For overseas driver's license holders

What do you need to bring when renting a car?

Driver's license issued in Taiwan, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany or Monaco flag

  • Have your driver's license officially translated into Japanese

    If your driver's license was issued in Taiwan, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, or Monaco, you may legally drive a vehicle in Japan by carrying your local driver's license together with an official Japanese translation. Be reminded that Japanese traffic laws apply, regardless of the origin of your local driver's license.
    Icon 1

    Locally issued
    driver's license
    Icon 2

    Official
    Japanese
    translation

  • Passport

    You must be able to present your passport at all times. If you are stopped by police while driving, the officer may ask for your passport to confirm the number of days since your entry to Japan.

    passportPassport

  • Credit card

    In general, Japanese rent-a-car companies require payment via credit card; most overseas credit cards are accepted.

    credit cardCredit card

OR

  • Convert to a Japanese driver's license

    Your locally issued driver's license can be converted to a Japanese license by applying at the Driver's License Center of your area's prefectural police department.
    A Japanese translation of your license is necessary to apply for the conversion.
    Icon

    Japanese
    driver's license

  • Passport

    You must be able to present your passport at all times. If you are stopped by police while driving, the officer may ask for your passport to confirm the number of days since your entry to Japan.

    passportPassport

  • Credit card

    In general, Japanese rent-a-car companies require payment via credit card; most overseas credit cards are accepted.

    credit cardCredit card

International driving permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention
flag&Other Countries

  • Drive with an international driving permit
    issued under the Geneva Convention

    You'll need an international driving permit deemed valid in Japan under the Geneva Convention. If more than one person is going to drive, each driver must have an international driving permit.
    International driving permits issued under other conventions or treaties — including the 1969 Vienna Convention — are invalid, even if they are issued by a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention.
    Icon 1

    International
    driving permit

  • Passport

    You must be able to present your passport at all times. If you are stopped by police while driving, the officer may ask for your passport to confirm the number of days since your entry to Japan.

    passportPassport

  • Credit card

    In general, Japanese rent-a-car companies require payment via credit card; most overseas credit cards are accepted.

    credit cardCredit card

OR

  • Transferring to a Japanese Driver's license

    A driver's license issued by a foreign administrative office can be switched to a Japanese license by applying to the Driver's License Center of your area's prefectural police department.
    A Japanese translation of the foreign license is necessary to apply for transferring to a Japanese driver's license.
    Icon

    Japanese
    driver's license

  • Passport

    You must be able to present your passport at all times. If you are stopped by police while driving, the officer may ask for your passport to confirm the number of days since your entry to Japan.

    passportPassport

  • Credit card

    In general, Japanese rent-a-car companies require payment via credit card; most overseas credit cards are accepted.

    credit cardCredit card

*For more detailed information, please see the 'Procedures Related to Driver’s License' section on the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department website, which explains the details of driving permissions for travelers and has links to each prefectural police department's website.