Owning and Driving a Car in Tokyo: What to Know First
A friendly overview for foreigners who already hold a licence: do you even need a car in Tokyo, and if you do, the parking certificate, insurance, the shaken inspection, toll and parking costs, and kei cars as a cheaper option.
If you already hold a Japanese licence (or have converted your foreign one), you might be wondering whether to get a car in Tokyo. The honest answer for many people in the central wards is: you probably do not need one. Tokyo's trains, subways and buses go almost everywhere, parking is expensive and hard to find, and a car can sit unused for weeks. But if you have small children, live in an outer suburb, do a lot of weekend trips, or simply love driving, a car can be wonderful. This guide walks you through what owning one actually involves, so there are no surprises.
Do you actually need a car?
Before you buy anything, add up the real monthly cost: a parking space (which can run from around 15,000 yen in outer wards to 50,000 yen or more in central Tokyo), insurance, fuel, tolls, taxes and the periodic inspection averaged out. Many newcomers find that occasional car-sharing or rentals for weekend trips are far cheaper than ownership. If you mostly stay within the city, try a few months without a car first.
Buying new or used
You can buy from a dealer (new or used), a used-car superstore, or online platforms. New cars come with a fresh inspection and a maker warranty but cost more; used cars are cheaper and Japan's strict inspection culture means many are in excellent condition. Whichever you choose, the dealer usually handles registration paperwork for you for a fee, but you will need to arrange one thing yourself first: proof that you have somewhere to park it.
The parking-space certificate (shako shomei)
To register most standard cars in Tokyo you must prove you have a dedicated parking space, by obtaining a 車庫証明 (shako shomei, a 'proof-of-parking-space certificate'). You apply through the police station that covers where the car will be kept, showing the space is yours (owned or rented) and close enough to your home. This is an official procedure, so we point you to the source rather than walking you through it: see the Tokyo Metropolitan Police page below, and ask the dealer or the police if anything is unclear.
Insurance: compulsory plus voluntary
Every car in Japan must carry 自賠責保険 (jibaiseki, compulsory automobile liability insurance). It is required by law and covers injury or death to other people only, up to fixed limits, with no cover for vehicle damage, property, or your own injuries. Because those limits are low, almost everyone also buys 任意保険 (nin'i hoken, voluntary insurance) for the rest, accidents to your own car, damage to property, and a higher liability ceiling. Many drivers add JAF roadside-assistance membership as well. Treat voluntary insurance as essential, not optional.
The shaken safety inspection
Japanese cars must pass a periodic safety inspection called 車検 (shaken). For a private passenger car the first inspection is due three years after a new car is first registered, then every two years after that. It bundles the inspection fee, the compulsory insurance, the weight tax and any needed repairs, so the total can run into six figures of yen, especially on an older car. Budget for it, and never let it lapse, driving on an expired shaken is illegal.
Tolls (ETC) and parking costs
Tokyo's expressways are toll roads. Almost everyone fits an ETC unit and ETC card so tolls are charged electronically as you pass through, faster than cash lanes and eligible for time-based discounts. Day to day, also factor in fuel, your monthly parking space, and coin-parking when you are out. Confirm current toll rules and discounts on the expressway operator's official ETC page below.
Kei cars: the cheaper option
If you want a car but not the running costs, consider a 軽自動車 (kei-jidosha, 'light car'), Japan's class of small, sub-660cc vehicles with yellow plates. They are cheaper to buy and run: the annual light-vehicle tax is far lower than for a standard car (commonly around 10,800 yen for a standard private kei, versus tens of thousands for a regular car), insurance and weight tax are lower, and they fit into smaller, cheaper parking spaces. They still need insurance and the shaken inspection. For tight Tokyo streets and tiny parking spots, a kei car is often the smart choice.
- Try a few months car-free first; car-sharing or rentals often beat ownership in the central wards.
- Get a written all-in cost estimate from the dealer: registration, the parking certificate, taxes, insurance and delivery.
- Arrange your parking space and its certificate early, you cannot register the car without it.
- Always buy voluntary insurance on top of the compulsory minimum; the compulsory cover alone is not enough.
- A kei car saves on tax, insurance, parking and fuel, ideal for narrow streets and short city trips.
- Put aside money for the shaken every renewal; it is a recurring lump-sum cost.
- Get an ETC unit and card to use expressways smoothly and qualify for discounts.
- Can I drive in Tokyo as soon as I have a licence?
- This guide assumes you already hold a valid Japanese licence or have converted a foreign one. Converting a licence is a separate topic with its own procedure, so we do not cover it here.
- How often is the shaken inspection?
- For a private passenger car the first one is three years after the car is first registered as new, then every two years. Check the official MLIT portal for your exact case.
- Is the parking certificate really required?
- For most standard cars in Tokyo, yes, you must show proof of a parking space to register the car. It is arranged through the police; see the Tokyo Metropolitan Police page below and ask the dealer or police for help.
- Do I need both kinds of insurance?
- The compulsory jibaiseki is required by law but only covers injury to others up to low limits. Voluntary insurance covers the rest and is treated as essential by almost all drivers.
- MLIT, vehicle inspection validity period (official) (opens in a new tab)
- MLIT, compulsory liability insurance (jibaiseki) portal (opens in a new tab)
- Tokyo Metropolitan Police, parking-space certificate (shako shomei) (opens in a new tab)
- JAF Q&A, what compulsory insurance covers (opens in a new tab)
- JAF Q&A, vehicle inspection (shaken) (opens in a new tab)
- NEXCO East, ETC and expressway discounts (opens in a new tab)
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