Stage 2 Course Content 15 — Duties of Automobile Owners, etc. and the Insurance System
- Registration (notification) of automobiles and inspection
- The necessity of purchasing insurance
- Types of automobile insurance and the system
1. Registration (Notification) of Automobiles and Inspection
1. Registration (Notification) of Automobiles
Automobiles (excluding light special equipment and light two-wheeled vehicles) must be registered (notified) and fitted with number plates.
Number plates of four-wheeled vehicles
| Exceeding 660 cc | 660 cc or less | |
|---|---|---|
| Private use | White background, green letters | Yellow background, black letters |
| Business use | Green background, white letters | Black background, yellow letters |
Number plates of two-wheeled vehicles
| Exceeding 250 cc | Exceeding 125 cc and 250 cc or less | |
|---|---|---|
| Private use | Green background, white letters | White background, green letters |
| Business use | Green background, white letters | White background, green letters |
※ Those for light special equipment, light two-wheeled vehicles, general motorized bicycles, and specified light motorized bicycles are specified separately.
Attention — Display of number plates
A driver must not drive a vehicle from which a number plate has been removed or of which a number plate is bent, etc. and the number cannot be recognized.
- Bent ✗
- Damaged ✗
- Tapes, etc. attached ✗
- Visors, etc. attached ✗
Reference — How to read a number plate
- Letters that indicate the Transport Branch Office or the Office for Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration having jurisdiction over the base of operations
- Hiragana or Roman alphabet that indicates the classifications such as for private use, for business use, etc.
- Arabic numbers of 4 digits or less
- Seal — A cap-like object attached to the top left part of a rear number plate of an automobile is referred to as a seal for a number plate and is required to be attached to a rear number plate by law. This seal indicates that the automobile has got the number after having been registered and inspected officially at a Transport Branch Office. It is attached by a specialist at a Transport Branch Office. If you remove it on your own, you will be subject to penalty. Since light motor vehicles do not need to be registered at Transport Branch Offices, they do not bear seals.
- Class numbers based on the type and usage, in Arabic numbers or Roman alphabets of 3 digits or less
- Colors of the number plates:
- (Registered automobiles) For business use: White letters on green background / For private use: Green letters on white background
- (Light motor vehicles) For business use: Yellow letters on black background / For private use: Black letters on yellow background
Class numbers on number plates and types of automobiles
| Class number on number plate | Type of automobile |
|---|---|
| 1·10 |
Large trucks, medium-sized trucks, semi-medium-sized trucks, and regular trucks (exceeding 2,000 cc) |
| 2·20 |
Large passenger automobiles and medium-sized passenger automobiles |
| 3·30 |
Semi-medium-sized passenger automobiles and regular passenger automobiles (exceeding 2,000 cc) |
| 4·40 |
Regular trucks (exceeding 660 cc and 2,000 cc or less) |
| 6·60 |
Regular trucks (exceeding 50 cc and 660 cc or less) |
| 5·50 |
Regular passenger automobiles (exceeding 660 cc and 2,000 cc or less) → A vehicle exceeding a specified size is assigned a number that starts from 3. |
| 7·70 |
|
| 50 |
Regular passenger automobiles (exceeding 50 cc and 660 cc or less) |
| 700 |
|
| 8·80 |
Large automobiles, medium-sized automobiles, semi-medium-sized automobiles, and regular automobile, vehicles for special use (Water-sprinkling vehicles, promotional vehicles, training vehicles of driving schools, hearses, etc.) |
| 9·90 |
Heavy special equipment |
| 0·00 |
Heavy special equipment (Construction equipment) |
2. Automobile Inspections
1. Duty to receive inspections
You must not drive an automobile (excluding light motor vehicle not subject to inspection and light special equipment) that has not received an inspection at a prescribed time and not given an automobile inspection certificate.
