![For Taxi and Bus Companies | Class 2 License Written Test Prep for Specified Skilled Workers in Automobile Transportation [2026 Edition]](/_vercel/image?url=https:%2F%2Feswsspetwnfjmwiiduvc.supabase.co%2Fstorage%2Fv1%2Fobject%2Fpublic%2Fblog-images%2Fblogs%2F1767765853406.png&w=1536&q=100)
On January 23, 2026, the Japanese-language requirement for the Specified Skilled Worker field "Automobile Transportation" was lowered. For route buses and taxis, it was relaxed from about JLPT N3 to A2.2 (about JLPT N4) or higher.
Hiring has become easier. But the Class 2 license written test has not changed at all. Candidates answer 95 questions in 50 minutes and need 90 out of 100 points. That is the passing line.
In other words, this is what happens: companies can now hire people with N4-level Japanese, but the test those people must pass still assumes strong Japanese.
According to the National Police Agency's driver's license statistics, 29,570 people failed a Class 2 license test in one year (2025, including Japanese test takers).
The bottom line
In January 2026, the Japanese-language requirement for Specified Skilled Workers dropped to about N4. The Class 2 license written test stays the same: 95 questions, 50 minutes, 90 points or more. Only the hiring requirement went down, so there will be more workers who can be hired but cannot get the license.
This article is for recruiters at taxi and bus companies. It explains where the Class 2 license written test gets in the way of hiring plans, and what to check first.
For recruiters at taxi and bus companies: we can walk you through the number of users, supported languages, management features, and contract terms. |
* This information is current as of September 2026. Rules, fees, and reservation availability can change. Before starting any procedure, check with the police or driver's license center in the prefecture where the test will be taken.
In January 2026, the Japanese requirement for Specified Skilled Workers was lowered
The Specified Skilled Worker field "Automobile Transportation" accepts foreign workers in three categories: trucks, taxis, and buses. For the taxi and bus categories, the Japanese-language requirement was revised in the operating policy change of January 23, 2026.
Item | Before the revision | After the revision (from January 23, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
Japanese requirement for route buses and taxis | About N3 or higher | A2.2 (about JLPT N4) or higher |
Additional conditions | — | Create a Japanese study plan with the worker's consent / have a Japanese-language supporter ride along in certain situations, etc. |
Class 2 license written test | 95 questions, 50 minutes, 90 points or more | No change |
What went down Japanese requirement | What did not go down Class 2 license written test |
👉 The hiring requirement went down, but the test requirement did not. That gap becomes the recruiter's burden. If a company reflects the relaxed Japanese requirement only in its headcount plan and leaves written test preparation as it was, it will end up with more workers who were hired but cannot get the license.
What is the Class 2 license written test like?
Item | Details |
|---|---|
Number of questions | 95 questions (90 text questions + 5 illustration questions) |
Total score | 100 points |
Scoring | Text questions: 1 point each / illustration questions: 2 points each |
Format | Multiple choice or true/false (mostly true/false questions) |
Time limit | 50 minutes |
Passing score | 90 points or more (90% or more correct) |
Eligibility | Age 21 or older, and has held a standard license or similar for a total of 3 years or more |
Test languages | 20 languages |
Each illustration question has 3 sub-questions about one picture. You get 2 points only if all 3 are correct. If even one is wrong, you get 0 points. The 5 illustration questions are worth 10 points in total, so missing them puts the 90-point passing line far out of reach.
👉 You can lose only 10 points. The test does not simply check memorized traffic rules. It checks the judgment and sense of responsibility of a professional driver who carries passengers.
How many people fail?
60.8% Class 2 standard pass rate | 67.1% Class 2 large pass rate | 29,570 Failures in one year |
We compiled the number of test takers and passes from the National Police Agency's driver's license statistics. The numbers differ between the Class 2 standard license needed for taxis and the Class 2 large license needed for buses.
Category | Test takers | Passed | Pass rate | Failed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 2 standard (taxis) | 55,964 | 34,019 | 60.8% | 21,945 |
Class 2 large (buses) | 15,605 | 10,475 | 67.1% | 5,130 |
Class 2 medium | 1,974 | 1,320 | 66.9% | 654 |
All Class 2 licenses | 76,084 | 46,514 | 61.1% | 29,570 |
* Figures are for 2025. They cover the whole driver's license test (test takers and passes), not just the written test. People who graduate from a designated driving school are exempt from the driving skills test, so in practice the written test result has a big effect, but strictly speaking the two are different. The figures may also count attempts rather than people.
👉 Even including Japanese test takers, 4 out of 10 people fail. A 90% passing line is not easy even in your native language. For workers whose native language is not Japanese, the wall is even higher.
When can a worker take the test?
When you make a hiring plan, work backward from when the worker can take the Class 2 license test. There are two ways to meet the eligibility requirements.
Route | Age | License history |
|---|---|---|
Standard rule | 21 or older | Has held a Class 1 license or similar for a total of 3 years or more |
After completing the special eligibility training course | 19 or older | 1 year or more |
The special eligibility training course took effect on May 13, 2022. With it, the age requirement comes 2 years earlier, and the license history requirement is shortened by 2 years.
