For First-Time Users
About Driver's License & Required Documents
About Driver's License
Ready to Drive in Japan?
Find out what documents you need to start driving by answering the question below :
Do you possess a drivers license from one of the following countries?
Switzerland
Germany
France
Taiwan
Belgium
Monaco
Ready to Drive in Japan?
You would require a: License Translation Document
Read more details by clicking the button below :
OR
If you are a SOFA License holder, click the button below to read more details:
Ready to Drive in Japan?
You would require an: International Driving Permit
Read more details by clicking the buttons below :
Other Cases
OR
If you are a SOFA License holder, click the button below to read more details:
International Driving Permit
An IDP is a document that allows your domestic driver's license to be valid overseas.
Japan is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention, and only IDPs issued under this convention are valid.
In order to drive in Japan, you must confirm that your driver's license is valid and meets the required conditions.
Please review the following information in advance.
Only International Driving Permits officially approved by the police are accepted.
For Those Using Automated Immigration Gates
If you use the automated gate, your passport will not receive an entry stamp indicating your date of entry into Japan. Please bring your boarding pass or TTP card.
- Valid for one year from date of issue
- Valid for driving for one year from the date of entry into Japan.
- Please be sure to bring the original document. Copies such as PDFs or card-type certificates are not accepted.
Cases Where Use Is Not Allowed
- IDPs issued in Japan or Mainland China, and IDPs based on the Vienna Convention (1968) or the Washington Convention (1943) (*not based on the Geneva Convention)
- Rental using a Residence Card in combination with an International Driving Permit
- Rental using only a Residence Card
- Examples of IDPs that are not accepted IDPs issued by the above organizations that are not based on the Geneva Convention
※Availability may vary depending on the language of the driver's license and the issuing country.
For SOFA license holders, please check here for more information.
For more details regarding the International Driving Permit, please click here.
License Translation Document
Switzerland
Germany
France
Taiwan
Belgium
Monaco
If you hold a driver's license from the countries listed above, you may drive in Japan for up to one year after arrival in Japan by submitting a Japanese translation of your license.
For more details regarding the License Translation Document, please click here.
Japanese Driver's License
For holders of Japanese driver's license
If you have a valid Japanese driver's license, you can rent a car by presenting it at the counter.
Please make sure that your driver's license is valid and has not expired before your rental.
Cases where rental is not permitted (Important)
Customers who fall under any of the following categories are not eligible to use AVIS Rent a Car.
If using an International Driving Permit issued in the Philippines
- Due to the spread of the use of counterfeit licenses, we refuse to provide services to non-Filipino citizens with Filipino International Driver's Permits.
- This shall apply to our services until this notice is taken down from our website. Thank you for your understanding.
Regarding Laos International Driving Permits
- We cannot rent out vehicles with any permits other than those officially recognized by the police department.
- Even if such a permit is presented, we are unable to proceed with rental or return procedures.
For details, please refer to the National Police Agency website.
For more details regarding cases where rental is not permitted, please click here.
For First-Time Users
- About Driver's License
- About Driving in Japan
- Traffic Rules & Important Notes
- About Traffic Accidents
- About Traffic Signs
- About Parking
Pick-up Location
Return Location
Pick-up Date
Return Date