Automobile inspection (vehicle inspection) timing — Major inspections —
| Automobiles inspected yearly | Automobiles inspected every 2 years |
|---|---|
| Automobiles for business use (excluding 660 cc or less and motorcycles) | Automobiles for business use (Automobiles of 660 cc or less and motorcycles) |
| Automobiles for private use: Large automobiles / Medium-sized automobiles / Semi-medium-sized trucks / Regular trucks (excluding 660 cc or less) | Automobiles for private use: Regular passenger automobiles / Regular trucks of 660 cc or less / Large motorcycles / Regular motorcycles exceeding 250 cc / Automobiles (660 cc or less) |
| Rental automobiles (excluding 660 cc or less) |
※ For trucks with a vehicle gross weight of less than 8 tons, regular passenger automobiles used as rental automobiles, large motorcycles, and regular motorcycles, the first inspection should be done in 2 years.
※ For private-use regular passenger automobiles, large motorcycles, and regular motorcycles (excluding 250 cc or less), the first inspection should be done in 3 years.
2. Inspection sticker
If an automobile passes a vehicle inspection, an inspection sticker will be issued together with an automobile inspection certificate. An inspection sticker must be attached to the inner side of the automobile's front windshield in a way easily visible from the front. In the case of automobile not equipped with a driver's cabin or front windshield (such as two-wheeled vehicles), it should be attached to the top left part of the rear number plate of the automobile in a visible manner.
Inspection sticker (Four-wheeled vehicles exceeding 660 cc and two-wheeled vehicles exceeding 250 cc):
The figures show the year and month of the end of the validity period. The location of the figure indicating the year of the validity period is changed to make it recognizable. The placement of the years is repeated in the following order: top left, top right, bottom right, bottom left. (Example: May of Reiwa 6 / 2024)
Inspection sticker (Light motor vehicles subject to inspection — Regular automobiles of 660 cc or less):
The upper figure and the figure in the center show the year and the month of the end of a validity period, respectively.
Reference — Insurance sticker
Vehicles that are not subject to inspection (light motor vehicles not subject to inspection and motorized bicycles) are supposed to display an "insurance sticker", which is issued when automobile liability insurance is purchased for the vehicle. This sticker should be attached to the top left part of the rear number plate.
Light motor vehicles not subject to inspection and motorized bicycles: The upper figure and the figure in the center show the year and the month of the end of a validity period, respectively. The colors (blue, orange, purple, yellow-green, red, yellow, and green) of the backgrounds on insurance stickers vary according to the year which includes the day on which the coverage period expires, so that uninsured vehicles can be recognized easily.
Reference — Light motor vehicles not subject to inspection
Refers to motorcycles with a total engine displacement of 250 cc or less and automobiles equipped with caterpillar tracks and skis and with a total engine displacement of 660 cc or less (such as snowmobiles).
Light motor vehicles subject to inspection
Refers to regular automobiles with a total engine displacement of 660 cc or less.
3. Carrying an Automobile Inspection Certificate and an Automobile Liability Insurance Certificate
- An automobile that has received an inspection must not be driven unless it is equipped with a valid automobile inspection certificate and either an automobile liability insurance certificate or an automobile mutual relief system insurance certificate.
- An automobile or motorized bicycle which does not need to be inspected must not be driven unless it is equipped with a valid automobile liability insurance certificate or an automobile mutual relief system insurance certificate.
(For information on automobile liability insurance and automobile mutual relief system insurance, refer to p. 235)
4. Periodic Inspections
Users of automobiles (excluding light two-wheeled vehicles and light special equipment) must carry out inspections and necessary maintenance at times prescribed by type and usage of automobiles, as summarized below.
