Some people who are considering obtaining a Regular Motorcycle license may be wondering, ``What are the ways to obtain one?'' and ``How much does it cost?''
When obtaining a Regular Motorcycle license, the number of time limits for academic and Driving Lessons will vary depending on the license you have. For example, if you have a regular driver's license, you will be exempted from some of the lessons, so you can get it faster than usual and can reduce the cost of getting it.
In this article, we will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of how to obtain Regular Motorcycle license and the acquisition cost.
We will also explain the recommended way to obtain a regular motorcycle license if you have one, so please use it when obtaining Regular Motorcycle license.
How to obtain Regular Motorcycle license
There are four types of licenses for driving a motorcycle: motorized bicycle license, small limited motorcycle license, Regular Motorcycle license, and Heavy Motorcycle license. Regular Motorcycle license allows you to drive a motorcycle with a displacement of 400cc or less.
There are three ways to obtain a Regular Motorcycle license: attending a driving school, participating in Driving Camp, and taking a one-shot test. Each method has a different process, so find the method that suits you best.
attend a driving school
According to the ``Driver's License Statistics Reiwa 3rd Edition'' by the National Police Agency's Traffic Bureau Driver's License Division, of the 231,766 people who passed the Regular Motorcycle license exam in 2021, 200,000 people graduated from designated driving schools. There were 4,924 people.
Of the three ways to obtain Regular Motorcycle license, the standard is to attend a designated driving school.
There are two types of driving schools: designated driving schools and registered driving schools. Designated driving schools provide training in accordance with the facilities and curriculum stipulated by the Road Traffic Act, so they have the advantage of being exempt from the official driving skill test.
At the designated driving school, students receive academic training to learn about traffic laws and safe driving etiquette, as well as Driving Lessons to actually drive a motorcycle. After graduation, you will take the aptitude test and the main license exam at a driver's license exam center, and if you pass, you will be issued a driver's Driver's License.
Participate in Driving Camp
There is also a way to obtain a Regular Motorcycle license by using a designated driving school that supports Driving Camp. Driving Camp is a method of staying at a lodging facility for a certain period of time and receiving intensive academic and Driving Lessons necessary for obtaining a license.
There are cases where Driving Camp has areas where you cannot enter, and in such cases you will need to choose a location that is far away from your place of residence. There are many driving schools located in towns and tourist destinations rich in nature, so you can enjoy the feeling of traveling during your free time during training.
Some driving schools offer benefits such as free sightseeing tours and gourmet tickets, so choosing one based on these is one way to do so. After graduating from the Driving Camp, you will take the main driving license exam at the driving license exam center and if you pass, you will receive your driver's Driver's License.
take a one-shot test
There is also a method called a one-shot test where you can obtain a Regular Motorcycle license without using a driving school while commuting to school or training camp. A one-shot test is a method of taking the test directly at a driver's license examination center without taking academic or Driving Lessons at a driving school.
Since you will not be attending a driving school, you will not be exempted from taking the main license skill test. At the driver's license examination center, you will need to take an aptitude test, a formal driving license exam, and a driving license skill test. The one-shot test does not require any training, so if you can pass the test on your first try, you can obtain it in as little as one day.
However, the difficulty level is currently high because the actual Driving Lessons test is taken without undergoing skill training. If you are worried about the actual driver's license test, consider using a rental course at a driving school or driving license exam center. Although you cannot receive instruction from an instructor, you can practice in a course designed for the exam.
If you have a regular license, we recommend a driving school that exempts you from subject matters.
You can obtain a Regular Motorcycle license even if you do not have any other license or only have a motorized bicycle license as long as you meet the eligibility requirements.
However, if you already have a regular driver's license, you will be exempt from some academic training and Driving Lessons, so you can aim to obtain one quickly.
| Type of license you have | First stage academic training | First stage Driving Lessons | Second stage academic training | Second stage Driving Lessons |
| none | 10th period | 9th period | 16th period | 10th period |
| Motorized bicycle license | ||||
| Ordinary license | exemption | 9th period | 1 period | 8th period |
If you have a regular license, you will be exempt from all academic training in the first stage, one period of theoretical training in the second stage, and two periods of Driving Lessons in the second stage. Furthermore, you will be exempted from the main driver's license exam, so you only need to take the aptitude test at the driver's license exam center.
Regular Motorcycle license acquisition cost
The cost of obtaining Regular Motorcycle license varies depending on the method of acquisition.
| Acquisition method | Market price for acquiring a driving school | Acquisition cost at the driver's license examination center |
| Commuting to driving school | Approximately 200,000 yen |
|
| Driving Camp | Approximately 150,000 yen | |
| one shot test | none |
|
The average cost is around 200,000 yen if you go to a driving school, and around 150,000 yen if you get Driving Camp. Furthermore, the driving test center requires a total of 4,650 yen for the test fee and issuance fee. On the other hand, if you take the one-shot test, you will only need to pay a total of 22,300 yen, including the test fee at the driver's license exam center and the fee to use the test vehicle.
If you have a regular license
If you have a regular license, you will be exempt from some academic and Driving Lessons, so the acquisition cost will be lower than usual.
| Acquisition method | Market price for acquiring a driving school | Acquisition cost at the driver's license examination center |
| Commuting to driving school | Around 90,000 yen |
|
| Driving Camp | Around 80,000 yen |
The average acquisition cost is around 90,000 yen for commuting to a driving school and around 80,000 yen for Driving Camp. Compared to not having a license or only having a motorized bicycle license, you can save about 70,000 to 110,000 yen in acquisition costs.
