How to select a suitable driving school in 5 minutes

One important point you should know

What should you know for choosing a driving school in Japan ?
You are confused how to choose a suitable school from so many.
You don’t want to fail this expensive selection of a life-time.
Then, what are the secrets to find a suitable school ?
We shall give you some hints
Select the best school and enjoy the schooling.

Table of contens

• 1) You should know of two types of driving schools in Japan
  • (a)The process at an officially recognised driving school to obtain the license
  • (b) The process at a designated driving school to obtain the license
• 2)The examination at the test centre is quite difficult
• ３)2.1％

1.Two types of driving schools you should know in selecting a school in Japan,

Did you know there are two types of driving schools ?
There exist officially recognised driving schools on the one hand and designated schools on the other.
The designated schools are polupar in many countries.
But in Japan, the officially recognised schools are more common, making it more difficult for foreigners to understand the system.

(a) The process at the recognised driving school

Enrollment
↓
The first step ： Skills lesson (15 hours for MT, 12 hours for AT)
（The school course） : Theory, rules and regulations (10 hours)
↓
Course completion test : Performance at the school course
Provisional license test : Performane at the class room
↓
The second step : Skills lesson (19 hours)
（On the road lesson） : Theory, rules and regulations (16 hours)
↓
Graduation test : Performance on the public road
↓
＜At the driving license centre＞
Theory and apptitude tests : Additional fees
↓
issuance of the driving license : The license is issued immediately upon the passing the test.

At the recognised driving school, you can take the completion test to obtain the provisional license
You can continue the lessons to obtain the graduation critificate.
This certificate will exempt you from the skill test (i.e., you only take and pass the written test).

(b) The process at the designted driving school.

Enrollment
↓
The first step 【技能教習】無制限。あくまで練習。
↓
＜The driving license centre＞ : The test at the driving license centre
Completion test : Additional costs (borne by yourself)
↓
＜The driving license centre＞ : The test at the driving license centre
Provisional license test : Additional costs (borne by yourself)
↓
The second step : Skill lessons (unlimited training)
↓
＜The driving license centre＞ : The test at the driving license centre
Completion test : Additional costs (borne by yourself)
↓
＜The driving license centre＞ : The test at the driving license centre
theoretical apptitude test : Additional costs (borne by yourself)
↓
＜The driving license centre＞ : The test at the driving license centre
Completion test : Additional costs (borne by yourself)
↓
Lecture upon acquisition
: Reservation of the lessons at the school
7 hours (additional)
↓
issuance of the license

On the other hand, non-recognised schools offer only the practice
The tests will not be excempted.
You need to visit the centre to take the tests for provisional license and the real one respectively.
In terms of cost, the non-recognised schools are cheaper, only when everything goes well.
We hear many cases of snowballing cost due to the additional lessons.

２) These tests at the centres are indeed very difficult.

It is wrong to assume they would be the same as the mock tests at the school.
It is generally known that the centre tests are more, much more, difficult than those at the school.
The recognised schools where the skills test is conducted, offer the review on these tests.

In fact, the tests are conducted by the Public Safety Commission, i.e., a police apparatus, hence, unlike the schools, it is very rare to help candidates with useful comments.
We have seen many unsuccessful candidates who either give up the license or eventually switch to a recognised school in the end.

3) 2.1％

Do you know what this figure is ?
This is an official figure of the licensees in 2017 who did not graduate from the recognised schools.
in other words, 97.9 % of the successful licensees are from the recognised schools.
Furthermore, this mere 2.1 % includes those already qualified whose licenses are negligently expired and hence obligesd to take tests.
You see how hard to pass the tests.
Therefore, we strongly recommend you to take lessons at the recognised driving schools.