⚠️ Time holding a license in the home country may count toward the total. If the worker converted a foreign license into a Japanese one, the period does not necessarily start from the conversion date. Because this decides whether hiring works, check each case with the driver's license center.
Why is the Class 2 license written test hard for foreign workers?
Besides the high 90% passing line, the learning process is centered on Japanese.
Classroom lessons at driving schools are, as a rule, in Japanese
Textbooks handed out at driving schools are in Japanese only
Legal wording and question sentences are abstract and require strong Japanese reading skills
The test can be taken in 20 languages. But the study materials are only in Japanese. This mismatch is the core of the problem. Even when workers can take the test in a foreign language, as long as the learning process is centered on Japanese, they reach test day without fully understanding the material.
In addition, driving school class hours have been shortened by rule changes, so there is less time each year to understand the classroom material in depth. As a result, "attended the lessons" often does not mean "understood the lessons."
👉 Now that the Japanese requirement has dropped to N4, this problem will grow. N4 is an entry level for everyday conversation. With that level of Japanese, workers cannot read 95 legal-style questions in 50 minutes.
How do the challenges differ between taxi and bus companies?
Taxi companies
In the taxi industry, there is strong demand to get drivers on the road quickly. Failing the written test leads directly to delayed assignments and lost sales.
Retakes after failing
The whole hiring plan falling behind schedule
Problems like these happen easily, and in reality the assumption that "once they have the license, they can start work" often breaks down.
Bus companies
In the bus industry, demands for public service and safety are even higher, and simply passing is not enough.
Why that decision is necessary
Why that action is dangerous
Without this background understanding, risks appear after drivers are assigned. That is why bus companies strongly need written test passes backed by real understanding.
👉 The question is not "Do they know the traffic rules?" but "Can they make the right decisions to carry passengers safely?" The challenges look different for taxis and buses, but what they share is that leaving written test preparation entirely to driving schools has its limits.
What should you check first for workers with a foreign license?
If you hire workers who have a license from their home country, their first step toward a Japanese license is license conversion (gaimen kirikae). Do not overlook the effects of the October 2025 revision here.
The knowledge test changed from 10 questions and 70% to 50 questions and 90%
Illustration questions were removed, and all questions are now text questions
The test is now held only once a day, in the afternoon
The pass rate fell from about 90% to 42.8% (National Police Agency, October–December 2025)
The pass rate for the driving skills test is 13.1%
More people are retaking the test, and in some areas the wait for a reservation is 1 to 3 months
👉 In other words, workers may get stuck before they even reach the Class 2 license. Check this hurdle before you make a hiring plan.
If workers need a moped license to commute, also see our article on test languages in all 47 prefectures. The moped written test is offered in anywhere from 0 to 20 languages depending on the prefecture.
Drivey's Class 2 license course (launching September 2026)
Starting in September 2026, Drivey, the written test prep service provided by ZIPLUS Co., Ltd., will offer a Class 2 license course. It is a written test prep course for the Class 2 license needed to carry passengers in taxis, buses, and similar vehicles.
Drivey covers all of the following written tests.
License conversion (knowledge test)
Provisional license
Standard license (full license test)
Moped license
Class 2 license (taxis and buses)
What the Class 2 license course aims for
Passing the test is not the only goal. The course aims to build the mindset a professional driver needs when carrying passengers.
Learn the spirit of hospitality and the ethics expected of a driver
Learn safety from the passenger's point of view and traffic rules unique to Japan
👉 Not "Do they know the traffic rules?" but "Can they make the right decisions to carry passengers safely?" The course aims to build that mindset. It directly supports the "passes backed by real understanding" that bus companies need.
Available in 6 languages
Employees can choose their own language from 6 languages: Japanese (with furigana), English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Myanmar. You can give every employee the same learning opportunity.
How learning works
Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Understand with videos | Videos explain complicated traffic rules and dangerous situations, starting from "why it works this way" |
Q&A-style learning | Quick question-and-answer quizzes help learners check and lock in what they have learned |
Understanding checks | A mini test at the end of each section measures how well the material is understood |
Mock exams | Timed exams in the same format as the real test measure and analyze each learner's level |
👉 Employees can study on a computer or a smartphone. They can use spare moments such as commuting time or breaks and go at their own pace.
What can you do with the corporate admin dashboard?
The admin dashboard shows "when, who, and how far" each employee has studied. Corporate plans include the corporate admin dashboard.
Feature | What you can do |
|---|---|
Member management | Create and invite accounts / assign licenses by license type (course) |
Learning management | Check each employee's study time and progress / see progress rates by category |
Test management | Check test results and pass rates / see test dates, times, and number of attempts |
Reports | Create a data report for each employee / export as CSV or PDF |
👉 Reports can be exported as CSV and PDF. You can use them as they are for reports to supervising organizations or headquarters, or for internal progress meetings.
Workers can start learning before they arrive in Japan
With an internet connection and a device, workers can study anywhere. That means the course can be used even before workers arrive in Japan.