The cost of obtaining Driving Camp includes accommodation and meals. If you only look at the training fee, Driving Camp is almost always cheaper than commuting to a driving school.
Number of days to obtain Regular Motorcycle license
The number of days it takes to obtain a Regular Motorcycle license varies depending on how you obtain it.
| Acquisition method | Number of days acquired |
| Commuting to driving school | About 1 month |
| Driving Camp | Minimum of 8 nights and 9 days |
| one shot test | Minimum 1 day |
If you do not have a license or only have a motorized bicycle license, you will need to take all the required training courses, so it will take about a month to obtain one. Depending on how crowded the driving school is, you may not be able to make a reservation on your desired date, and it may take more than a month to graduate.
Driving Camp can be obtained in as little as 8 nights and 9 days, as you can take lessons according to a set timetable. However, it may be difficult for working adults to participate because they need to take a large amount of time off.
In the one-shot test, you take the test directly at the driver's license exam center, so if you pass the test on the same day, you can get it in as little as one day. Depending on the driving license test center, the test may not be held every day, and if you fail, it may take several days to obtain the test.
If you have a regular license
If you have a Regular Motorcycle license, you will be exempt from some academic training and Driving Lessons. Therefore, depending on how you obtain it, it will take less time to obtain it than if you do not have a license or have a motorized bicycle license.
| Acquisition method | Number of days acquired |
| Commuting to driving school | About 9-10 days |
| Driving Camp | Minimum of 8 nights and 9 days |
When commuting to a driving school, the number of days required to obtain a regular driver's license varies by approximately 20 days depending on whether or not you have a driver's license. On the other hand, the number of days it takes to obtain Driving Camp does not change depending on whether you have a regular license or not. Therefore, for those who have a regular driver's license and are concerned about speed in obtaining one, attending a driving school is recommended.
Process of obtaining Regular Motorcycle license
Regular Motorcycle license training is divided into the first and second stages. The first stage is about basic driving operations, and the second stage is about learning driving skills and how to make decisions depending on the situation.
1. First stage
In the first stage of training, you will learn basic motorcycle driving techniques such as riding posture and safe riding. The number of time limits for academic training and Driving Lessons varies depending on the type of license you have.
| Type of license you have | Number of academic teaching periods | Number of Driving Lessons periods |
| none | 10th period | 9th period |
| Motorized bicycle license | ||
| Ordinary license | exemption | 9th period |
If you do not have a license or have a motorized bicycle license, you are required to attend 10 hours of academic training and 9 hours of Driving Lessons. If you have a regular driver's license, you will be exempt from the academic training and will only be required to attend the 9th period of Driving Lessons.
The training contents are as follows.
- car handling
- Handling of automobile mechanisms and operating equipment
- driving position
- How to operate the brakes
- How to start and stop
- How to change gears
- safe driving
- Smooth start and acceleration
- Adjusting speed
- How to balance in a straight line
- How to balance on a curve
- Driving based on vehicle characteristics
- Passing the slope
- Stopping and starting on a slope
- Driving an AT car
- Understand
At the end of the first stage, ``understanding'' is carried out. At the end of the day, it is a process to check the driving skills you have acquired through Driving Lessons. If the instructor determines that there are no problems with your driving skills, you can proceed to the second stage.
Furthermore, the Road Traffic Law Enforcement Regulations set an upper limit on the number of Driving Lessons that can be taken in one day. The first stage has a maximum of two hours, so it will take at least five days to advance to the second stage.
2. second stage
In the second stage, students acquire driving skills and decision-making skills that are appropriate to the situation, such as driving safely around curves and driving while anticipating danger. As with the first stage, the number of time limits for academic training and Driving Lessons differs depending on the type of license you have.
| Type of license you have | Number of academic teaching periods | Number of Driving Lessons periods |
| none | 16th period | 10th period |
| Motorized bicycle license | ||
| Ordinary license | 1 period | 8th period |
If you do not have a license or have a motorized bicycle license, you are required to attend 16 hours of academic training and 10 hours of Driving Lessons. If you have a regular driver's license, you will take one period of academic training and eight periods of Driving Lessons.
The contents are as follows.
- Precautions and legal regulations when driving on the road
- Traffic classification etc.
- Driving position and course change
- Passing through an intersection (go straight, turn right, turn left)
- Passing through intersections with poor visibility, etc.
- Safe speed and following distance
- Safe driving around curves
- Curve experience driving
- sudden braking
- Avoidance
- Case study at an intersection
- Driving according to traffic conditions and road environment
- Driving in anticipation of danger
- Advanced balance running
- Understand
At the end of the second stage, a ``understanding'' is conducted, and if there are no problems, it is possible to proceed to Final Driving Test.
Also, like the first stage, there is a limit to the number of Driving Lessons that can be taken in one day in the second stage. The upper limit for the second stage is 3 periods. However, as it is prohibited to take three consecutive periods, it will take at least three days to proceed to Final Driving Test.
If you have a regular license, you can obtain a Regular Motorcycle license at a reduced cost.
There are three ways to obtain a regular driver's license: attending a Driving Camp, and taking a one-shot test. Since the one-shot test is highly difficult, many people currently choose to attend a driving school or get Driving Camp.
The average acquisition cost is around 150,000 yen to 200,000 yen. However, if you have a regular driver's license, you will be exempt from some academic training and Driving Lessons, so the acquisition cost can be kept at around 80,000 to 90,000 yen.
Consider your schedule and budget, and obtain Regular Motorcycle license using the method that suits you best.
