Japan Drivers License

Getting a drivers licence in Canada is WAAAAAAY too easy. There are a lot of people who don't know how to drive on the roads around here, that's why there's a show called "Canada's Worst Driver". I think they have it in a couple other countries too, does Japan have something similar?

That's a really nice driving center! Around here, we have to go to the government building to take an exam, and then for a driving test we have to drive around town with a supervisor.

I will be able to do my written test after my birthday this year. Sad to say, I am the first batch of those who can only do their pratical test at the age of 20. =< I think it's quite easy to pass our driving test as i see many of my cousins clearing them on the first try.
Maruko! Kawaii. I watch the show since young. Now, I am still watching it, as long as there is new one on the net. =X

Getting a license here in the Philippines (Clovisland) could almost take like weeks or months.
The system here is slow and i can't imagine as to why despite the fact that they are now using computers.
So in Japan you can get a license within a day as long as you have the necessary items with you.
Pretty neat.

The difficulty of tests here is highly variable. This is mostly contingent on who's giving you the test and when. I've heard the best time to get tested is Friday afternoon, because the DMV testing dudes are eager to just get everything done and get home for the weekend, so they'll sometimes let you skip over certain bits--I think this is how my roommate got out of parallel parking testing. XD I still need to take my driver's test though. ^^; Gah, I wish we had an isolated practice facility--here too you have to drive on real roads with live, more experienced and typically very impatient drivers.

Promised myself i'll finally get driving this year, although with my funds the way they are that could be a toughie :S

That Photon Torpedo commet was classic!

Fairly easy here in Canada
At 14 you can get your "learner's license" = "drive with someone who has their full license until you are 16 and have had learner's for at least 1 year" <- 20 or 30 multiple choice questions. Answers can be found in a book you can get for free, so you read the book before your test.
At 16 you can take your road test = go out on the road and get graded on various things. I hear some testing people are harsh while others are not. Girls I know with big oppai have been given 20 tries to parallel park and passed because of that, while guys I know have failed for not having wheels properly aligned after first parallel parking try. Biased.

To lower your car insurance payments (ridiculously high for teenage boys), you can take a third-party-taught course. It's like 20 or so hours in-class and then a test, and then there's a component where you drive around with an instructor. You get a piece of paper saying "I did this and passed" to take to your insurance company to get cheaper insurance.

The system seems to have changed a lot, as I have heard people tell me that 20 years ago they only had a road test to get their license and they just had to back out of the driveway, drive around the block, and pull back into their driveway to pass.

No bad trying to get a license in B.C. Just... a lot of tests and such. We have a Graduated Licensing Plan (GLP) is kinda like school you start at grade 1 and make your way up to a license.

Getting my license at 16 was super easy cuz I got my permit at 15. O.o So already drove for a year and took the written test, which is memorizing facts and terms.. barely passed yay! ^^

The actual test to get the license I took from a third party, some driving school by my house. Drivers here are usually very nice and stop and help if it looks like your car has a problem. Driving is the main method of transportation over here so everyone at my high school takes it as a course.

not to bad around here.. usually some classes for a day, get to skip them if you took drivers ed in regular school. Only have to attend a driving school if you got a ticket and don't want the points on your license..

DMV - Department of motar vehciles = pain in the rear.. depending on what tiem of the day your going..

BTW
Danny... have we seen your wife yet?.. was the longest to get to see a picture of you on the site sans trooper outfit... just wonderin.. :D

In Malaysia, it's not that hard, but once you passed your test, you have to wait more than a week to get your license. That's the only thing that I don't like.

its super easy to get a drivers liscence here in the states. its just a pain in the butt because of long friggin lines.

Too easy to obtain hereabouts, by far. The testing is antiquated and an obsession with driving as some sort of "guaranteed right" (which legally it not nor has ever been) has ensured that the bar is abysmally low.

its super easy to get a drivers liscence here in the states. its just a pain in the butt because of long friggin lines.

Wow if that's the process I'd have to go through I'd rather not get a license in Japan XD

That is exactly what I went through at my local DMV. Well apart from the 2 hour lecture on cars -.- As for the toilets, they look really high up compared to the deep bowls here in the states.

Jugding by the number of idiots on the roads I see everyday, Im going to say its pretty easy. Mine was no exception, just breezed through the whole process...

the do not drink and drive video has a very detailed story line. The one I watched for drivers ed wasn't like that at all. They showed traffic accidents and injuries from those accidents. It was gross. But getting a license in california was fairly easy, just have to jump through the hoops.

When we first get over in Yokosuka, they make us take an "indoc" class which has that 2 hour drivers license class that you mention. Afterwords, they give us the option. Take the test and get a Japanese Drivers License or go home. I went home. I take the train all the time and see no reason why I would need to drive in the few years I'm here.

At least now I cannot be the duty driver. ^_^

Wow if that's the process I'd have to go through I'd rather not get a license in Japan XD

Getting my license was pretty easy. Longest part was waiting to get into the place (waited an hour outside, and boy did the line get long fast.) After that, it was 10 minutes to get a ticket, fill some papers out, then go home and wait for two hours before my test started. Once back, took my test (total of 15 minutes, driving in a goddamn circle around a block, not kidding), get picture taken, then BAM done.

As for parking, I hear it is a bitch in Japan. Luckily for me, that's not the case where I live.

I never learnt to drive back in SG cos it's too convenient and it's expensive to own a car ^^; Then I moved here :P LOL I really should learn driving sometime but I really dislike roads here, the signs are small and markings not very clear ^^; my eyesight is not very good at night so when my husband drive during rainy conditions it's really really hard to see :( Also the drivers here can be really reckless/aggressive ^^;

daniel choo?? is that ur original namae?

Alright Saber is ready to party with her hair let down. Congratulations on getting your new license Danny! Wow that toilet looks like you just balance yourself over it the is no seat? Too bad Kagami fell asleep she wont get her stamp. I do not remember it now but we had films too on the drunk driving deal and road deaths, driving classes back then were given in high school 10th grade I think about the time every one turned 15 to 16 years old.

I had to take the driving test 2 times because I was a BMX racer like 1974-1982 when we did tracks like motocross racers and had a motocross bike. So there were a few places with dips in the road supposed to slow down to 5mph and I went through them at 20 mph in my car because I knew how to do it without bouncing or getting out of control. I guess the driving instructor had a fit. Anyway was 15 then so didn't matter still couldn't drive till 16 took it again drove like a granny would.

Good job "Daniel". Getting a license here is relatively easy as most drivers here really suck. I've actually been trained in high speed precision driving, and have a certified professional driver status. Only thing I'm not allowed to drive is a tractor trailer.

wow, reminds me of getting a Hong Kong citizen card

anyways, in the states, getting a driver license is relatively easy

1: apply for license
1b: get into a driver's ed class and get a driving instructor (required if under 18)
2: take the written exam (about 50 questions last I've checked)
3: pass the exam with 10 or less incorrect answers
3b: receive driving permit (not license, too early for one)
3c: drive for 50 hours, 10 of 50 hours must be during night time (optional if over 18)
4: take the actual driving test
5: pass the driving test and get your picture taken
6: wait 2-30 minutes for your new card to print out

Awww all the important parts of your license has been censored -.-
That's interesting that they'll let you take photos during the lecture. And wow... that drinking and driving drama sounds so traumatic! Is that really the video they showed?? It sounded so sad, and I will never ever drink and drive ever, even before your summary of that video.

drivers here are generally impatient. if your car is the first in front of the red lights and when it turns green and you don't immediately drives off, cars behind will start to honk.

