Test centres › Shizuoka
Central Driver's License Centre (Shizuoka)
| Address | 6-16-1 Yoichi, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City |
|---|---|
| Access | From JR Shizuoka Station north exit bus stop 9, Shizuoka Railway bus bound for the centre, about 30 minutes. |
| Booking | A briefing is held every Wednesday at 9:30 at each centre (no reservation; latecomers must return the following week). Document check, aptitude test, knowledge check and skills check are then booked by reservation. |
| Days and times | Reception every Wednesday (not public holidays or 29 Dec-3 Jan); assemble by 9:30. Completion can take several months. |
| Driving test course | No course map is published online. Ask at the centre. |
| Fees | Exam fee, ordinary car, general candidate (general fee table effective 2025-03-24; page does not state it applies to conversion): ¥2,500 Issuance fee, licence card only (general fee table; page does not state it applies to conversion): ¥2,350 |
Documents
- Resident record (jyuminhyo) listing all items for foreign residents incl. residence status and period; no My Number; no copy (Japanese nationals: record with registered domicile)
- 1 application photo
- Valid foreign licence
- Japanese translation by the issuing authority/consulate, Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (Taiwan), ADAC (Germany), JAF (online), ZIPLUS or ALADDIN
- Passport(s) with entry/exit stamps (all booklets), or other proof of 3+ months stay such as employment/school certificate, payslips, lease
- Expired Japanese licence or driving-history certificate if previously held
- ID (My Number card, passport, residence card)
- Philippine licence: official receipt
- Originals only
Things to know
- Applicant normally applies at the centre covering their home address (Eastern, Central or Western).
- Ordinary AT: applied at the home-area centre; ordinary MT and other categories: Central Centre only. If the centre lacks the test vehicle, Central handles it.
- Interpreter must accompany applicants who cannot converse in Japanese.
- Flow chart: knowledge check 50 questions, 30 minutes, 90% or more correct; skills check on the on-site course, 70% or more; failed candidates re-book.
- Exempt-country (特例国) applicants skip knowledge and skills checks.
- Resident record requirement from 2025-10-01 is stated on the foreign-national procedure notice.
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