How to Change Car Ownership in Japan: An Easy Guide

Thinking about getting a car in Japan?  Rather than buying new, many don’t mind buying a used car. 

However, the issue is car ownership transfership or 名義変更 (meigi henkou), especially in Japan. Because, like everything else, it involves lots of paperwork. 

But no worries. We have this simple guide on how to change car ownership in Japan. 

Please note: Many municipalities have similar but varying forms, so check your local regulations and documents for full confirmation about details.

Differences between Kei car and white license plate

There are two types of cars you can get in Japan:

• Kei car: Also known as a yellow license plate car or light-sized car (軽自動車). They have an engine limit of 660cc. Kei cars are smaller and tend to have lower automobile taxes (自動車税, jidosha-zei).

• White license plate: Also known as regular-sized car (普通自動車). They have engines larger than 660cc. The car size is larger and has a higher automobile tax.

Knowing the type of car you will be transferring or owning helps you determine which documents are needed.

How to get a parking certificate in Japan

When transferring the vehicle ownership, the new owner will need to provide proof that they have a designated car parking space near their home or apartment. This document is called shako shomeisho (車庫証明書).

When you own a car in Japan, you must have a dedicated parking space, as it is illegal to park on the side of the road. The space must fit your vehicle and be within 2km of your residence. A shako shomeisho (車庫証明書) proves the space is yours to park your car with.

To find the application form for your local parking certificate, you should search “(local area name in Japanese) + 車庫証明書” online. 

You’ll also need to bring additional documents to register your parking space at the local police station. Please note that there are slightly different documents needed depending on whether you own or rent the car parking/garage space:

Once you have your documents, go to the police station that has jurisdiction over your local city or town.

The application fee can vary depending on where you live, but it should be around 2,000 yen.

2 ways to transfer car ownership in Japan

There are two ways to transfer ownership of a car in Japan: by yourself or through a professional.

To change any car ownership in Japan, you will need to go to your local Municipal Transportation Bureau (交通局) with the necessary documents. 

1) Changing ownership yourself

If you decide to do the car transfership paperwork yourself, here’s what you need to do.

Please note: If there is a name difference on the Vehicle inspection certificate (車検証) and the registered Inkan shōmei-sho (印鑑証明書), or if the vehicle’s previous owner passed away, you’ll need another document, such as a copy of your family register.

White license plate

Here are the necessary documents when changing a white license plate car ownership in Japan: 

* Items available on the day at the Municipal Transportation Bureau

A parking certificate (車庫証明書) is not needed if the car is being stored at the same address as the original registered address. For example, if the transfer is with another family member living in the same house or with a friend in the same apartment building. 

Kei car 

Here are the necessary documents when changing Kei car ownership in Japan: 

* Items available on the day at the Municipal Transportation Bureau

2) Changing through a professional

If you are buying a used car from a dealership, they should be able to handle the car transfer of ownership procedures.

Additionally, an administrative scrivener office can also handle car owner transfership in Japan. 

In both cases, the following documents may be requested: 

White license plate

*If you do not have a license plate, you must submit a statement explaining the reason.

Kei car 

Car ownership transfer at the Transportation Bureau

Once you’ve gathered all the documents, you can now go to your local Transportation Bureau. 

When you arrive there, you can ask the staff for help, and they will guide you through the process.

Note: If you have hired a scrivener, they’ll do this process for you.

In closing

Once you know what to gather, you’ll be ready to submit the paperwork to change car ownership in Japan.

For more information, you can check out the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)’s motor vehicle registration system. (Japanese only)