cho, Miyoshi City, Aichi Prefecture |
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| Aichi Driving School | 235,400 yen | 1-6-50 Joganji, Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture | Kurokawa Station |
| Asahi Driving School | 140,240 yen | 39 Kokiri, Uji-cho, Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture | Katsuhata Station |
Driving school in Osaka
The driving schools in Osaka Prefecture with low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses are as follows.
| Driving school name | cost | address | nearest station |
| Izumi Driving School | 69,850 yen - 162,250 yen | 2-6-22 Shinanmatsu, Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture |
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| Osaka Kori Driving School | 61,600 yen - 117,040 yen | 13-5 Kiyamachi, Neyagawa City, Osaka Prefecture | Keihan Korien Station |
| Osaka Minato Driving School | 41,800 yen - 209,550 yen | 3-9-15 Isoji, Minato-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture |
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Driving school in Fukuoka
The following driving schools in Fukuoka Prefecture have low training fees for Heavy Motorcycle licenses.
| Driving school name | cost | address | nearest station |
| Isle Motor School Buzen | 107,800 yen | 1381-1 Matsue, Buzen City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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| Isle Motor School Moji | 97,350 yen - 288,750 yen | 120 Hata, Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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| Iizuka Driving School | 110,770 yen to 151,250 yen | 95 Kawazu, Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
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Costs incurred after obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license
The cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license can be reduced by choosing a driving school with low commuting costs or using Driving Camp. However, acquiring one does not free you from worrying about costs.
Even after obtaining a license, maintenance costs such as insurance and vehicle inspection fees will be incurred, so it is important to check this in advance.
Compulsory automobile liability/voluntary insurance fee
When purchasing a large motorcycle, you will need to pay for insurance such as automobile liability insurance and voluntary insurance. Automobile liability insurance is generally referred to as compulsory automobile liability insurance.
According to the Automobile Liability Insurance Act, all owners of automobiles, including motorized bicycles, are required to purchase compulsory automobile liability insurance. Insurance costs vary depending on the motorcycle's displacement and region.
| Period of insurance | Over 250cc | Over 125cc and under 250cc |
| 12 months |
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| 13 months |
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– |
| 24 months |
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| 25 months |
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– |
| 36 months |
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| 37 months |
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– |
| 48 months | – |
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| 60 months | – |
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The longer the period of insurance, the cheaper the annual premium will be. Although optional insurance is not required by law, it is a good idea to subscribe to it in case of an accident. The amount of insurance premium varies greatly depending on the scope of coverage.
Light vehicle tax/weight tax
Owners of Heavy Motorcycle vehicles as of April 1st of each year are subject to light vehicle tax and weight tax. The light vehicle tax amount varies depending on engine displacement, but it is a flat rate of 6,000 yen for motorcycles over 251cc. In addition, the amount of weight tax changes depending on the weight of the motorcycle and the number of years that have passed since the first registration.
The weight tax for motorcycles over 251cc is as follows:
| displacement | Tax amount (per year) |
| 251cc or more and 400cc or less |
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| 401cc or more |
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The amount of weight tax increases as the number of years that have passed since initial registration increases.
Regular vehicle inspection fee
Motorcycles over 251cc are required to undergo vehicle inspection every two years. When you undergo a vehicle inspection, you will need to pay legal fees, basic fees, and maintenance fees if necessary. Legal fees include weight tax, compulsory automobile liability insurance fee, and stamp fee.
The basic price includes the inspection fee and inspection fee, and the price varies depending on the location where the vehicle is inspected. The cost of having your vehicle inspected at a dealer is approximately 40,000 to 60,000 yen, including legal fees and maintenance costs.
Furthermore, if you bring your motorcycle to the Land Transport Bureau for a user vehicle inspection, you will only have to pay the legal fees, so you can save on vehicle inspection fees.
Other maintenance costs
In addition to compulsory automobile liability insurance and vehicle inspection fees, owning a large motorcycle incurs various maintenance costs such as:
- Gasoline cost
- Parking fee
- Consumables fees etc.
If you cannot secure a parking space at home, you will need to pay a monthly parking fee. Purchasing a car model with excellent fuel efficiency will help you save money on gas.
Frequently asked questions regarding the cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license
Finally, we will introduce some frequently asked questions regarding the cost of obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license.
Are there any subsidies available?
At present, there is no subsidy system available for obtaining Heavy Motorcycle license. However, it is eligible for the education and training benefit system, so if you meet the conditions, you can receive a subsidy of 20% of the acquisition cost.
The education and training benefit system is a system that allows those who have completed education and training designated by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare to pay part of the cost. Heavy Motorcycle licenses are eligible for the education and training benefit system, but please note that not all driving schools support this.
In order to receive the benefit, you must take the course at a driving school that is designated as a course eligible for the education and training benefit.
Can I save money at a non-accredited school?
There are two types of driving schools: accredited schools and non-accredited schools. An accredited school is a driving school certified by the Public Safety Commission, and students are exempt from taking skill exams after graduation.
On the other hand, non-accredited schools are not accredited by the Public Safety Commission, so after graduation, students must take a skill test in addition to a written test. When it comes to accredited schools and non-accredited schools, non-accredited schools have lower fees.
If you pass the driver's license center test straight, you can save money by attending a non-accredited school. However, non-accredited schools are not exempt from taking the skill test, so you will need to take the written test at the same time as the written test at the driver's license center.
Get your Heavy Motorcycle license while keeping costs down
If you are aiming for a Heavy Motorcycle license without any other license, it will cost around 200,000 to 250,000 yen. However, it is possible to reduce the acquisition cost by choosing a driving school with low commuting costs or enrolling during off-season periods.
Additionally, even if you successfully obtain your license, as long as you own a motorcycle, you will still need to pay maintenance costs such as compulsory automobile liability insurance and light vehicle tax. Therefore, it is important to consider your life after obtaining your license and make a budget plan that allows for some leeway.
