International Licenses and Motorcycles

[KNVBKing]

Just wondering how this works out if anyone has any experience.
If you have a motorcycle license (as well as a regular license) in your home country, and then you get an international license for when you go to Japan, is the motorcycle license reflected in the international license as well? So, in essence, would you be able to drive a motorcycle in Japan (legally)?

[jingi893]

finally...another biker...well kinda...i just got my motorcycle license in la...and when you get your international license make sure to tell them that you are qualified for motorcycle...then they will put it on you int'l license...so yes, not only would you be able to ride a motorcycle legally, you will also be able to ride any class of motorcycle...in japan there are several grades of license...250cc...then 750cc and then a seperate class for harley's...you need to take a practical test for each "tier"...here's a link that i found very useful:

http://japaninfo.esmartweb.com/bikerfaq-menkyo.html

so when are you going?...i'm leaving in july of this year...i'm kinda in the countryside and can't wait to get a bike and cruise around...

[pockymon]

Boo. Beat me to it.

Sadly, I didn't know the details even after doing "research", so I wasn't able to get the motorcycle endorsement on my international license so I could ride while testing for a Japanese license. :duh:

Anyways, I'm going to either ride my racing bike or a motorcycle - no f'in Vespas for this chick. I don't care what country you're in - they aren't THAT cool.

[KNVBKing]

Sweet! Thanks for the info!

I'll be leaving in July too, probably in late July. Actually, I don't have my license yet. Next week I'm going to be starting the process to get my motorcycle license (it's a long, involved process to get a motorcycle license where I live in Canada :boggled:).

But it's good to know that I can just use an international license, at least for the first year. Hopefully after that I will have no problem taking the Japanese test :D

[japanat]

I saw on the int'l license site that you can get 2 and 3-yr intls too.

[jingi893]

Boo. Beat me to it.

Sadly, I didn't know the details even after doing "research", so I wasn't able to get the motorcycle endorsement on my international license so I could ride while testing for a Japanese license. :duh:

Anyways, I'm going to either ride my racing bike or a motorcycle - no f'in Vespas for this chick. I don't care what country you're in - they aren't THAT cool.

i know what you mean...all my japanese friends tell me to get a "scooter"...fuck that...it just ain't right...i figure i'm going to start with a nice cruiser...not much into cafe racers...save the money for a year and then buy a nice triumph...i would buy a harely...but i don't know how the noise would sit with the neighbors...and being out in the country, noise travels FAR...

[jingi893]

I saw on the int'l license site that you can get 2 and 3-yr intls too.
don't do it...only get an international through AAA if you live in the u.s...besides...japanese law states that int'l licenses are only valid for one year...after that you must get a japanese license...

the advantage to the in'tl license is that it gives you a year to ride ANY CLASS bike...so when you take your 250cc test, you can take the 750cc test the same day...of course if you chose to ride anything bigger (harley) it's another class in itself...but since you've been riding what you want to ride for the year, you are comfortable...

[KNVBKing]

don't do it...only get an international through AAA if you live in the u.s...besides...japanese law states that int'l licenses are only valid for one year...after that you must get a japanese license...


Yeah, be careful where you are getting your international permit. There are some scams out there that will give you an "international driving license", and they are completely useless. I guess I was using the wrong terminology. I think the correct one is "International Driving Permit", and the scam is the "International Driving License"... something like that.

Anyways, the bottom line is to only get it through AAA, or CAA if you are in Canada.