The DMV is horrid, at least here in California! The staff is bitchy (can't blame them half the time though) and its always SUPER crowded. The only way to make your life easier is to make appointments ahead of time or else wait forever D:

I still only have a permit right now (need to practice more!) but it wasn't hard to get; just rather tedious. I took an online driving class which required 30 hours, but I finished in 8. And ended up just leaving the browser on the page for the next 22 hours lol. Then I had to print out the completion page and get the slips that allow me to test for a permit.

I remember reading that in Japan first-year drivers had to have a "new driver" symbol(I think it was a sticker?) on their car. Do they actually use those?

Well for my first time, it was class > written test > permit > driving lessons > driving test > license sent to you by mail...I haven't renewed mine yet, but I will next year...over here, you probably see the occasional road rage...

well at least something good came out of it, now you have an article for your readers to learn. ^^ btw I think they have your details wrong (image ID#24391) they wrote everything in blurry. ^^;

I can understand why one can convert a British, but not an American, License to a Japanese one easily...those two countries drive on the same side of the road.

Getting a driving license in Poland is a real pain in the but-tocks. First of all, Instructors teach you how to pass the exam, NOT how to drive cause some things that you have to pay attention on exam doesn't really happen in a real live situation. Written test is a pain in the ass too, I remember that first aid questions were so ridiculously stupid that even doctors said that some real moron wrote them. Even if you finish your basic course, you have to wait 1-2 months for the actual exam and many people take extra lessons cause they are afraid that they forget all the stuff they learned. They are people that pass the exam in a first try but on the other hand I know some people that needed 10-15 tries...
Despite all of that, we have one of the most dangerous roads in Europe and people die in the car accidents everyday. Roads are in a very bad condition, drivers are selfish, reckless and DUI is a common thing...

Saber's hair is gorgeous Daniel. My license was so easy to get.

the trick in the Los Angeles area is to find a DMV that would probably have less bitchy people. The Glendale people were pretty nice. The dude that administered my test (which was disgustingly easy, btw) was really laid back. Probably saw that I wasn't going to kill him and didn't care from then on. heh

And driving in LA? HAH. It's... interesting.
Oh, and don't get me started on driving around here when water mysteriously falls from the sky. XD

Oh, something I've been wondering for some time about japanese roads.
What are those red colored streets you see at the corners of big crossroads? Are they to emphasize that this is a turning lane or something?

Drivers here in Vegas are the worst I've ever seen. they speed up instead of slowing down when they see a person or animal in front of them. my dog got ran over yesterday by a driver who was doing 60 at a school zone (which are set for 15 mph) and he almost hit a little girl too.

I haven't had to take a test to renew my license since I first got mine in 1994 so I really don't know what it's like anymore and renewing it is a cake walk really. Hand them the old one do the five second eye test fill out the simple paperwork and go take your picture and wait five minutes for the new one to print out. Since I work at night I go way early in the morning and don't have to wait in line at all either.

This year though I'm thinking of getting the motorcycle endorsement so that will be a two day class and a test but from what I've heard both are really easy to pass.

License was really easy to get over here. All i had to do was drive from the testing center to a residential area (5mins), do a downhill and then parallel parking (2mins), drive back and park (5mins), and that was it. In between the driving from and to the testing center, I had to preform 2 lane changes, and a few turns.

Actually, I do not have a drivers license and dont plan on doing one until I get to japan, so...
Thanks for showing the insides x)

Those overhead projectors in the classrooms cracked me up. Strange to see those and integrated chips in your driver's licenses in the same article.

As for getting a license, I really don't have any idea. I have a license, but in Oregon, you only have to renew every 10 years. I haven't been to the DMV for 8 years. I've been told that it has gotten stricter and tougher, but I haven't kept up.

Not going to explain the process here; many others from Canada have already done so. One thing I do want to note is that all practices and tests are done on the real roads here. Test course? Pah. Who's rich enough for that? >> The difficulty of the test may vary depending on which testing centre you go to, though. The centre near my house, for example, is located next to a really long highway ramp so there's plenty of time to accelerate and erge into traffic.

I imagine the British/Japanese chummy system has to do with the fact that you're both right-hand drive, while the US and Canada are left-handed.

Someone already posted about America (California) so I dont have to.

But, to learn how to drive takes time (esp the dumb written, which is there to trick you using fancy words or words never used in real life).

Getting a commercial license (bus, big truck, etc) takes longer and has more that 3 tests which you have to take and more rules to follow. You also have to make sure you dont get caught by the police when you get a commercial vehicle cause you cant pay those off- they stay on record for life (or something like that)

I'd say in Brazil it's relatively easy... I got it first time and wasn't nervous, but I know at least 4 people that had to retake the practical exam 3 times.

Also, things got way harder after I got my drivers license.

In my time, it was simple: psychological exam, written test and practical test.
Psychological consists mainly in putting you through some stress while having to make soemthing simple... like drawing vertical and horizontal lines dictated by a very rude instructor.

Written test is about those signs, rules and stuff.

Practical test is... you know. Driving. Making a curve. Parking. Stopping in a slope and then leave without letting the car die. Stuff like that.

After I got my license though, they implemented obligatory lesson times, first aid classes, citizenship classes, defensive driving classes and other stuff.

Every now and then the government increases the requirements for taking a license because they claim this will reduce accidents... Brazil has one of the higher death by accident rates in the world.

But making it harder to get license is just some BS the government uses to say "they are doing something about it". Because the fact is that accidents are only increasing, and government measures only proven worthless.

The fact is that brazilian drivers are mostly disrespectful and uneducated.
Most accidents are cause by lack of responsibility and people disobeying laws, even when they know about them.

About DUI, few months ago laws just got WAY harder about it... there was a tolerance on how much you could drink before driving, now the tolerance is zero.

Helped for sometime, but as always, government attacked the matter in the wrong way.
Problem isn't the tolerance, the problem is ensuing the laws are respected. It worked for sometime because when the law passed, police made extra work to punish wrongdoers.

But after a while, police stopped doing the extra work, government stopped investing in breathalyzers, and DUI related accidents are back up again.

We also had lots of interesting stories and ads on open TV showing how DUI cases ends up, but most brazilians watch that, forget about it few minutes later, and in the weekend they drink, drive, and don't feel guilty about it since "everyone is doing it".

