Driver’s license renewal: What you need to know from 2024! Details on period, required documents, procedures, time, reservations, and what to do if you exceed the deadline.

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Renewing your driver’s license is a necessary procedure to continue driving. Please note that you will generally need to make a reservation if you wish to renew your license after February 1, 2024 (Reiwa 6). There are many aspects of license renewal that can be surprisingly confusing, such as the period, what to bring, and the procedure. This article thoroughly answers all your questions about license renewal. It covers not only the deadline, what to bring, where to renew, and the procedure, but also what to do if you lose your renewal postcard or the deadline has passed.

table of contents

License renewal period

Renewal Period

The license renewal period is one month before or after your birthday. Renewal procedures can be completed one month before your birthday.

Differences in validity periods depending on the color of your driver’s license

The validity period varies depending on the color of your driver’s license.

Green license: 3 years (until one month after your third birthday from the date of license acquisition)
Blue license: 3 years
Gold license: 5 years

When will the renewal postcard arrive?

The renewal postcard will arrive approximately 35 to 40 days before your birthday.

Those who have not received a license renewal notification postcard (driver’s license renewal notice)

The following are possible reasons why you may not have received your license renewal notification postcard (driver’s license renewal notice).

You haven’t completed the address change procedure
No change of address notification has been submitted
The postcard has not been forwarded
The postcard was lost

What to do if you don’t receive your license renewal postcard

If you have not received your license renewal postcard, you can take the following steps:

Contact the police station in your area
Go to the driver’s license testing center
Renew by mail
Renew online

If you lose your license renewal postcard

If you lose your license renewal postcard, you can still go through the procedure without any problems by telling the receptionist that you don’t have the postcard. However, please be aware that this may take some time.

We recommend that you do not lose the postcard, as you may forget the renewal deadline.

What you need to bring to renew your license

driver’s license
Renewal postcard
commission
If you wear glasses, please include them.

Fees vary depending on the type of driver’s license and where you are renewing it, so be sure to check in advance.

example

For a regular driver’s license: 2,050 yen
Driver’s License Center: Cash only
At police stations: Cash, revenue stamps, credit cards, electronic money cashless payments.

Driver’s license renewal procedures will be completely reservation-based from February 1, 2024.

Please note that if you are renewing your license after February 1, 2024 (Reiwa 6), you will need to make a reservation. You will need the reservation ID printed on the renewal notification postcard issued by the Metropolitan Police Department. Reservations can be made online or by phone via an automated voice message.

Metropolitan Police Department Driver’s License Application Reservation Site

Automated voice reservation number: 05018085070

Those who do not need a reservation

Those aged 70 or older (those eligible for elderly care courses)
Those who are renewing their license before the renewal period due to reasons such as overseas travel or childbirth
Those who are renewing their license through a prefectural public safety commission other than the one in which they reside.
Those who do not have the renewal notice postcard issued by the Metropolitan Police Department
Those renewing at Shimabe Police Station

License renewal locations and reception hours

License renewals can be done at the following locations:

Driver’s License Center
Police Station
Some city, ward, town, and village offices

Reception hours vary depending on the location, so be sure to check in advance.

example

Driver’s License Center: Weekdays 8:30-17:00, Saturdays 8:30-12:00
Police Station: Weekdays 9:00-17:00
City/ward/village offices: Weekdays 9:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00

Who can’t renew their driver’s license at the police station?

If any of the following applies to you, you will not be able to renew your license at the police station.

Those with many violation points
Those who have committed serious offenses in the past
People with physical disabilities
People aged 70 or over

In these cases, you will need to go to a driver’s license testing center to renew your license. For details, please check the police website for your prefecture.

License renewal process and required time

The procedure for license renewal is as follows:

reception
Aptitude tests (eyesight tests, reflex tests, etc.)
photo shoot
Training course (Good drivers: 30 minutes, General drivers: 1 hour)
License issuance

The journey takes approximately 1 to 2 hours. It may take longer depending on traffic congestion. You will need to attend a training course. The length of the course will vary depending on your violation history and age.