Driving abroad
Pick where you are driving and where your licence is from: side of the road, the permit you need, speed and alcohol limits, tolls and when to hire a driver instead.
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Japan
Japan guide →Traffic keeps
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Licence and permit
IDP requiredcheck
1949 convention
Only a 1949-convention IDP is accepted; 1968-format permits are refused. Licences from a few countries (e.g. France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan) need an official Japanese translation instead. The IDP is valid for one year from entry.
- Typical speed limits (km/h) check
- Town30–60Open road50–60Motorway80–120
- Drink-drive limit check
- 0.03% (breath 0.15 mg/L) — effectively none; passengers can be fined too
- Rental age check
- 18+
- Tolls, vignettes and zones check
- Expressways are tolled and expensive; rent an ETC card with the car. The Japan Expressway Pass covers most tolls for visitors.
Desk table checked 2026-09. Rules change: the national road authority and your rental contract have the final word. Signs always beat this page.
Before you pick up the car
- Get the IDP in your home country before you leave — they cannot be issued abroad. It is only valid with your actual licence.
- Check that your travel insurance covers driving (and motorbikes, by engine size) in Japan.
- Photograph the car all round, and ask how tolls and fines are billed back to your card.
- Entry rules and documents: entry check.