Interesting article indeed. The process is quite different from over here. Here you just go on the roads with an instructor and after *lots* of lessons you can do an exam. The trick I believe is to make your instructor see that you are looking around at traffic.....I always felt that in order to do that I had to shake my head about like a parrot on steroids because simple eye movement apperently isn't noticed -__-. There's also a theoretical exam you have to do at your convenience, as long as you do it before the practical one. Biggest waste of time...ever, since the questions and situations posed to you are so retarded that you often end up guessing. Passed it in one go (just on the limit wrt mistakes), but my little brother to 6 tries. Passed the practical in 2 tries ^^

It took me two times to pass my test to get my license. The first attempt I was annoyed because I didn't remember the part which he said I'd failed on. Second time round I passed fine, but after getting my license over a year, maybe 2 years ago, I haven't got a car.
People here are like Osaka. Always pushing in, never looking in their mirrors. I gets me annoyed people act this way traveling at a speed which could kill people.

In Poland to pass driving test in first term ppl should be fanstastic drivers or... give a bribe -.- sad but true ... i know a lot of ppl who still don't have their driving license, despite they tried 5-6 times ...

Renewing process of license in USA is pretty easy, either send the renewal fee by mail or internet by due date and voila, no lesson or classes to take.

That video sounds so depressing, I hope it was fictional and not based on true story -_-

Drunk driving is bad though. My brother once got caught by police while understand he fluence and he paid dearly for it. And I had to suffer as well since while his license was revoked, I had to drive him to work back and forth for about half a year...

wow, very detailed article on how to acquire driving lincense in Japan, thanks Danny ^_^

I always love how everything are so systematic in Japan.

Shounen JUMP! manga in the toilet... I guess it is used as a replacement in case run out of toilet paper ^^;

In M'sia driving lesson is freaking 5hours+ 6hours= total 11hours of boring lesson to get a new license! (I think it's 2hours of lesson too for drivers who have to re-attempt) I felt asleep throughout 8/11 of the session ^^;

In M'sia & HK, I dont recall the buyers need to prove that they have a parking space before purchasing any auto mobile.

I wonder for how large area are those numbers of deceased people in traffic accidents. Here, in Czech Rep with its population of 10,500,000, more than 60 people have died in traffic accidents this month.

getting a driver's license here the first time is a bit time consuming but easy. you pay, take a written test, take a driving test and you're done. you get your license after about a week or two. Renewing on the other hand is painless...you'll be done in about 30minutes. :D Or if you want to go the easy way you could simply pay the people handling the license and you won't have to go through all of that. lol

Wow.. Seems like getting Japanese driving license is much difficult and complicated than what I had back in my country. They have much more instruction and safety guide for you to read too.

Although I have my international driving license that I obtained before coming here, getting japanese license is pretty hard and expensive that really makes me think harder about it.

wish they had that here in the phil. sadly im still holding onto my student license... stll gets nervous whenever trucks are behind me... and believe me truck drivers here are scary!

wish they had that here in the phil. sadly im still holding onto my student license... stll gets nervous whenever trucks are behind me... and believe me truck drivers here are scary!

How to acquire Texas driver's license easily:
1. Sign up for "parent taught" program.
2. Read through the little manual you have to buy.
3. Learn how to drive.
4. Take multiple choice test on computer at the DPS (damage per second jk, department of public safety)
5. ???
6. Get driver's license!

With the parent taught program thing, a parent/guardian has to sign paperwork and already have a valid driver license. There's a paper you use to record the amount of time you (pretend to) practice driving, and you need a certain amount of hours - I just faked it all.

Since I got mine when I was 16, I had to renew it when I turned 18. Process was just to get a signature from a school official, test eyes again, and then pay. My next renewal can be done online.

Traffic is pretty easy going here, nothing even remotely close to what traffic in Taiwan is like, which is worse than hell. I completely changed my mind about wanting to live with my relatives there because the drivers were so crazy.

After reading everyone's comments, I really feel like moving to another country. Here in Scandinavia - Norway/Sweden/Denmark, the rules of the road couldn't be more problematic.
You have to be 18 years old to get a driver's licence, so you can start 3 months prior to your 18 th. birthday. "Why 3 months?", one might ask, and the answer is: Because it takes minimum 3 months and often up to 6 months to get a friggin driver's licence. You have to take huge amounts of lessons, and on top of that almost everyone takes extra classes just to pass. And the price tag on this driver's licence? 170.000 Yen, or more.

Saber: "Master, I hereby present you with your new driving license."
Me: Ya... *Faints*

XD

Here getting a license is relativly easily. You dont have to sit in a class for two hours :D All you have to do is memorize a little booklet with information and pass the written portion then take an eye exam and then finally the driving portion if you pass it all you get your license. Which I still dont have >..< I gots my permit though.

as long as you are not high or drunk, don't kill more then 3 pedestrians and you don't total the car, you pass with flying colors down ere :)

singapore is a very small country, there's bus and train everywhere so there isn't really a need for a car. owning a car here is more like a show of social status. not to mention it's not cheap to own a car here with the costly road tax, COE, parking, maintenance, fuel etc. many people live a life of debts just to pay for their car.

I remember when I got my lincense...
I had to go through 10 hours of driving...then do a test...
I also had to spend at least another 10 hours in class...
Too bad the driving center here aren't as well equip then the ones in Japan...

Here in UK its pretty easy to get a license, all u need is loads of funds and time, here is what u gotta do first:

1. apply for provisional license, which takes around 2-4 weeks now cost £50 told by my friend who just done his
2. get lessons with instructor, UK government recommend 40 hours with any instructors however u can take the test whenever ur ready, the price per hour depends on the instructor, i had my instructor which was £20 per hour! but he was pretty good, took me 18 hours before my instructor allowed me to take the test
3. take theory test, basicly where you sit and look at a computer screen for 30mins. pretty simple but takes 1 month to book cause their slow and £30 per test, if u fail, more test!
4. once ur theory test is passed, u can take the practical test, which is around £40, this is prob the hardest part to get ur license, as long as u drive safe u should be fine

if you add them all up. this is like 3-4 months worth of work and around £500-600 pound of cash, if u fail your practical or theory u'll have to pay more >.< i got my driving license but i cant afford a car.

It's hard, and very expensive here in Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
costs like 1500 euro in total.

And you have to be 18.

But you can get your scooter drivers license when you 16. and in Amsterdam you dont really need a car, gasoline is expensive and parking costs a lot. so lots of people have a scooter and it's very cheap. you can park it anywhere on the street

I think the reason why UK to Japanese is easier is because theyre driving on the same side (left lane/right hand side). Same goes to Malaysia and few SEA countries.
However it wasnt that difficult to drive on the right lane, as it took me few days to adjust/get used to California traffic

Getting a licence is bit hard and sometimes sleepy,in philippine its hard to get some card to get some licence,especially ask you if says:1)Are you drinking while driving,2)Bit sleepie while driving or using a cellphone while on the road and 3)Are you a reckless driver? The checking of health and checking if using drugs or anything is wasting time also.But it will train some traffic regulations and some traffic signs also (I feel sleepie to take some studying).and the price to get some licence is a piece a cake but it will wait some few days to get some licences.

got my license 9 months ago. singapore has this rule whereby you are required to put up a plate to show that you are a new driver for 12 months, kinda a bummer sometimes ^^
despite having a license, for the love of god, my dad refuses to let me anywhere near his car without him being around. arghhh and just to let you guys know, cars are a real expensive over here as well, i wouldn't be driving around on the roads anytime soon.. that's for sure... :(

that driving circuit looks very very daunting in my opinion. i shudder to think how i would have done if i had taken my test there...

