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Licence rules and driver marks
This topic checks the rules about holding and carrying a licence, the marks that some drivers must or should display, and the checks a driver makes before driving. Many questions are about who must display which mark and for how long.
Key rules
- Carry your licence whenever you drive, and show it when a police officer asks.
- You need the licence for the type of vehicle. An ordinary licence (普通免許) covers ordinary cars, small special vehicles and 原付 (ordinary mopeds), but not motorcycles.
- You cannot drive while your licence is suspended, even though you still hold it.
- Keep the conditions written on your licence, for example wearing glasses.
- Beginner drivers in their first year with a semi-medium or ordinary licence must put the beginner mark (初心者マーク) on the front and back of the car.
- A driver whose licence has a hearing-impairment condition must put the hearing-impaired mark on the front and back of the car. The condition applies when both ears cannot hear a 90-decibel horn at 10 m even with a hearing aid.
- Drivers aged 70 or over are encouraged to display the elderly driver mark (高齢者マーク). Drivers with a physical disability condition are encouraged to display the disabled driver mark.
- A learner with a provisional licence (仮免許) must drive with a qualified person beside them and the learner mark (仮免許練習標識) on the front and back of the car. The person beside must have held a first-class licence for the vehicle for at least 3 years, or hold a second-class licence.
- Before driving, check that you have a valid vehicle inspection certificate (車検証) and compulsory liability insurance certificate in the car, and carry an emergency signal device such as a flare. The user must also do the daily inspection (日常点検) and keep regular inspections.
Numbers to remember
Common traps
- 'An ordinary licence lets you ride any motorcycle.' Wrong: motorcycles need a motorcycle licence.
- 'The beginner mark is optional.' Wrong: it is a duty for the first year. The elderly and disabled driver marks are only 'encouraged'.
- 'You may cut in front of or squeeze a car with a mark.' Wrong: you must not, except to avoid danger.
- 'Any towing needs a towing licence.' Wrong: not for a trailer of 750 kg or less, or for towing a broken-down car with a rope or crane.
- 'Holding the licence at home is enough.' Wrong: you must carry it while driving.
Japan requires you to carry the licence while driving and uses marks on the car to show new, older, hearing-impaired and learner drivers. Other drivers must give these cars room.
Try 2 questions
A driver whose licence carries the condition "glasses etc. required" may drive without glasses for short distances.
Answer: × You must observe the conditions written on your licence, such as wearing glasses, regardless of the distance you drive.
A novice driver who has held an ordinary licence for less than one year must display the beginner driver mark at the specified places on the front and rear of the car.
Answer: ○ A novice driver whose ordinary licence is less than one year old puts the beginner driver mark at the specified positions on the front and rear of the car.