Those who have a medium-duty license limited to 8 tons can obtain a medium-duty license by taking and passing the test to remove the restriction. If you obtain a medium-duty license, the types of cars you can drive will increase, so many people may be considering lifting the restrictions.

Therefore, in this article, we will explain the benefits of lifting the 8-ton limited medium-sized license and the costs incurred when taking the test. We will also explain the conditions for receiving training, so please refer to it if you are considering lifting the restriction.

What is the lifting of restrictions on medium-sized licenses?

Lifting the restriction on medium-sized licenses means removing the conditions for driving medium-sized cars with an 8-ton limited medium-sized license and obtaining a license that allows you to drive all medium-sized cars.

The reason behind the creation of the 8-ton limited medium-sized license is the revision of the law and the creation of a new license.

[Until June 2, 2007]

[After June 2, 2007]

^*1: If you obtain a regular license by June 2, 2007, it will be automatically rewritten as an "8 ton limited medium license" after the June 2, 2007 revision.

[After March 12, 2017]

Due to the amendment of the Road Traffic Act, which created a new medium-duty license, those who had obtained a regular license by June 2, 2007 will be able to switch to an 8-ton limited medium-duty license from June 2, 2007 onwards. It happened.

However, even though the name has changed, the gross vehicle weight and maximum payload of the vehicles that can be driven remain the same. A person who owns an 8-ton limited medium-duty license will need to have the restriction lifted in order to obtain the current medium-duty license.

Benefits of lifting the restriction to medium-sized licenses

If you lift the restriction to medium-sized licenses, you will be able to drive more cars, which will expand your range of jobs. In addition, since it can carry more cargo, it can be expected to improve transportation efficiency.

Increases transportation efficiency

Those who obtained a regular license by March 11, 2007 will still be able to drive medium-sized vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 5 tons or more and less than 8 tons, and a maximum load of 3 tons or more and less than 5 tons, so-called "8-ton limited" vehicles. is possible. If the restriction is lifted, the maximum load capacity will increase to less than 6.5 tons, increasing the amount of luggage that can be loaded at once.

When moving or having an event, renting a car is convenient because you can transport your belongings yourself. If you can transport your belongings yourself, you won't need to hire a contractor, which will save you money.

Can transport a large number of people

With a regular license obtained by March 11, 2007, you were limited to driving a vehicle with a passenger capacity of less than 11 people. Once the restriction is lifted, you will be able to drive a car with a passenger capacity of less than 30 people. Since you can drive a minibus, you can transport more people at the same time.

Additionally, microbuses are often used for transportation to hotels and day services. If you obtain a medium-duty license, you can also drive a fire truck, ambulance, or garbage truck. If you can drive more types of cars, the range of work you can do will expand, which may be advantageous when changing jobs.

Costs incurred when removing restrictions on medium-sized licenses

In order to have the 8 ton limited medium-sized vehicle license lifted, you will need to undergo training and pass a test at a driver's license center or driver's license exam center. Training and exams cost money, so be sure to check in advance how much you'll need.

Driving school/ Driving Camp acquisition cost

The cost of acquiring training varies depending on whether you attend a driving school or use Driving Camp. The cost to attend a driving school is approximately 99,885 yen, and the average cost to obtain Driving Camp is approximately 130,203 yen.

The training content and number of time limits are the same for both driving school and Driving Camp. However, Driving Camp requires accommodation and food expenses, so it tends to be more expensive to obtain than commuting to a driving school. Acquisition costs are just a guideline and vary depending on the driving school and time of year. If you want to keep costs down, compare multiple driving schools and choose the one with the cheapest fees.

Another option is to take a one-shot test at a driver's license exam center. A one-shot test means that you take the test without taking any training at a driving school or Driving Camp. Since no training is required, acquisition costs can be kept low.

Issuance fee at license center/exam center

After completing your training at a driving school or Driving Camp, you will take a test at a driver's license center. When taking the test, an application fee of 1,400 yen will be charged. For the test procedure, you will need a driver's Driver's License and a skill examination certificate.

A skills examination pass certificate is a document that certifies that you have passed the examination to remove restrictions. The certificate has a validity period of 3 months and becomes invalid after the expiration date. Therefore, it is recommended that you take the exam as soon as possible after receiving your certificate of passing.

In the case of a one-shot test, you will need to take a skill test at a driver's license examination center, so in addition to the application fee of 1,400 yen, there will be a test vehicle usage fee of 1,450 yen.

Number of time limits required to lift restrictions on medium-sized licenses

The number of time limits required to lift the restriction on a medium-duty license is 5 hours for MT and 8 hours for AT limited. Each period is approximately 50 minutes. If the restriction is lifted, there will be no academic training, only Driving Lessons will be conducted. The main training contents are as follows.

• Travel at specified speed
• roadside stop
• S-shaped and L-shaped cranks
• Passing a railroad crossing
• parallel parking
• back parking
• Infiltration through the bottleneck

To enter a bottleneck, the vehicle must be stopped within two designated turning lines, and the driver must enter the 6-meter-wide entry road without leaving the road. Please note that if you turn back 4 times, the examination will be canceled.

In most cases, all lessons can be completed in about one week. After completing the training, you will be required to take a skills assessment. If you pass the skills examination, you will be issued a skills examination passing certificate.

Conditions for receiving training for lifting the medium-sized license restriction

Not all people who obtained a regular driver's license by March 11, 2007 will be able to receive training to remove the restrictions. There are conditions such as age, length of driver's license, eyesight, etc., so be sure to check them in advance.

Age 20 years or older

A regular driver's license can be obtained from the age of 18. On the other hand, the condition for obtaining a medium-sized driver's license is to be over 20 years old. For those who obtained a regular driver's license before the law was revised, the age requirement will not be a problem. However, all other conditions must be met, so it is important to check other conditions besides age.

Ordinary license holding period, total of 2 years or more

You cannot receive training to remove the restrictions on your medium-duty license unless you have held your regular license for a total of two years or more. Please note that if there is a suspension period after obtaining a regular driver's license, that period is not included.

*Source: Metropolitan Police Department “Aptitude Test Passing Criteria”

Documents and items required for training for lifting the medium-sized license restriction

When attending training to remove restrictions on your medium-sized driver's license, be sure to bring the following items with you.

• driver's Driver's License
• photograph
• Seal
• glasses or contact lenses

The size of the photo is 3 cm (height) x 2.4 cm (width). Photos are only valid if they are taken without a hat, facing forward, in the upper thirds, and with no background. Your eyesight will be tested when you enter the school, so if you wear glasses or contact lenses, please bring them with you.

In addition, if your driver Driver's License is an IC driver Driver's License that does not indicate your domicile, you will need either your PIN, registration card, or residence card that indicates your domicile.

Expand the types of vehicles you can drive and the range of jobs you can do by lifting the restriction on medium-duty licenses.

For those who obtained a regular driver's license by March 11, 2007, once the restrictions are lifted, the gross vehicle weight and maximum loading capacity of the cars they can drive will increase. Even if you go to a driving school, you only need 5 to 9 hours of lessons, so you can get it in about a week.

As the number of cars you can drive increases, the range of industries in which you can be active will expand, which may be advantageous when changing jobs. If you lift the restrictions, you will be exempted from the time limit for some Driving Lessons, which will make it easier to obtain a large-scale driver's license, so it's a good idea to lift the restrictions now with an eye to the future.