Wow, I've just signed up and I've already contributed to improving the site, one could say that Mr. Choo ows me ^^. (Scandinavian humor, although I might take him up on it some day^^.
I've been a silent spectator for a while now, but this article woke an uncanny urge to complain about my country ToT. Looking forward to doing some more^^.
BTW, one thing about taking a driver's licence in Scandinavia is, that I'm able to take an international driver's licence here, which is valid in Japan. So I basically have the opportunity to take a "Japanese driver's licence" in my own country, in my own language. Is this a rare case, or do you have the same option in your country?
Great article^^

danny could you take more pics of saber, she looks amazing with her hair down.

Getting a driver's license in Toronto isn't too hard as long as you get graders who do not just fail you so they have you try again later to get more money from you.

The international driver's licence is to be taken after the original one. It costs around 15.000 Yen. Not too expensive^^.

平成23年? Only two years? Wow. Here they last 5 years.
And you don't need to do anything. When I got my first driving license (it's still valid), I had to do a written test (I got 94/100, but the guy next to me got 37/100 and got approved just like me). Then a eye test, and then (the next morning) a practical test. I never did it, the examination folk was sleepy and didn't wanted to work (I was the second applicant), he said to me: "hey, do you know how to drive?" -"yes I do" -"then, let me sign this... here you go. go home now".
Never done the practical test, and with a 37/100 you are allowed to get the license, and for 5 full years.

5 persons dies, 100 got injured, and over 200 traffic accident, everyday. Three times this month that the bus I was in crashed.

It's incredible how the system is there. So much (and much) information, strict exams and short licenses... and so techy... well, excluding the toilet xD

Here you take 12 (yes 12) hours of theoretical class. Then you pass the theoretical test where you have to get at least 16 questions out of 20 right. (if you fail, you have to take another 6 hours class)

Then you take at least 16 hours of driving, and then take your practical driving test which is usually simply driving to somewhere and back while not doing any mistakes. If you do too many mistakes (or a bad mistake) you fail and you get to do another 8 hours of driving class until you can take the exam again.

Driving instructors are very strict here, and I've heard many people fail more than once because of small peculiarities.

All in all you have to spend at least 800€ to the driving school until you get your license. And much more if you fail a test.

Getting my license here was a piece of cake. The only downside was the long lines at the DMV. When I think about it, I fist got my license back in 96, wow that was a while ago. Oh and drivers here in Chicago don't care about anyone but themselves. We drive like we own the roads, and thats earned us the nickname "FIP's"(F**King Illinois People) in the nearby States.

Getting a license in my region is too easy, as any young punk can get one. I took a course over a month or two during my final year of high school, and it was basically "blah blah blah," out for a confusing drive, more "blah blah blah," and a crap load of fifteen year old kids shooting their mouths off. The only rough part is the DMV part and standing in line for three hours to redeem your license. Renewal is just an open book test that you can mail back, or do on the spot at the DMV. I'd have figured that you would have had an international DL, since you've been around the block a few times. Do they even do those still? Or am I just confusing the way Europe does things?

its quite easy to get a license around here, Like you side the driving test consist on going on real roads,traffic,and people.(no test track here) but still these teens these days still don't know how to drive worth squat. I don't remember paying that much to get my Drivers license either, if my memory is correct I think I paid around 20 USD to get my license. I just renewed my license last month too. very easy just eye examine(my eye sight isn't what it used to be), info check,new pic (no smiling either), and long wait.

E~~~asy here is the aussieland

Everything is built far, so primary transportation is by car - Public trans totally sucks
1 more year till i get my full licence

I'll take a wild guess and say that the reason a British license can be swapped for a Japanese one, but a US license can't is because the US drives on the wrong side of the road... with all the complications that entails like how to negotiate round-abouts and when certain turns are banned. Not to mention all the muscle memory stuff that goes on in a car... like changing gears. I well remember driving in continental Europe on holiday and trying to swap cogs with the window winder...

This reminds me, I've got to renew my license this year, will see how it goes. Should really renew my CAMS L2S license as well.

I got my license in 2004, and it was pretty easy back then. Sit an exam to get your Learners, hold that for 6 months, pass the driving test. You then got your Ps, which for the 17 year old that I was at the time I had to hold for 2 years. For older people you don't have to hold the Provisional license for as long.

It's now a lot harder to get a license. You can get your Ls at 16, but you have to hold them for a year and log 120 hours of supervised driving minium, including at least 10 hours in the wet and 10 in the rain (hard to do in drought). Then you can sit the exam. If you pass you then go onto stage 1 Ps (which now have to be displayed like L plates) which is a red P-plate. After a year you can then go onto stage 2 green plates and have to hold those for another 2 years. Personally I think it's a good system, lessons can't give you experience and experience is far more valuable than theoretical knowledge. I'm also a firm believer that everyone should have to do at the bare minimum a defensive driving course.

That test course looks interesting. All my testing and learing was done on public roads... though the defensive and performance courses were done on closed circuits and skidpans (for obvious reasons).

Public transport here very convenience and the cars here are expensive, so currently still dun have a driving license. May consider to take one in the near future.

i lurve chici maruko-chan and how saber's hair falls like that. >.<

UK driving tests are short but tough (I took mine before they bought in written theoretical testing - it was just the instructor asking you to correctly name signs on flip cards). Training suprisingly is not complusory - driving instruction (expensive and not always done properly) is just to teach you to pass the test! This probably explains why there are so many people on UK roads who think only they know how driving should be done, when in fact they are incompetent. Once you have your license - minimum age 17 - only the courts can take it away - it does not have to be renewed until you are about 70!

Just signed up for my provisional licence which cost about £55 all together :s
The I have to pay for lessons, then the exam then god knows how much for the actual licence! Then there is buying a car, and as Danny might know, Insurance for 17 old boys is the most expensive! Costing more than the car it self...

Pretty interesting.....

When I was in New Zealand two years ago, I was there long enough that I could have got a NZ license and somehow if I came to Japan, used it to get a Japanese license since they have the same deal as well as with Britain. The only thing is it would not be usable here in the USA especially in my home state of Colorado.

An interesting item, when I moved to Colorado from Indiana, I didn't have to test or anything. At the time, they took my IN license, took my picture and 15 minutes later, I had my CO license but this was in 1995. Today, they punch a hole in your license, give you a piece of paper and mail your license to you. One thing they did then and today, they run your name and DOB on the "national computer" known as the "National Driver Registry/Problem Driver Pointer System" run by the US-DOT to find out if you are suspended/revoked in any other state. A family member went through such an ordeal when updating her license for the motorcycle endorsement. She was suspended by Indiana for some minor offence and Colorado would not do her license until she got reinstated by Indiana - the case was, it was past the suspension period, they wanted a $150 reinstatement fee. Even though she was suspended by Indiana, her CO license was valid for everywhere else but she couldn't renew or update with the hold by IN.

