I’m from Germany and have been living in Kyoto on a Working Holiday visa for the past four months. I’m legally allowed to drive in Japan with my German driver’s license and a JAF translation.
Over the last month, I’ve been looking at cars to buy and have organized everything, including a parking space, so I’m actually ready to purchase a car.
Previously, ChatGPT told me it shouldn’t be a problem to get car insurance without a Japanese driver’s license, so I didn’t think much about it. However, now that things are getting more serious, I’ve been looking into different insurance options and haven’t found any clear information. There’s nothing that explicitly says it’s impossible, but nothing confirming that it’s possible either.
I also called the office in Kyoto where you can exchange your foreign license for a Japanese one. They told me they are very busy, and I should call next month to maybe get a appointment in December. That feels like a long wait, and I really don’t want to wait that long 😅
Has anyone experienced the same issue or knows of any car insurance in Japan that will cover someone without a Japanese driver’s license?
by Suspicious_Zombie_15