ASAHI MOTORS GROUP provides long-term car rental service, leasing and sales in English so that foreign people living in Japan can drive a car without stress.
A foreign expatriate living in Japan may receive a car from a colleague or acquaintance. However, what should a foreigner who cannot speak Japanese do? In the first place, we will explain whether you can change the name of the car by yourself.
You can change the ownership of a car on your own, but quite tedious
In conclusion, you can change the ownership of a car by yourself. However, since even Japanese do not know how to do this and it is a tedious process, most car dealers will handle it for you.
The biggest problem is that all forms to be filled out are in Japanese, and the reception desk is only available in Japanese.
Therefore, the first requirement is to be able to read and write in Japanese.
Where do you go to change the ownership?
In the case of a full-sized car, you can change the ownership of it at the Transport Bureau Branch Office that has jurisdiction over the city in which you live.
In this issue, we will introduce the case of a full-sized car.
*Japanese Only【参照：自動車検査登録 総合ポータルサイト https://www.jidoushatouroku-portal.mlit.go.jp/jidousha/kensatoroku/list/index.html】
Documents to be prepared
There are several documents that must be prepared in advance of the change of ownership of a car. Note that the documents to be prepared are different for the old owner and the new owner.
| Old Owner | New Owner | |
| Application Form | 〇 | |
| Fee payment form | 〇 | |
| Valid vehicle inspection certificate | 〇 | |
| Certificate of seal impression issued within the last three months | 〇 | 〇 |
| Certificate of transfer with the former owner’s seal | 〇 | 〇 |
| Personal seal of the new owner | 〇 | |
| Power of attorney | 〇 | 〇 |
| Certificate of automobile storage location | 〇 |
Procedures at the Transport Bureau Branch Office
② Issuance of a vehicle inspection certificate
③ Report to the tax office that you have changed the ownership of a car
④ Return the old license plate and purchase a new one
⑤ Install and seal the license plate
⑥ Re-set up the ETC system
Take the vehicle and the necessary documents to the Transport Bureau Branch Office and complete the necessary procedures.
Carefully prepare the documents, as errors in writing the transfer certificate or power of attorney, or incompleteness in the required documents will prevent the procedure from being completed.
The application form and fee payment form can be rewritten at the Transport Bureau Branch Office, so there is no need to prepare them in advance.
Most Transport Bureau Branch Offices are divided into two or three wings, with different documents to be applied for in each wing.
Therefore, the applicant must go back and forth within the Transport Bureau Branch Office, applying in one building, filing taxes in the next building, buying stamps in another building, and so on.
In principle, even the Transport Bureau Branch Office in Tokyo is only available in Japanese.
Therefore, it would be almost impossible for a foreigner who cannot read or write Japanese to go through the procedures and change the ownership of a car.
・A registration fee 500 JPY
・Parking Certificate 2,500 – 3,000JPY
・Number Plate Fee 1,500JPY
If you are unsure about the procedure, please contact ASAHI MOTORS
The process of changing the ownership of a car is not an easy one, and a single forgotten document can result in multiple trips to the Transport Bureau Branch Office.
At ASAHI MOTORS, we can handle the change of ownership of a car between foreigners in English.
ASAHI MOTORS Rent a Car
What we would like to propose is the use of ASAHI MOTORS Long Term Rental Car.
No complicated procedures are required, and payment can be made by credit card.
Use a rental car until you get used to life in Japan after your assignment.
For example, during the six-month period, you have time to consider leasing or purchasing a car.
***Minimum one month to a maximum of two years.
Let ASAHI MOTORS help you lease or buy a car!
＼ BUY / LEASE ／
＼ CAR RENTAL ／
