Drivers must hold a full and currently valid driving licence. Learner, provisional, partial, restricted, or expired licences are not accepted under any circumstances, including licences awaiting renewal or replacement.
All drivers must present original documents at the time of rental (copies, photos, or digital licenses are not valid in Japan):
Option 1: International Driving Permit (IDP)
Must match the country that issued your driving licence
Your IDP must meet all of the following conditions:
- Issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (not the 1968 Vienna Convention).
- Issued by an officially authorized organization in your home country (e.g., AAA for USA, CAA for Canada, AA for UK, AAA for Australia).
- Must be in the official paper booklet format (card-type, digital, single-sheet, printed, or photocopied versions are invalid).
- The cover usually shows “1949.” If it shows “1968,” it is not valid in Japan.
- License categories must be listed as A, B, C, D, or E, with an official stamp/mark in section B.
- Must be within one year of issue AND within one year of your entry into Japan.
⚠️ Beware: Many websites sell fake or unauthorized “International Licenses.” These are invalid and illegal in Japan.
Option 2: Authorized Japanese Translation of Your Driver’s License
Only available to license holders from the following countries/regions:
- Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan
Translations must be issued by one of the following authorized organizations:
- Japan Automobile Federation (JAF)
- German Automobile Federation
- Taiwan-Japan Relations Association
- ZIPLUS Inc. (Taiwan only)
- Your Embassy in Japan
Additional Required Documents
- Your Original Home Country Driver’s License
(Must be presented together with either the IDP or authorized Japanese translation.) - Passport
(For identification and confirmation of entry date.)
International Driving Permit (IDP) must match the country that issued your driver’s license.
For example:
- If your driver’s license is from the USA, your IDP must also be issued in the USA (by AAA or AATA).
- If your driver’s license is from Australia, your IDP must be issued in Australia (by AAA).
You cannot mix and match (e.g., a Canadian license with a UK-issued IDP).
This is because the IDP is not a stand-alone license — it’s only a translation/extension of your home country’s license under the Geneva Convention.
🔴 Important Notice:
- Digital licenses, copies, or expired documents are not valid.
- If you fail to present all required original documents, we cannot provide a vehicle, and no refund will be issued.