Inspection and maintenance completion sticker
Affixed to automobiles that have undergone inspection and maintenance at a certified factory and indicates when it is due for the next periodic inspection and maintenance. The background (the outer dial) color is different for each year (green, orange, blue, red) to make it easier to recognize.
| Type of vehicle | Inspection period depending on use (Private / Business / Rental) |
|---|---|
| Large passenger automobile | Every 3 months (all uses) |
| Medium-sized passenger automobile | Every 3 months (all uses) |
| Large truck | Every 3 months (all uses) |
| Medium-sized truck (vehicle gross weight of 8 t or more) | Every 3 months (all uses) |
| Vehicle for special use (vehicle gross weight of 8 t or more) | Every 3 months (all uses) |
| Medium-sized truck (vehicle gross weight less than 8 t) | Every 6 months (private/rental) / Every 3 months (business) |
| Semi-medium-sized truck | Every 6 months (private/rental) / Every 3 months (business) |
| Regular truck (excluding 660 cc or less) | Every 6 months (private/rental) / Every 3 months (business) |
| Heavy special equipment | Every 6 months (private/rental) / Every 3 months (business) |
| Automobile for picking up preschool children (excluding 660 cc or less) | Every 6 months (private/rental) / Every 3 months (business) |
| Vehicle for special use (excluding 660 cc or less) | Every 6 months (private/rental) / Every 3 months (business) |
| Regular passenger automobile (excluding 660 cc or less) | Every 12 months (private) / Every 3 months (business) / Every 6 months (rental) |
| Large motorcycle | Every 12 months (private) / Every 3 months (business) / Every 6 months (rental) |
| Regular motorcycle | Every 12 months (private) / Every 3 months (business) / Every 6 months (rental) |
| Regular passenger automobile (660 cc or less) | Every 12 months (private/business) / Every 6 months (rental) |
| Regular truck (660 cc or less) | Every 12 months (private/business) / Every 6 months (rental) |
| Vehicle for special use (660 cc or less) | Every 12 months (private/business) / Every 6 months (rental) |
5. Oversight of an Automobile
An owner, user, and oversight person of a vehicle must not lend the vehicle to others carelessly. If a person to whom you lend your vehicle causes a traffic accident, you may have to bear responsibility for the accident.
Particularly, you must never lend your vehicle to a person without a valid driver's license or a person who has drunk alcohol.
Also, to prevent your vehicle from being taken out without any notification to you, keep the key with enough care.
Reference — Duties of vehicle users, safe driving supervisors, etc.
Duties of users, etc.
- A vehicle user must endeavor to make the drivers of its vehicle observe the traffic regulations and make the safe driving supervisors, etc. manage safe driving. The same applies to the cases where a designated driver service provider makes a driver engaged in its business activities drive an automobile that is to be driven by a professional designated driver.
- A user of emergency vehicles such as fire trucks or automobiles designed for road maintenance work must endeavor to provide the drivers of its automobiles with the traffic safety education necessary for safe driving, except for the cases where the user has appointed a safe driving supervisor.
- A vehicle user must take necessary measures for the proper parking of the vehicles.
- If a driver commits the following acts, the Public Safety Commission may order the user of the relevant vehicle to take measures necessary for preventing recurrence of such acts. Nevertheless, if the following acts are committed repeatedly, the user may be ordered not to drive or allow any person to drive the relevant vehicle for a certain period of time.
- a. Violation of the maximum speed limit (Refers to an act to drive a vehicle at speed exceeding the maximum speed limit.)
- b. Driving while overloaded (Refers to an act to drive a vehicle when overloaded.)
- c. Driving while exhausted (Refers to an act to drive a vehicle in the state of being likely to unable to drive successfully due to overwork.) If a driver of an automobile that is to be driven by a professional designated driver or an accompanying automobile commits the acts a and c, or a parking or stopping violation (which refers to an act to park or stop a vehicle illegally), the relevant designated driver service provider may also be ordered to take measures necessary for preventing recurrence of such acts or be ordered to suspend its business operation by the Public Safety Commission.
- If a user of a vehicle for which the payment of the abandonment penalty has been ordered has a record of being ordered to pay the abandonment penalty before, the Public Safety Commission may order the user not to drive or allow any person to drive the relevant vehicle for a certain period of time.