Yay, a guillotine for cropping passport sized photos. You still have to wait for them to cut ones using scissors here and they really take their time. I guess they're neat and tidy at least!

All those photos remind me of watching J-dramas. Do you ever ask for permission or ever get stopped when you're taking photos like this in stores and other places, DC?

Now I know why they have those 'C' tests in Nintendo's Flash Focus title.

I had the absolute worst instructor when I went for my road test. First off you need to supply your own car for the road test, and I am very sure I got points off cause I showed up in a sports car. It was either that or a giant SUV (Parents cars) Then I am pretty sure the state issues a secret quota of how many people can pass per day. I believe I was just after the quota cause myself and the people behind me all failed. I do contribute this to the fact that the instructor didn't like me and barely fit into the car. Despite doing everything perfectly she said that I failed cause I showed haste and aggression while driving.

I took it 3 days later at a different locations with a different instructor who commended me on my ability and quickness. So once again your faith lays in the hand of the person.

Ugh it's hard to get a license here I heard. Passing the test I hear is easy...it's just GETTING the damn license. Renewing is easier.

As for drivers, anyone driving a public transportation car is usually someone you gotta avoid on the road. They can turn without signaling with for some reason no care at all, stop suddenly to load or unload a passenger...or just be plain annoying.

Even pedestrians can be a threat...since they can jaywalk or cross even when the stoplight says otherwise.

Thus if you can drive here, you can practically drive anywhere.

They don't check if we have a parking lot before we get a car. That would be nice though.

I remember getting my driver's license years and years ago thinking "They're really gonna let me drive legally? Yikes!"

The fact that I've only spent maybe 10~hours in my whole life driving and that I haven't been behind the wheel in over 6 years but still have a unexpired, legal driver's license frightens me. ^^

Here is actually embarrasing, you just have to pay for it, not that I'm complaining ^^; no but seriously they should do at least those tests, basically you can go out in your car/bike with your license without knowing how to drive, meaning to get your license before learning.

You have to bring a photo of yourself for the application? We have photo booths where you have to take your photo before you start the business with the clerk. This photo will be then automatically printed on your license.

I'm not quite sure of the driving system here yet since I'm still underage to even own one. But, I heard from my friend they need around 1 week to complete the whole thing. One more thing Malaysian driver are very creative you will notice it if you live in Malaysia

Over here it's not too easy but not too hard either.

Once you're 18 you can apply for one, first you have to take and succeed a theoretical driver's exam which focuses on all the traffic laws, then you get a temporary driver's license which depending on the fact if you took state approved driving lessons (which cost a lot) lasts 3,6 or 9 months (back when I applied many eons ago anyway...). Once that period is passed you can take the practical driver's exam and if you pass that you get your license.

I remember my first practical driver's exam, the guy from the state who was taking the exam from me flunked me saying I drove like Damon Hill.
The second time round they passed me but said I drove rather slow. They don't know what they want...

I believe this is my first post here and I shall say, I'm happy to see I'm not the unique Brazilian guy around here. ^^

I've got my drivers license this year. And just to add a little something to XSportSeeker's info, there's a new law that says that the techinical course has 80 hours now, which actually means 2 weeks watchting the most boring things ever. Only then you will be allowed to do the written test, which is very stupid, I shall say. It has 30 questions, some of them are such as:
"1. The drunk driver is...
a) the best driver
b) the safest driver
c) the driver who knows all traffic laws
d) If you had a drink, just do not drive
e) none"

I was lucky because I managed to finish the techinical course one week before this law gets effective. This means that my cours had "only" 40 hours.

The pyshical exam is quite normal. The main problem is the time you spend just waiting to be called. I've waited 3 hours.

The practical course is regular. Nothing to add about that.

And finally, there's bureaucracy. An amazing amount of it. And you know what it means: more lines, less time to do other things.

Here in SD i took four Written test 1st try i failed then Years pass by I took it 3 times last time i took the test i barely pass 1st test 10 wrong answer FAILED, 2nd try 12 wrong Answer FAILED, Final Try 3 wrong Answer PASS Yay!!Then The Actuall Driving Test First Attempt Got So Nervous, Got Distracted, I took it in the Afternoon Hot headed DMV instructor FAiLED( So pissed),2nd Attempt I called a Certified Driving School Instructor i took like 2 weeks of intensed Focused training , i took the Test in the Morning Freshed headed DMV instructor ,
Still Nervous Ding !! Ding! PASS !! So it really is a pain taking a licensed here For me.
Thanx for the reminder Danny i forgot my licensed need to be Renew this Sept. ill keep it in my Weird Mind

The biggest problem with the licensing system in North Carolina isn't the steps involved, it's the inefficiency of the system. I had to take an afternoon off to get my New York license transferred to North Carolina. First I had to wait in line at the License Center for half an hour to get the paperwork, then wait another half an hour to give the paperwork back, then wait another half an hour to take the eye exam/pre-test, then wait another half an hour to take the actual written test, and then finally wait some more to take the picture.

The other thing to remember is that I had to call ahead that day to make sure they were actually able to issue licenses. Apparently they have a lot of technology failures (computers down, camera not working) and aren't always able to process applications. I can't imagine what it'd be like for a first timer trying to get road tested...

Well, at least, the driver manuals they gave you has some very funny pics. The manuals in here dont have any at all and they are boring.

Also the use of the projector made me think: "They use it because it still works!", no matter how technological advanced they are...Lol.

I watched a few episodes of Maruko when I was in the Phillipines. Luckily for me when I went to the DMV to get my license, there weren't that many people. When I took my test, the grader said that I was driving too slow even though I was like 4 MPH below the speed limit. It's really stupid to have speed limits that don't work in reality, especially in free ways.

US-based drivers have trouble porting their licenses because each state has its own standards, not all of which meet Japan's standards. That sounds ridiculous, but this is because the US used to be like the European Union (but that has changed as the federal government gradually took more and more power from the states), so each state gets to decide for itself.

From what I've heard from my family and read from others, the Japanese process sounds nightmarish even for experienced drivers. I hope that in my travels I can get a regular license from another nation that will simply be translated before i need a license in Japan.

Really interesting syuff, when old looking biulding though.

The haor on the dolfie Saber is absolutely gorgeous!

When I got mine, everything was fairly easy... but, ugh, having the meanest man beside me in a car while he has the power to disqualify me was a nightmare.

My eyes started to get watery when I get out of the car. All that rage filling inside of me, remembering the mean things he said. And the not-so-mean things he said that were said in a really mean way. Oh, mean old man, how I hate thee.

I guess it was part of the test. To see if I could drive properly under pressure?

One of my co-workers also works at the DMV so when I need something done I just hand it to her and she gets it back to me the next day. It's good to have connections.

Obtaining a license here is relatively easy. Take a quiz to get a permit (passing score of 85%) then go to driving school, obtain 40+ hrs of documented in-car driving with 10 of those hrs at night-time driving, then take the in-car exam.

