Getting a driver's license without going to a driving school

Table of Contents

There are 2 stages to be completed before getting a Japanese driver's license - "Learner's permit stage" and "Full-license stage".

  • "Learner's permit stage" consists of 1) a 50-question theoretical exam and 2) a driving exam. Both the exams are held at Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center.
  • "Full-license stage" consists of 1)a 100-question theoretical exam, 2) a driving exam, 3)a full-day new drivers' course, and 4) an hour lecture.

To complete both stages, it is likely to take approximately 3 - 6 months.

If you prefer to take driving lessons before the driving test at the Driver's License Center, Please contact Driver's License Academy to request driving lessons.

 

Learner's permit stage

Day1
  • Visit Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center by 11:00(No prior reservation required)


    What to bring

    1. Residence certificate issued within 1 year (with your nationality info, but mustn't contain your "my number")
    2. Resident card and passport
    3. 2 headshot photos (H3cm x W2.4cm - taken within 6 months) *this can be taken at the Center for 600JPY
    4. Writing utensils (black pen, pencil, mechanical pencil, and eraser)
  • Pick up the following forms at window#2 and fill them out


    List of the documents

    1. Learner's permit application form 仮運転免許申請書
    2. Questionnaire 質問票
    3. Declaration form 受験申告票
    4. Admission ticket for the exam 受験票
    5. Take all the above 8 documents to window#2 to have them checked
    6. Proceed to window#6 with the documents to make the payment by 11:30 (application fee:2,900JPY in cash)
    7. Take all the documents to "Examination room A" on the upper floor of the Center by 12:50 and wait until the room is opened
      RC-Examination-room-A
    8. Submit all the documents to the examiner standing in front of the room and then enter the room
    9. Take the 50-question theoretical exam starting at 13:00
    10. The result of the exam will be announced in 30 min after the exam on the screen in the waiting room

      *your registration number for the exam will be displayed if passed)

      RC-Waiting-room-on-the-upper-floor
      RC-Result-announcement-display
    11. Once passed the theoretical exam, take the "Aptitude exam(eye test)" on the ground floor
      RC-Aptitude-test-2
    12. After the "Aptitude exam", proceed to window#2 to make a reservation for a driving exam for another day and get a "reservation slip" for the driving exam
Day2
  • Visit Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center on the driving exam reservation day with the "reservation slip" for the driving exam
  • Go to window#2, show the "reservation slip", receive required documents from them
  • Proceed to window#6, present the required documents to make the payment (vehicle usage fee:1,450JPY in cash if this is your first driving exam)
  • Once passed the driving exam, pay the permit issuance fee at window#6 (1,150JPY in cash)
  • Receive the learner's permit and "road practice log sheet" from window#11

[Fees]:
Application fee(includes the first theoretical test): 2,900JPY
First-time practical test:1,450JPY. 4,350JPY from the second time
Issuance fee for a learner's permit:1,150JPY

 

Before you are allowed to proceed to the Full-license stage...

Practice driving on roads for 5 days within 3 months counted from the acquisition of the learner's permit with someone who has a Japanese driver's license for more than 3 years. Each practice should be around 30 min to 1 hour. Keep the record of the practice on the "road practice log sheet" *how to fill in the log sheet
*"Driver's License Academy" provides driving lessons for those who want to practice driving. The instructor can fill in the log sheet for you. Visit the following page for more details: https://www.oist.jp/resource-center/drivers-license-academy-info

 

Full-license stage

Day1
RC-Examination-room-A
RC-Waiting-room-on-the-upper-floor
RC-Result-announcement-display
RC-Aptitude-test-2
  • Visit Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center by 11:00
  • Submit required items at window#2(No prior reservation required)


    Required items

    1. Learner's permit
    2. Driver's license application form 運転免許申請書(get this from window#2)
    3. Questionnaire 質問票 (get this from window#2)
    4. Declaration form 受験申告票(get this from window#2)
    5. Admission ticket for the exam 受験票(get this from window#2)
    6. Road practice log sheet 路上練習申告書(which you have filled)
    7. 2 headshot photos(H3cm x 2.4cm taken within 3 months) *can be taken at the Center for 600JPY
    8. Writing utensils(black pen, pencil, mechanical pencil, and eraser)
  • Proceed to window#6 to make the payment (application fee:2,550JPY in cash)
  • Take all the documents to "Examination room A" on the upper floor by 12:50 and wait until the room is opened
  • Submit all the documents to the examiner standing in front of the room and go inside the room
  • Take the theoretical exam (100 questions) starting at 13:00 *you need to get 90/100 to pass
  • The result of the exam will be announced on the screen in the waiting room about 30 minutes after the exam *your registration# for the exam will be displayed if passed
  • Once passed the theoretical exam, proceed to the ground floor to take an "Aptitude exam" (eye exam)
  • Proceed to window#2 to make a reservation for a driving exam, and receive a "reservation slip" for the exam
Day2
  • Visit Okinawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center on the driving exam day


    *Visit the Center either by 8:00 or 12:50 depending on your reservation time slot
    **Make sure to take the "reservation slip" for the driving exam

  • Go directly to window#2 and show the "reservation slip", and receive documents from them
  • Proceed to window#6 to make the payment (vehicle usage fee:800JPY in cash if this is your first driving exam)


    *If you fail your first driving exam, the amount you will pay will be 3,350JPY(application fee: 2,550JPY+vehicle usage fee:800JPY) from the second exam

  • Once passed the driving exam, go to window#2 to inform them you have passed the exam
  • Proceed to window#6 to pay the license issuance fee (2,050JPY in cash)
  • Make a reservation at the Driving School Association located near the entrance at the Center to take a one-day lecture at a driving school

 

Fees incurred for the final license stage

  • Application fee(includes the first theoretical test): 2,550JPY Theoretical test from the second time:2,550JPY
  • First time practical test: 800JPY, 3,350JPY from the second time
  • The New drivers' lecture at a driving school: 15,400JPY(to be paid at the driving school)
  • Driver's license issuance fee: 2,050JPY

 

Take the new drivers' course

  • Visit the driving school you have an appointment with on the day of the appointment
  • Pay tuition 15,400JPY at the reception and take the course
  • After completing the course, receive a certificate certifying that you have completed the course(取得時講習終了証明書)

The course is an all-day course and consists of:

  1. Lecture about driving on expressways (approx. 50min)
  2. Practical lesson on an expressway (approx. 50min)
  3. Lunch break (approx. 50min)
  4. First aid measures lecture1 (approx. 50min)
  5. First aid measures lecture2 (approx. 50min)
  6. First aid measures lecture3 (approx. 50min)
  7. Danger prediction practice (approx. 50min)
  8. Danger prediction discussion (approx. 50min)

It takes 8 hours to complete the course

 

After completing the New drivers' course...

You will need to visit the license center to complete the required paperwork in the morning, then take a lecture in the afternoon on the same day before getting your license.

  • Visit the Driver's License Center by 11:00 am with the following documents without prior reservation
  • What to bring
    1. Certificate of completion of the new drivers' course obtained from the driving school
    2. Learner's permit
  • Show the above documents at window#2 and get some documents from them
  • Proceed to window#13 to submit the documents you received from window#2
  • Take a headshot photo
  • Take the lecture which starts at 13:00
  • After the lecture, you will be granted the Japanese license