- A user of a vehicle for which the abandonment penalty has not been paid within the specified period and for which the Public Safety Commission has issued a demand for payment cannot receive an automobile inspection certificate until he/she presents a document evidencing that the abandonment penalty, overdue fines, and service fees have been paid, etc.
Safe driving supervisors, etc.
- For each place of business at which 1 or more automobiles with a seating capacity of 11 people or more or 5 or more automobiles of other types (however, a large motorcycle and a regular motorcycle should be counted as 0.5, respectively) are used, a vehicle user must appoint a safe driving supervisor to perform the duties necessary for driving automobiles safely. (A designated driver service provider must appoint a safe driving supervisor for each of its business offices.)
- For each place of business at which 20 or more automobiles (however, a large motorcycle and a regular motorcycle should be counted as 0.5, respectively) are used (or, in the case of a designated driver service provider, each business office at which 10 or more accompanying automobiles are used), a prescribed number of deputy safe driving supervisors must be appointed based on the number of automobiles used there.
- A safe driving supervisor must conduct the following activities reliably to make the drivers drive safely. A deputy safe driving supervisor must assist the safe driving supervisors with respect to these activities.
- Provide a traffic safety education.
- Take measures to grasp the drivers' fitness, skills, and knowledge with respect to driving automobiles, as well as whether they observe the traffic regulations.
- Prepare operation plans with careful consideration to prevent violation of the maximum speed limit, driving when overloaded, driving while exhausted, and an act to let the driver being away from the vehicle and not able to drive it immediately when he/she has illegally parked the vehicle (or, in the case of an automobile that is to be driven by a professional designated driver or an accompanying automobile, a parking or stopping violation).
- Assign a stand-by driver for a long driving, etc.
- In the event of extreme weather or natural disaster, provide necessary instructions or take other measures to make drivers drive safely.
- Confirm that pre-driving checks have been done, check the drivers' health conditions, etc., and provide necessary instructions for safe driving.
- Before and after driving, visually or otherwise check the driver's condition for any signs of alcohol influence, and in addition, verify using an alcohol detector. Keep a record of such checks for 1 year and ensure that the alcohol detector is always kept functional. (Enforced on December 1, 2023)
- Make drivers keep a driving log.
- Provide guidance about necessary things for safe driving, such as skills and knowledge with respect to driving an automobile.
- The users of automobiles must grant the necessary authority to the safe driving supervisors for the performance of their duties, as well as maintain the necessary equipment for the performance of their duties.
- An automobile user, a safe driving supervisor, or other people who directly controls operation of automobiles must not make a driver commit the following acts or tolerate them. Otherwise, they may be ordered not to drive or allow any person to drive the relevant automobile for a certain period of time.
- a. Driving without a valid license (including driving while the license is suspended) or driving without a qualification
- b. Violation of the maximum speed limit
- c. Drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol
- d. Driving while taking narcotics, stimulants, paint thinner, etc., driving while exhausted, etc.
- e. Driving an automobile violating the restrictions on cargo load
- f. An act to let the driver being away from the vehicle and not able to drive it immediately when he/she has illegally parked the vehicle
Also, a designated driver service provider or its safe driving supervisor, etc. must not make a driver of an automobile that is to be driven by a professional designated driver commit the acts a to d or a parking or stopping violation, or a driver of an accompanying automobile commit the acts a to e or a parking or stopping violation, or tolerate them.
2. The Necessity of Purchasing Insurance
Should a traffic accident be caused, the person in possession or driver of the vehicle is obliged to compensate for the damage to the injured party. Insurance is designed to compensate for that damage.
In terms of respecting human life, the amount of compensation has been in an increasing trend in recent years. To fulfill your responsibility as a driver or person in possession of an automobile, purchase insurance without fail, in case the worst should happen.