Renewing the license is even easier. Go in, pay some small fees, receive the license, then leave. You could even do it by mail if you wanted too since they send you renewal warnings in advance.

The state has had problems with drunken driving and they made it stricter on those who get caught and make it more of a lengthy process to obtain your license.

There have been quite a few shocking drunken driving incidents here, one of the worst was a girl who drove drunk after a party and ended up crashing into another car. Her parents were in the other car and died on site, she died at the hospital not knowing what she had done.

Driver training here is either extensive or minimal- most people should train before going to get their driving test (conducted on regular roads), but many do not. On the other hand, the in-car test does cover most of what a driver needs.

I got training through our local motor association before taking my test, and passed on my first try- it's not hard, it just requires paying attention.

We're not allowed to smile at all for our drivers license, or our passport photos, or out student cards.... horrid pictures... I hate having pics take for passport pics.

Looks like a gruling process in Japan... its alot easier in the UK. But I don't have one. Don't have any need for one yet lol. I only know from my friends.

Haha. Chibi Maruko! Used to watch that when I was a kid in Taiwan.

Our acquisition is pretty easy. Though costly cause we had to rent a tutor before the test to guarantee my license. After that, I have now my driver's license. Now I can go to the beach. LOL

When I got my license, we had to take driver's training. My school offered free classes during the summer, so I took them. Real road conditions, including highway driving. Passing the class meant no driver's test when you got the license, and no need to take a test until I hit 50 or so, unless I let it lapse. However, since they send me a notice three months before my birthday, it's easy to go get it updated. Will have to do that next year.

Getting my drivers license was easy, after holding a Learners Permit for a year I went and tested for the drivers license test. It consisted of a drive through a driving course and that's it. I passed with a perfect score and am a licensed driver for close to 7 months already.

Here in Colorado, you can get a permit at the age of 15 1/2, but you have to take 4 classes, Saturday and Sunday for 2 weeks, and the classes are 8 hours each. D:
You then can get your license at 16. I got my permit at the age of 16, so I didn't have to take classes. After a year, I took the drivers test and passed. Had my license for about 1.5 years now :D

renewing your drivers license here involves waiting for it to come in the mail the you can discard the old one.i dont think i can stay awake for 2 hours.if i could at least drink water then i can manage

I'm afraid of having to take the road test. The US somehow didn't make an agreement with Japan, so I can't get through as easily...T_T

Going to take mines during the summer, haven;t started reading the book yet though _'_..

Yeah is very dangerous, we always need to be alert on our own driving license.

Although my driving license already invalid a year, but still can renewing the license without taking any test [3 years period stand for renew the license].

I no often drive in city, coz i dont own a car...*money spend on online business,house loan, office....T_T. House car all is Honda CRV, big car and scarry...i luv to drive mini car like smart branded car..XD

I believe the driving tests in Europe are a lot more stringent than what we do in the US. Or maybe we drive on different sides of the road.

I just notice that saber had curly hair. I cant drive yet, i use my bike

When you live in Japan i think its worth the effort to get a driver's license there. I've been driving for a long time and enjoy it. There is a different part of Japan you can see while driving around :D

im taking my first drivers test next week! read the book and everything. before i could drive, i used to walk uphill to school or rollerblade my way there during the summer... intense when going downhill ^0^ anyways, when i get my license, gotta find out new ways to help pay for the car insurance... young drivers get charged a lot these days as more accidents come from young drivers -_-

Yeah what is up with the no smiling in pics? They are too serious about that haha. I wonder if you could give the peace sign... maybe that would be okay? hahaha

Those road signs are gunna come in handy for me. I got my international license just incase, but I've been too chicken to actually rent a car yet for an outing. I've never even touched a right-hand drive!

now that you mention it, i gotta get mine as well.

I smiled in my license pic and they made me retake it >_>

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dannychoo/3237555903/sizes/o/

Goatse steering wheel?

Saber looks damn good with her hair down though. *swoons*

Drivers here are b-tards! Almost everyone thinks that they're the kings of the road. There's a special government unit called the MMDA to deal with these problem but they are either corrupt or just not doing their job right x_x

Chibi Maruko! xD
Japan.. Even getting a drivers license looks like so much fun.

lucky you... brits :p

South Africans have to do the test.
Gunma is very anti foreigner aswell. to top it all off , according to the authorities, I look Brazillian.. Japan is th eonly place on earth that hates south americans.

I was once caught making an illegal u turn at Maebashi eki, and these 2 satsu started shouting and screaming at me.. eventually after 3 mins they finally asked to see my docs, they saw my South African passport and were all like.. we're sorry, we thought you were Brazillian.. and then they were candy sweet, told me nicely what to do next time and then let me go.

needless to say i hate the satsu.

impressive . I my country it is very easy get a licence and there are so much accident per year !! because the driver.....>_<

I am currently in the process of learning how to drive. Just received my L license a few weeks back. But seriously speaking, the processing time for documents and stuff varies. Took about 3 weeks just to get my L license cuz of the holiday season.

I will be taking my driving test in about 2 weeks time to get my CDL. ^^

My wife is Japanese and wanted a licence in Britain.

Her Japanese licence was automatic gears only, so we had to buy an automatic. She got the licence converted easily without having to take a test. I then had to sit beside her driving around getting used to the roads. She insisted on buying a big Mercedes (second hand, I'm not rich!) because a big car is 'safer'. Then she was scared about how big it was, and kept driving so far away from the left that she was in the right hand lane a lot of the time. In Japan she had some little road rocket that was really easy to turn and park. A Mercedes has power steering and brakes, of course, but the size of it means you have to allow more room to manoeuvre.

The other problem was roundabouts. They don't exist in Japan, so my wife had no idea of how to cope with them.

All I know is that a car here cost more than a kidney! ^^; we need to buy that piece of paper (certificate?) that cost quite a few digits!

Seems you had a hard time _not_ to smile hehe. ^^;
In Germany they don't want you to smile anymore either for that biometric stuff.

Drivers license... they just throw you on the road after 14 hours (iirc) of theory.
There are driving parks where shy people can train though, but it's not common.

I passed out in the car on my first test while i was on a crossing waiting for the traffic light to go green to i could turn left, just 200 meters from the goal. :P
Second test i made sure i ate breakfast and things and it went smooth!

On the other hand, here you don't have to "renew" the license, but you can of course lose it when you missbehave in the traffic (speeding, horrible crash, etc.).

Didn't check up yet how it works for German driving license together with Japan, not really planing on geting a car there that fast anyhow when i manage to get there.
But it's a bit of trouble to get the temporary drivers license for Japan (for holiday visiting and stuff). I think it takes some paperwork (also with the JAF) and translations and whatsonot to get it.

Here in Spain you have to spend like 1000€ in a driving school (autoescuela, in spanish), that includes a several theoric hours, and a limited number of driving class, that means driving in the city with a driving teacher, and the exams rights fees too (theorical and practical), yes, you have to pay for all of this, and usually people near me, passed theorical exam at first, but suspiciously, everybody fail at the practical at their first time, even if you drive better than the supervisor... ¬¬ ,so they have to pay to apply the exam again. Usually people pass at the 2nd or 3rd try.

