[coste21]

Well, I thought I'd start a new thread for this. There are several similar threads, but they just don't have what I'm looking for, and I don't really want to put my thoughts and questions up in them, with the title slightly misleading.

Anyway, I'm going to be going for my Driver's License, and will probably be updating this post area with new info and stuff, so that others who want to know the same stuff, can have something to work off of.

First, some quick info. I'm 21. Male. I came to Japan after graduating High School in 2008, and spent almost 2 years at a Language School in Tokyo. This year (2010) from April, I entered Nihon University's College of Engineering to study Electrical Engineering. My classes are in Japanese.

I'm not great at it, but I can manage somehow.

I've been driving in Japan with an official Japanese scooter license for a little over a year now, but winter is coming, and I've also just started a part time job. I'd like a car, and have been looking into a 3 year lease, and what that includes.

Enough with the intro. Now for the real stuff. The License.

I have read that first, you need a translation of you American License. AND the license can't be expired. okay, here is a problem. My license my mother renewed for me and mailed to me in August, so I have a renewed License. The one before that I go in April 2008, but I came to Japan in June of 2008. Before that, I received my drivers license (where I could drive by myself, albeit restricted) sometime around early 2007. So there is that proof.

I am hoping I can get some documents that proove when I first had that license, and so proove that I have been driving for over three months in my country.

With that, I would then go to the Drivers Center, and apply for the examination. This costs money, and takes time and documents, to sum it up.

1) The translation of my License. Is this only the renewed License? Or do I need to translate the documents that show I lived in America and drove more than three months before coming to Japan as well? (I know I can get the license translation done at a JAF nearby for around 3,000 yen.)

2) So I bring my passport, foreign registration card, everything I can that pertains to my American License, and $$ and a photo....is that it? or do I need my inkan (stamp thing), and apartment contract and stuff? (I'll be looking this up on the official website and posting what you need as well)

3) I apply, and take the '10' question written test. Is that correct?

4) An eye exam.

5) The driving test. From what I've read, there are Saturday practice lessons at times, and you can walk the course and stuff at certain times. But there is money involved, always money, and I don't have anywhere near 3k to fork out for a driving school, nor do I have the time it takes to go to classes.

6) I'm banking on my scooter driving to provide me with the jist of how the driving test will go, but if I can't practice first, I'm really afraid of failing like 3-5 or more times. In the end it should be cheaper than the driving school, but still >_<

So pretty much I'll be updating this forum with whatever other information I manage to find. But on the documents question, and maybe on some tips for how the driving part of the test goes? In America, I had to walk around the car, and look under it to check for leaks, and all that kind of stuff, but it's been a long time...what kind of stuff is usually expected? or what stuff did you fail on, or pass on?

Awaiting responses,

Coste21