3. Types of Automobile Insurance and the System
1. Types of Automobile Insurance
There are two types of automobile insurance; one is the insurance that must be purchased as a legal obligation (compulsory insurance), and the other is the insurance that an owner or a driver may purchase voluntarily (voluntary insurance).
2. Automobile Liability Insurance (Compulsory Insurance)
1. Purchasing compulsory insurance
Unless automobile liability insurance or automobile mutual relief system insurance has been purchased for an automobile (excluding light special equipment for agricultural work) or a motorized bicycle, they must not be driven. If you drive an automobile without compulsory insurance, you will be subject to penalty.
Besides, if no compulsory insurance has been purchased for a vehicle that needs to be inspected, the vehicle cannot undergo an inspection.
Reference — Automobile mutual relief system insurance
It is a mutual-aid program conducted by agricultural cooperatives (JA) or consumers' cooperative societies. Its purpose is the same as that of automobile liability insurance.
2. Making an insurance claim, etc.
For compulsory insurance, there are two ways to make an insurance claim for a traffic accident:
- Claim by the injuring party — An injuring party may make a claim to their insurance company for the insurance money up to the amount of compensation paid to the injured party. This claim should be made within 3 years after the payment to the injured party; otherwise the statute of limitations expires.
- Claim by the injured party — In the case where it is unable to settle out of court amicably, the injured party may make a claim directly to the insurance company of the injuring party for the compensation of damages, instead of making such a claim to the injuring party. When the injured party needs money for the time being, it can claim for temporary payment as part of the compensation they will receive later.
3. Limit of insurance money payments (amount of compensation) and temporary payments (per person)
| Classification | Limit of payments | Temporary payments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death | Damage by death | Max. 30 million yen | 2.9 million yen |
| Damage by injury until death | Max. 30 million yen | ||
| Injury | Damage by injury | Max. 1.2 million yen | Depending on the degree of injury: 400,000 yen / 200,000 yen / 50,000 yen |
| Damage by permanent disability (Classified into 14 grades depending on the degree of disability) | Max. 30 million yen (Grade 1) to max. 750,000 yen (Grade 14) | ||
| Damage by permanent disability requiring care | Max. 40 million yen (Grade 1) to 30 million yen (Grade 2) |
4. Other
The injured party who suffered death or injury by a hit-and-run accident or an uninsured vehicle may utilize the Government Compensation Plan. This application is accepted over the counter of a general insurance company or automobile mutual relief system insurance association.
3. Voluntary Automobile Insurance (Voluntary Insurance)
Compulsory insurance is insurance intended for the relief of injured parties in traffic accidents. Its coverage is limited to accidents resulting in injury or death, and there is a limit to the amount of compensation. Also, an insured's injury and expenses for repairing a vehicle are not covered. To prepare for heavy compensation of damages, solo accidents, and accidents resulting in property damage, it is advisable to purchase voluntary insurance.
1. Types of voluntary insurance
| Type | Description | Comprehensive private automobile insurance | Private automobile insurance | General automobile insurance | Automobile drivers' liability insurance (Driver insurance) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability insurance | Insurance which covers accidents resulting in death or injury of other people | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Property damage liability insurance | Insurance which covers damage to other people's vehicles and property | ● | ● | ● | |
| Vehicle insurance | Insurance which covers the collision, theft and fire of the insured vehicle | ● | ● | ||
| Solo accident insurance | Insurance which covers solo accidents resulting in death or injury of the insured | ● | ● | ||
| Passenger accident insurance | Insurance which covers accidents resulting in death or injury of passengers | ● | ● | ||
| Uninsured vehicle accident insurance | Insurance which covers collision accidents resulting in death or injury caused by an uninsured vehicle | ● | ● |
2. Making an insurance claim, etc.
- Claim by the insured — When an automobile accident has occurred and damage was done to another party, after the amount of compensation of damages is determined through talks, conciliation, trial, or other methods, the insured is to make a claim to his/her insurance company for the insurance money.
