Driver's permit and license

[MFoogle]

First off, how do you say both "driver's permit" and "driver's license"? I've looked it up and I can only find the words for "permit" and "license" but they both are the same word.

How old do you have to be to get your license in Japan?

[becki_kanou]

運転免許 (うんてんめんきょ) is driver's license and I believe you have to be 18. It's very expensive to get a driver's license in Japan, so you don't see teenagers or young people driving nearly as much as in the States.

[Mike Cash]

18 is the age for a passenger car license. The word for a learner's permit is 仮免許 (kari menkyo). The learner's permit system is very different in Japan than what it was back home in Tennessee when I got mine (early 1980s). Back then I only had an eye test and a paper test. Here, they also have a driving skills test.

Yes, you have to prove you can drive well enough to learn how to drive, but not yet well enough to drive.

[MFoogle]

You have to take a driving and written test in the USA too. It's just changed I guess from 20-30 years ago.

[Harisenbon]

The learner's permit system is very different in Japan than what it was back home in Tennessee when I got mine (early 1980s). .

Sorry for the threadjack, but...

Are you from Tennessee? I always thought you were from further south for some reason.
Where in TN? I'm a Memphian myself

[Mike Cash]

The learner's permit system is very different in Japan than what it was back home in Tennessee when I got mine (early 1980s). .

Sorry for the threadjack, but...

Are you from Tennessee? I always thought you were from further south for some reason.
Where in TN? I'm a Memphian myself

Humboldt, home of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival.

[MFoogle]

Random immigration question:

Let's say I'm 16 and I have my full drivers license (in the USA). If I suddenly moved to Japan, would I still legally be allowed to drive, or would my USA license be nothing over there?

[AJBryant]

Try this.

Tony

[BrianM]

While on tour our guide told us some things about drivers in Japan. It takes up to 3 times for someone to pass their test, and each time you take it, the price goes up. The third time I believe was 600yen she said. Also young drivers and older drivers have certain colored stickers on their cars to alert other drivers on the road. Lastly she said there are 2 types of drivers, one that has a license but rarely drives, and the other who drives often.

[Harisenbon]

While on tour our guide told us some things about drivers in Japan. It takes up to 3 times for someone to pass their test, and each time you take it, the price goes up.

Really? My wife and I both passed ours on the first try, and as far as I know the price doesn't go up from failing, you just have to take the time out of your schedule to go and do it again (and of course pay the testing fee again). Also, I *WISH* the testing fee was 600 yen. That's less than it cost me to take the bus to the testing center.

[chikara]

.... I *WISH* the testing fee was 600 yen. That's less than it cost me to take the bus to the testing center.

600 yen is for the third test so the first two must be cheaper. At that rate it hardly seems worth charging at all.

The cost of a practical driving test here is ten times that much.

[becki_kanou]

.... I *WISH* the testing fee was 600 yen. That's less than it cost me to take the bus to the testing center.

600 yen is for the third test so the first two must be cheaper. At that rate it hardly seems worth charging at all.

The cost of a practical driving test here is ten times that much.

Yeah, that sounded absurdly low to me too. Perhaps Brian M dropped a zero? Or meant $600 rather than ¥600?

[BrianM]

While on tour our guide told us some things about drivers in Japan. It takes up to 3 times for someone to pass their test, and each time you take it, the price goes up.

Really? My wife and I both passed ours on the first try, and as far as I know the price doesn't go up from failing, you just have to take the time out of your schedule to go and do it again (and of course pay the testing fee again). Also, I *WISH* the testing fee was 600 yen. That's less than it cost me to take the bus to the testing center.

Oops, sorry lol. Still getting used to the currency, It was 60,000 yen, so it's 600 bucks.
D'oh!