How Old do you have to be to rent a car in Japan？

You may often hear about car accidents involving young novice drivers or elderly drivers on TV. While age alone cannot be blamed for accidents, there are people who feel anxious about age-related issues.

Today, let’s talk about age restrictions when renting a car.

Are there age restrictions for renting a car?

Are there any restrictions for beginners or elderly drivers when renting a car? To ensure safe use of rental cars, let’s answer these questions.

Is there an age limit for renting a car?

Basically, there is no age restriction for renting a car.

As long as you have a valid driver’s license, you can rent a car regardless of your age. A regular driver’s license can be obtained at the age of 18 or older, and there is no upper age limit.

Therefore, you can generally use rental cars without age restrictions.

However, there may be restrictions for drivers under the age of 21 or those who have had their license for less than one year.

Let’s explain this in detail.

Can beginners rent a car?

In general, drivers who have had their license for less than one year are called “newly licensed” or “beginner drivers.” Beginner drivers can rent a car, but rental car companies may impose certain restrictions or conditions.

Beginner drivers are often seen as having a higher risk of causing accidents due to their inexperience. Therefore, safety measures such as having a safety driver accompany them or requiring enrollment in comprehensive insurance for accidents may be necessary.

Conversely, because of the high risk of accidents, there may be cases where comprehensive insurance options cannot be added, or luxury car models cannot be rented.

For those who are inexperienced, unsure of their driving skills, or under 21 years old, rental car companies may provide safety checklists and safe driving advice when renting a car.

These conditions vary by rental car company. If you are a beginner renting a car, always make sure to confirm the details.

If You Are Worried, Attach a Beginner’s Mark to Your Car

Driving for the first time in Japan can be intimidating. In such cases, attach a beginner’s mark to your car.

When you have a beginner’s mark, other drivers will recognize you as a novice and are less likely to drive aggressively, such as cutting in or squeezing in close. Some considerate drivers might even give way to you when merging or turning right. On the other hand, without the beginner’s mark, there is no way for other drivers to know that you are a beginner.

As a result, beginner drivers may not receive the kind of consideration mentioned above from surrounding vehicles. This relatively increases the risk of encountering driving dangers or trouble. The beginner’s mark is an important indicator that protects novice drivers, so make sure to place it in a visible location as required by law.

For those driving in Japan for the first time, it is recommended to use a beginner’s mark. If you have a beginner’s mark, you can expect some level of consideration from surrounding drivers. Therefore, even if you usually drive but still lack confidence in your driving skills, intentionally displaying that you are a beginner can reduce the risk of getting involved in dangerous situations.

Let’s review the placement and precautions of the beginner’s mark.

Placement of the Beginner’s Mark

There are suction cup types, magnet types, and reusable adhesive types of beginner’s marks. For cars with aluminum bodies, magnet types may not attach properly, so choose the appropriate beginner’s mark for the car you will be driving.

If you are unsure, feel free to consult us.

You can purchase these marks at supermarkets, home improvement stores, and 100-yen shops.

Can Elderly People Also Rent Cars?

Recently, accidents involving elderly drivers are frequently reported on the news. As mentioned earlier, there is no upper age limit for a driver’s license.

Regarding rental cars, as long as it can be confirmed that the driver can drive safely without any issues with their driving skills or cognitive functions, they can rent a car.

During license renewal, checks are conducted to ensure there are no issues with cognitive or judgment functions, and special courses for elderly drivers are provided to promote safe driving. By June 2022, a driving skills test will be introduced for elderly drivers with certain violations or accident histories during license renewal.

Even if you are elderly, as long as you take the required courses and pass the tests during license renewal, it is determined that you can drive safely, and you can rent a car without any problems!

However, it is inevitable that cognitive and judgment functions gradually decline with age. Therefore, it is important not to overestimate your driving skills. If you have any doubts or concerns, it may be necessary to have a family member drive instead.

Additionally, drivers over 70 years old are recommended to attach a “senior driver mark” to their car to indicate to other drivers that they are elderly. Most rental car companies do not provide senior driver marks, so be sure to bring your own if needed.

No Age Limit for Rental Cars! Aim for Safe Driving Regardless of Age

There is no upper age limit for obtaining a driver’s license, which can be acquired from the age of 18. As long as you have a valid driver’s license, there is no age limit for renting a car. Whether you are a newly licensed driver under 20 or an elderly driver, you can use rental cars.

However, drivers who have had their license for less than a year may face certain restrictions due to the higher risk of accidents. These conditions vary by rental car company, so make sure to confirm the details before making a reservation.

For elderly drivers, while there are no age restrictions for renting a car solely based on age, it is required that they can drive safely. Bringing a senior driver mark and having a family member drive if you have any concerns can help prevent accidents.

Regardless of age, it is important to judge your driving ability and condition while striving for safe driving.