3rd picture from the bottom, that booklet with the signs,
The page on the right, 3rd column (mid), 3rd row down, the one that looks like lightning bolts or something.

What is that? I've seen it a lot and always wondered what it meant.

When I first got my driver's license about a decade ago, the process was ridiculously simple and easy, but now in recent years, I have heard that the process is somewhat burdensome though still pretty easy.

As for renewing your license, you can do that online for either five or ten years--very easy and convenient--unless you are 64 years old or older and then you must renew your license in person because they require you to retake an eye examination.

Here in California, its a long and draining process. The DMV ( Department of Motor Vehicles ) is one of the worst government departments in the US. The lines are LONG and you will most likely spend the day there just to take care of your business. It's what happen to me when I forgot to renew my drivers license. Now, I am on top of things when it come to DMV.

Renew fee here is 20 dollars. Pretty cheap. ^^

are you even going to use it often danny? I mean David :P

how much are parking there for?

it should be now www.davidchoo.com :P

Saber looks so good with her hair down!

"The mother cant take life anymore and jumps infront of a train to kill herself."

LOL nice train!

Im getting my G level done on monday ... yay! i can now have a blood alcohol level >0.00 jk i drive to university of Laurier and back home thatl be so dumb...

Just a question; that anti-drunk driving video didn't happen to be based on a real-life incident, did it?

LoL.... I noticed the guy on the right hand side of image ID#24387 took the shonen Magazine from the toilet...

Sooo easy in my country XD

pay (read: give brive) like US$50, 1 day only and u can take the drivers license home the next day. lol.

I have bicycle only...

The poll needs a 4th option "Too easy...". Basically because many people around here SHOULDN'T have a license. Yet they managed to pass the "test" they give you which is like a 5 minute spin around the block that boils down to proving that you can, in fact, put the key in the ignition and start the car.

Cars and gas are expensive so no license for me.

The colorful illustrations in the manual make it look like learning driving could be more fun than it was in High School health class.

getting my driver license the was relative easy, a 2 hours class of "bla bla bla", few quick questions about health status, eye exam, and the old lady take the photo before i can ask at what camera should i look at (hate my license photo),and presto; new shiny license. and a week after...traffic ticket >.<

I love those magnetic cars!
My driving license was pretty easy, provably because I never got nervous about it. On the day of the driving test I was playing Burnout on the PSP in the waiting room and making everyone verrry nervous hahaha!

Getting a license in the state of Massachusetts (specifically, Boston area) is a slow and painful death-like experience...mostly because of the time one has to wait in lines. The Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is notorious for having long, slow moving lines, i.e. plan to spend the whole day there. Renewing is not so bad, but you still have to wait in seemingly short, but slow moving lines.

Boston also suffers from the I-am-first syndrome. Recently, I believe Boston was rated one of the worst cities to drive in.

Woot for the drunk driving deterrent video ^^

That's some driving course...I have only seen something like that in the movies.

I think getting a driver's license is way too easy everywhere. I mean it's supposed to be hard to get one here yet people on the roads behaves like they never learned everything about rules. I mean 80%+ of all cars are speeding, some people overtake using whatever lane they can find (by law, you are only allowed to pass cars if you go left of them, so no overtaking by using the right lane).

I would prefer if the license for cars would somehow mirror how it works with licenses for train driving. I presume most (all?) of you don't know this license, so I will outline how it works:
- a theory test every 2nd year and before that test there is a class telling about changes in the rules since last test + repeating some important stuff
- the test covers everything and makes up uncommon scenarios what you didn't think about (but should be prepared for)
- they fail everybody who they believe might cause an accident due not understanding the rules so in theory one wrong answer can fail people. On the other hand 20% wrong might still pass a person if none of the wrong answers will cause accidents.
- education about brakes on a much more detailed level than car brakes. Basically it's about how to verify that the brakes work as intended and if the brakes are strong enough for your load and so on. (I'm allowed to drive with a trailer on my car, but I'm actually not told how to check the brakes on a trailer)
- each driver have to have an up to date set of rules (meaning nobody encounters a sign they have never seen before, even if it's brand new)
- drivers are monitored. They can't do anything illegal while driving without being noticed
- a whole lot more theory that's not important here because cars usually don't reverse with 5+ trailers and stuff like that ^^

It might seem a bit overkill, but it have been years since we last had a rail accident (apart from hitting people/cars who tries to cross activated crossings). Cars on the other hand ends up in accidents every day. I have yet to encounter a morning without car crashes in the traffic report.

This makes a very interesting question: What do you think about making the education for car driver's license twice as long if the extra focus only on safety. Also the test would be so hard that 25% of the people passing now would fail and the test should be taken every say 5 years. Also the cars would be fitted with devices monitoring if the car is speeding so you get a warning and get a fine if you ignore the warning. Do you think this would be acceptable if the number of accidents would be reduced by 95%?

note: I made up those numbers but considering that an insurance company added logs in cars to detect speeding and reduced the price for the insurance by more than 50% (a discount that's lost if the car is speeding) then it turned out that the test group (hundreds of people) didn't have a single speeding issue and no accidents either so the reduction in accidents appears to be quite high.

Here getting a driver's license is more expensive than difficult! 600€ at least, not counting if we fail the theoretical or practical part. The difficulty varies a lot, depending on the region you do it. We have driving classes always in real traffic and the examination depends on the person who is examining you. Some people go for a mile and they pass you some other have to go through a lot of roads and maneuvers for the same.
I myself had some problems passing, the best part is that I only have to re validate it when I'm 50 or something and that process is almost automatic.
The bad part is that we have a lot of traffic accidents here. :(

Wow...I'm amused!

It was fairly simple for me. You had to get a temps by taking a test, drive for a week or two, and then take a road test for your full license.

And I know why Japan and the USA aren't exactly friends on the road. It's due to the fact that unlike Japan and Britain, we drive on opposite sides of the road AND on the car, so we would kinda need the lessons to get used to that.

lol nice
damm australia took me like hours to get my Learners done =="

you must be 18 if you are in Brunei to take the driver license.

getting a license in australia varies from state to state
here i live theres the learners permit which you have to sit for a computer test which is based around the learners manual you have to buy. theyre all multiple choices given 32 to answer, and they only allow 4 wrong
of course failing this one you got to redo and they change the order of questions to stop cheating and easy passes

once thats done, you got to have 120 hours or 6 months or to be at least 17 to be able to grant your probationary license. easy said then done, you have the practical test (that being driving)having to pass at least 85% and not stall over 3 times; and a 15 multiple choice question on the computer, allow 3 mistakes. failing either and you must repeat the sections you failed, whether it be prac or the computer test. you then must stick with the probationary test for 2-3 years before you can get full license

sicne new laws came in, theres restrictions for having probationary license.

for some people its hard, but most people say its a breeze to pass
i admit i failed my learners and probationary computer test more then once, but i was young n stupid then but i got past it, now been on my full license for 2 years now, it feels like nothing. of course, theres a number of stupid drivers here in australia

The process for getting a UK licence has gotten progressively more complicated (and expensive) in recent years.

