Buying a Car
Update date: November 1, 2024
When buying from a sales company (car dealer), the necessary documents are as follows:
- Residence Card
- Valid Driver’s License
- Personal Seal (inkan)
- Seal Registration Certificate
- Parking Certificate
- Purchasing Funds
A seal registration certificate (proof of prior registration of the personal seal (inkan)) is required. This can be done at the municipal/ward office. A parking certificate can be obtained at the police station. In practice, representatives may handle these procedures for a small fee. It is necessary to either own land with sufficient parking space or have a contract with a parking lot in advance.
In addition, obtaining automobile insurance and paying the automobile tax are necessary at the time of purchase, this can be done at the dealer.
If you plan to apply for a loan to purchase a car, be careful as conditions will vary depending on the company. This concern is irrelevant if you can prepare everything in cash.
Automobile Insurance/Bicycle Insurance
Automobile insurance or bicycle insurance is used to cover expenses toward the other driver when an accident occurs due to your negligence or to cover your own losses when you are involved in an accident caused by another party. Coverage varies depending on the policy, so it is important that you carefully review the content of the contract before signing. If you own and operate an automobile, you are required by law to insure it with mandatory vehicle liability insurance. However, this insurance does not provide full coverage in the case of an accident. We strongly recommended that you purchase additional optional car insurance such as property damage liability insurance and injury liability insurance.