Test centres › Niigata
Niigata Driver's License Centre, Nagaoka Branch
| Address | 1-7-1 Kamimaejima, Nagaoka, Niigata 940-1140 |
|---|---|
| Access | About 15 min on foot from Maekawa Station (JR Shinetsu Line), or about 21 min by bus from Nagaoka Station Otemon exit (Ojiya-bound via Katakai), stop Menkyo Center-mae. |
| Booking | The foreign-licence document review is only at the main Niigata centre (025-256-4040). General skills tests at Nagaoka are booked by phone on 0258-22-1050 (weekdays 09:00-16:15, by the previous day). The foreign-licence pages do not state how Nagaoka knowledge/skills checks are booked. |
| Days and times | Weekdays (excluding public holidays and 29 Dec-3 Jan); Wednesdays have no tests for listed categories. Reception 08:30-09:00 and 12:45-13:15. Ordinary-car skills tests run Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri. No foreign-licence-specific schedule is published. |
| Driving test course | Driving test course The police publish the course map: |
| Fees | Test fee per application (ordinary Class 1; stated on the knowledge and skills pages): ¥2,500 |
Documents
- Same as the main Niigata centre; document review is done there, not at Nagaoka
Things to know
- Included because the prefecture publishes a Nagaoka foreign-licence course map, which implies a skills check there. The foreign-licence procedure page itself does not state that Nagaoka runs knowledge or skills checks, and Nagaoka's reception page does not mention foreign-licence conversion. Confirm with 025-256-4040 or 0258-22-1050 before relying on it.
- Knowledge check: 50 questions, 30 minutes, pass mark 45; the result is valid 6 months, after which you restart from the knowledge check if the skills check is not passed.
- Document review is free; its result is valid 6 months.
Driving test: where people lose points
- Not checking the blind spot (turn your head) before moving off, changing lanes and turning.
- Left turns: not moving close to the left edge first, then turning slowly along the edge of the intersection.
- Right turns: not moving close to the centre line beforehand, or not turning just inside the centre of the intersection (wait there for oncoming traffic).
- At a stop sign (止まれ): not stopping completely at the stop line, then stopping again where you can see.
- Signalling late: signal 30 m before a turn, 3 seconds before a lane change.
- Crossings: not slowing down or not stopping for a pedestrian who may cross.
- Railway crossings: not stopping before the crossing and checking left and right with the window open.
Always check the official page before you go: times and rules change. Official page · Checked 2026-11-09