Back when I first started learning to drive in 2001 it was just a case of a multiple choice theory test (get 30/35 to pass) followed by an on the road practical test. Since then they've added the incredibly strange hazard perception (tap a mouse when you see something that may develop into a hazard and score points depending on how quickly you pick things up) and made the practical more complicated with the addition with a short section when the examiner asks you questions about checking the oil, tyre pressure etc. They still test for the reverse around a corner manouvre (I use that one but only to get onto my own drive).

The drink driving video sounds rather creepy.

got my driver license at 24... never bothered to do that before... and i haven't been driving since i had it...

a bit useless, i guess...

i wonder if they use a similar system for motorcyclists 0_0? it would be awsum to get a bikers licence here in the UK and still have it valid over there

I got my license really easily, its almost sad how easy it is to get a license in some parts of the Pr

i cant wait to get my drivers license but it will take about 3 months to get maybe even longer i dont know.

but i have heard i some places like finland it takes over 3 years to get a license.now that will be a very long wait.

In the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, i got one this year, after spending last year under learners permit

PR driving licence categories
1. Learner's Permit
2. Motorcycle
3. Regular Driver
4. Chauffeur(In Spanish means Chofer)
5. Heavy Vehicles

First of all, you have to acquire the application form in the DTOP(Departamento de transportación y obras públicas-Spanish meaning for Department of transport and Public works) office of the region you are residing. in my example, Aguadilla.

Depending your situation on which you're acquiring your Puerto Rican licence, If you're 18 or more of age, the "Patria Protestad", document stating that the parent, guardian, or someone authorised by the state to be in charge of the minor will be responsible and even liable for damages or traffic offences that the minor inccurs. You have to bring a valid photocard, such as your passport, the social security card, the utility bill(Water, Electricity, Bank statement), and some other documents that i don't remember. And also US$15 worth of stamps issued by the state department of treasury

If you are applying for a learner's permit, you must recognise well the Puerto Rican driving code. in some pharmacies, and newstands, for US$1.50+7%IVU(Spanish abbreviative for Sales and usage tax) you can get a fresh copy of "Manual para el examen de conductor" always updated with recent traffic laws. take some days to study, and when you're ready, come to regional DTOP office to take the written test, on which i have to pass it with 74% over the 70% minimum score. it's all about signs, road symbols, right of way

As soon you have the Cat. 1 Licence in your hands, you are allowed to drive ONLY if you have an authorised adult sitting next to you. otherwise, you might expect the US$150 fine. Of course you make take classes with a private instructor of your choice, which it costs US$20 per hour, but the no-cost way to do it is with your parent/guardian

Remember, if you're 18, you are eligible to take the practical test if your permit is one month issued or more(if 16, 6 month minimum), you must fill out a new application form for the practical exam certificate(Known in Spanish as "Certificado de examen práctico"). that is a reservation ticket claiming that you are going to take the practical exam. remember to bring with you the learner's permit(and US$25 fee if you are using the driving instructors vehicle). he's watching and evaluating every mode you make, such as: parking, u-turns, turning, "Arrance en cuesta", etc. You must pass it with a 70% minimum and present it to the driver's ed centre in the DTOP regional office to have your licence issued in the same day. If you fail, you have to take it again, as soon as you paid the US$5 test re-take fee.

In Puerto Rico, nobody's driving in favour of the driving code, they're killing more innocents than any other country. whereas for every 100,000 habitants, 36.1 road fatalities are expected

From the drunk driving drama you have seen in the classroom, here's a memorable one from 1993, just to deter speeding.

There was a japanese high school couple, and it's seven weeks before the end of the 1992-93 school year, they we're having a romantic date in a northen area of the Kanto prefecture.

As soon they left the restaurant near the hilltops, and his girlfriend took three pints, he had to take the car on his journey home

It was 19h30, as he drove downhill, he encountered in a few metres, he encountered three signs, one advisory, and to regulatory. the leftmost one was an approach to a sharp right bend, the other was a no overtaking zone, and the last one is 60km/h maximum speed limit. he encountered in the speedometer that he was doing 100km/h.

As soon he entered the curve, the car fishtailed(Drifted) unexpectedly, back and forth, until it impacted with a safety rail and rolled over downhill, launching his girlfriend out of the car whilst she was wearing the seatbelt and slammed headfirst. her car suddenly detonated after it stopped rolling on a flat zone.

The very next morning, approx. 10h13, rescue authorites were investigating the accident that claimed the lives of this young couple, as the police officer said, "He was adicted to speed, whislt his girlfriend was drunk, he was taking the wheel"

Around 11h25, a police officer came to the house of her boyfriend, telling his mother that her son died in a lethal accident due to speeding, his mother began to cry hard, really hard.

The male voiceover ended the PSA with this message: "As the schoolyear draws to a close, don't gamble your life driving dangerously fast. You're not just putting in danger your own life, also of the other people. Japan must deserve people who can respect speed limits, both minimum and maximum. so please, don't gamble it out speeding. it kills lives".

My experience:
- Driving Permit: At the Driving office I waited in a big office for about 3 hours to take a 15 question standardized test on the computer... you can get 2/15 wrong, if you get more than that wrong you fail. (I got my first 2 questions wrongxD~ but managed to pass my first time by some miracle from heaven xD)
- Had 3 months of driving training (because my mom was pregnant when I started to practice and she didn't want to get into wreck with babyxD) Never had any classes with Info though.
- Set an appointment, drove around a parking lot and the road in front of the office for about 5 minutes and was passed =3 I spent most of my time studying Parallel Parking... as both my brothers had failed the tests because of that. And in the 4 years I've had my driving liscence I've never had to parallel park yet xD

WOW I would rather go through a two hour class than have to go to several three hour classes. Do you need to have practice time in Japan when you are first getting your license?
I had to have 30 day light hours and 10 night hours then cam the test!
I moved to California about 4 years ago and had to take the written test before I could get a California license but when I moved back to Colorado they just took my picture.

And I have to wait for my new license to come in the mail, so for now my idenity is contained on a rather long piece of paper.

What I'm curious about, is how much it costs to take the test from scratch. Some Japanese friends have been telling me that they paid about 200,000 yen, which sounds like alot.

I didn't both with a license while living in Japan I just used my Int'l Drivers Permit til it ran out. Jacked up my driving when I came back to the US though. I DID drive on the left side of the street, lol.

Is it me or did the guy in line in pic#20 (license collection hall A) take the magazine from the Japanese squat pot in pic#10 ?

Interesting, I have yet to get my licence.

Woot! I'm gonna start soon too! I noticed that here everybody seems to enjoy driving in your back seat, they like to get as close as possible...It seems like its just the style.

Anyway, as far as I've heard, its the real streets to learn how to drive on along with a written portion and a first aid course. I think it takes some time... (>_<)