Buying a Car in Japan as a Foreign Resident: Steps, Documents and Japanese
To buy a car in Japan as a foreign resident, you need a valid licence for driving in Japan, a residence card, and usually proof of a parking space (車庫証明) from the police; for a regular car you also need a registered seal and a seal certificate (印鑑証明). The dealer usually handles registration for a fee. After that, budget for compulsory and voluntary insurance, annual car tax, and the regular safety inspection (車検). Most of the process happens in Japanese, so it helps to bring a Japanese speaker or prepare the key phrases.
Kei car or regular car?
| Kei car (軽自動車) | Regular car (普通車) | |
|---|---|---|
| Plates | Yellow | White |
| Running costs | Lower tax, insurance and tolls | Higher |
| Parking certificate | Needed only in some areas | Needed in most areas |
| Seal certificate | Usually not needed | Needed |
| Best for | Town driving, narrow roads | Families, motorways, snow |
Step by step
- Check your licence. An international driving permit only covers a short stay; residents usually need to convert to a Japanese licence. See driving in Japan.
- Find a parking space near your home and get the landlord’s or car park’s paperwork for the parking certificate.
- Choose a car and dealer. Ask about the remaining 車検, accident history and warranty.
- Prepare documents: residence card, resident record (住民票), seal certificate if needed, and parking certificate.
- Arrange insurance. Compulsory insurance (自賠責) comes with the car; voluntary insurance (任意保険) is strongly recommended.
- Pay and collect. The dealer registers the car and gives you the inspection certificate (車検証).
Rules vary by area and change over time; your dealer and local police station can confirm what you need.
Phrases at the dealer
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 中古車を探しています。 | chūkosha o sagashite imasu. | I’m looking for a used car. |
| 車検はいつまでですか？ | shaken wa itsu made desu ka? | When does the inspection run out? |
| 事故歴はありますか？ | jikoreki wa arimasu ka? | Has it been in an accident? |
| 諸費用込みでいくらですか？ | shohiyō komi de ikura desu ka? | How much is it including all fees? |
| 試乗できますか？ | shijō dekimasu ka? | Can I test-drive it? |
| 登録の手続きをお願いできますか？ | tōroku no tetsuzuki o onegai dekimasu ka? | Can you handle the registration? |
Ongoing costs
- Car tax (自動車税 or 軽自動車税), billed each spring to the owner on record.
- Shaken, usually three years after a new car is first registered and every two years after that.
- Parking, which can cost more than the car in big cities.
How Hanabuddies can help
We can provide an English–Japanese interpreter for dealer visits and insurance calls, in person (you cover the interpreter’s travel) or online, and translate contracts and documents so you know what you’re signing. Translations are uncertified and not legal advice. If you’d rather do it yourself, a native tutor can role-play the dealer conversation with you first.