- Claim by the injured party — As for voluntary automobile insurance, basically, the insured should claim. However, the injured party may make a claim directly to the insurance company of the injuring party, against damages from an accident resulting in bodily injury (in the case of private automobile insurance) or against damages from an accident resulting in bodily injury or property damage (in the case of comprehensive private automobile insurance).
3. Traffic accident consultation counters
When you cause a traffic accident or suffer damage from a traffic accident, the amount of compensation of damages, etc. will be decided after discussion with the other party. In such event, you should discuss with the other party in good faith. If a settlement cannot be reached between the parties, consult with a qualified lawyer or the traffic accident consultation counters. Avoid interventions of commercial settlement services. You can consult at a consultation counter free of charge.
Reference — Traffic accident consultation counters
- Prefectural traffic accident consultation offices (in prefectural government offices)
- Municipal traffic accident consultation offices in major cities (in city halls)
- Traffic accident consultation counter (in police stations)
- Nichibenren Traffic Accident Consultation Center (in regional bar associations) — Main office in Tokyo (03) 3581 - 4724
- Traffic Safety Association's traffic consultation offices (in Traffic Safety Associations)
- Traffic accident consultation rooms in Prefectural Centers for Facilitating Traffic Safety Activities (in Traffic Safety Associations)
- Traffic accident consultation offices of general insurance companies (in insurance company offices across the country)
- Sonpo ADR Centers (10 centers across the country) — From anywhere in Japan: 0570 - 022808
- The Japan Center for Settlement of Traffic Accident Disputes
- Tokyo (03) 3346 - 1756 / Sapporo (011) 281 - 3241
- Sendai (022) 263 - 7231 / Nagoya (052) 581 - 9491
- Osaka (06) 6227 - 0277 / Hiroshima (082) 249 - 5421
- Takamatsu (087) 822 - 5005 / Fukuoka (092) 721 - 0881
- Traffic accident consultation offices of Zenkyoren (National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives) (47 offices across the country)
4. Comparative negligence
In traffic accidents, there are many cases where not only one party but also the other party is at fault. In the case where fault is also with the injured party, the amount of compensation of damages may be reduced according to the degree of the fault of the injured party. This is referred to as comparative negligence, which is provided in the Civil Code.
Comparative negligence may be applied, for example, in the cases where the injured party is with a fault such as ignoring traffic signals, crossing a road where crossing is prohibited, or ignoring a "Stop" sign, or in the cases where a parent fails to watch his/her preschool child, etc.
However, according to the Act on Securing Compensation for Automobile Accidents, if the accident results in death or injury, the driver, etc. of a vehicle or motorized bicycle must compensate for all damages arising from the accident even if he/she is not at fault, unless he/she can give evidence of the following.
- The injuring party is not at fault (the driver had exercised due care)
- The injured party acted intentionally or negligently
- There were no defects in the structure or functions of the vehicle
On the other hand, if the accident results in property damage only, the injured party must provide evidence that the injuring party acted negligently (provide a proof of injured party), etc.
Let's Try — Course Content 15 — Check your understanding with right/wrong questions.
(See page 275 for answers.)
- Every regular passenger vehicle must receive vehicle inspection periodically.
- The responsibility of a traffic accident should be borne by the driver only. The owner of the vehicle is not responsible for the accident in the case where the vehicle is used without the permission of the owner due to that the vehicle has not been overseen carefully.
- No one can drive an automobile or a motorized bicycle unless automobile liability insurance or automobile mutual relief system insurance is purchased for it.
- The number on the inspection sticker attached to the front windshield is the expiry date of automobile liability insurance.
- A regular passenger automobile for private use must undergo a periodic inspection once a year and be given necessary maintenance.
- To be prepared for a traffic accident, it is important to acquire the knowledge necessary for first aid; however, it is not so important to purchase automobile insurance.
(正: right, 誤: wrong)