In the license conversion course, some companies have workers start studying 2 months before arrival to prepare for the knowledge test right after they arrive. Staff at registered support organizations and companies can check learning progress remotely at any time on the corporate admin dashboard.
👉 If preparation starts only after arrival, it overlaps with the wait for a license conversion reservation, and time is lost. Work backward from the assignment date and start before arrival.
Steps to get started
Step | What to do | Details |
|---|---|---|
1 | Temporary account registration | We send you a URL for temporary registration by email |
2 | Full account registration | Confirm your email address and set a password to complete registration |
3 | Purchase licenses | Buy licenses for the number of users from the license management screen (credit card payment) |
4 | Assign licenses | Register each employee with their name and email address. A registration email is sent to the employee |
👉 If you use the "License Conversion Peace-of-Mind Package" or would like to pay by invoice, we will guide you separately. Please contact us.
Pricing
Course | Price (tax included, per license per month) |
|---|---|
Class 2 license | 8,800 yen |
Standard license | 6,600 yen |
Provisional license | 5,500 yen |
Moped | 5,500 yen |
License conversion | 5,280 yen |
👉 Licenses are purchased one by one, so there is no minimum number of users. Corporate plans include the corporate admin dashboard. If you use the "License Conversion Peace-of-Mind Package," we will send a separate quote.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How much does it cost to get a Class 2 license?
If the worker takes the test directly at a test center in Tokyo, it costs 9,800 yen (test fee 4,500 yen, test vehicle fee 2,950 yen, license issuance fee 2,350 yen), plus 30,300 yen for the pre-license training course (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). Graduating from a designated driving school costs extra for the lessons. Fees differ by prefecture.
Q. Can a worker get a Class 2 license right after being hired?
No. As a rule, test takers must be 21 or older and have held a Class 1 license or similar for a total of 3 years or more. However, completing the special eligibility training course shortens this to age 19 or older and 1 year or more of license history.
If the worker converted a home-country license into a Japanese license, the time holding the license in the home country may count toward the total, rather than only the time since the conversion date. Check each case with the driver's license center.
Q. Can the Class 2 license written test also be taken in a foreign language?
Yes. The Class 2 license written test is offered in 20 languages (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). However, the days and test centers are fixed for each language, so check in advance. In Tokyo, 5 languages including English are available every weekday, but the other 15 languages are available only on set days at each test center.
Q. How is it different from the written test for the standard full license?
The number of questions, scoring, and passing score are the same (95 questions, 100 points, 90 points or more), but the content is different. The Class 2 license adds questions that test a professional driver's judgment, such as passenger safety, operation management, customer service, and predicting danger in bad conditions. Standard license materials alone are not enough.
Q. Can workers use it before they arrive in Japan?
Yes. With an internet connection and a device, they can study anywhere. In the license conversion course, some companies have workers start studying 2 months before arrival. You can check learning progress remotely from the corporate admin dashboard.
Q. How much can we see about employees' learning?
You can see study time, progress rates by category, test results and pass rates, and test dates, times, and number of attempts. Reports for each employee can be exported as CSV or PDF.
Q. What is the minimum number of users?
Licenses are purchased one by one, so there is no minimum. The Class 2 license course costs 8,800 yen per month (tax included, per license).
Summary
On January 23, 2026, the Japanese requirement for Specified Skilled Workers was lowered. For route buses and taxis, it went from about N3 to A2.2 (about N4) or higher
But the Class 2 license written test did not change: 95 questions, 50 minutes, 90 points or more
The pass rate is 60.8% for the Class 2 standard license and 67.1% for the Class 2 large license. Across all Class 2 licenses, 29,570 people failed in one year (2025)
As a rule, eligibility is age 21 and 3 years of license history. Completing the special eligibility training course shortens this to age 19 and 1 year
The test can be taken in 20 languages, but driving school classes and textbooks are in Japanese. This is where understanding breaks down
Workers with a home-country license face license conversion first. After the October 2025 revision, the knowledge test pass rate fell to 42.8% and the driving skills test pass rate to 13.1%
Drivey's Class 2 license course launches in September 2026: 6 languages, remote progress tracking on the corporate admin dashboard, 8,800 yen per month (tax included, per license)
Hiring foreign drivers is already possible under the system and has entered the execution phase on the ground. That is exactly why the question is not how many people you can hire, but how reliably you can get them on the road.
Talk to us about setup and pricing We can walk you through the number of users, supported languages, management features, and contract terms. A demo is also available. Contact us / Get a quoteCorporate plan details Talk to us by phone |
Sources: Number of questions, scoring, and passing score from Kanagawa Prefectural Police, "Test procedures for Class 2 large, medium, and standard licenses (designated school graduates)" (90 text questions + 5 illustration questions, 1 point for text and 2 points for illustrations, 90 points or more) / Test format from Osaka Prefectural Police, "Class 2 licenses" (95 questions, multiple choice or true/false, 90% or more) / Eligibility and fees from Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, "Class 2 large, medium, and standard license tests" / Pass rates calculated from "A. Year-on-year comparison of driver's license test takers and passes" in National Police Agency, "Driver's License Statistics (2025 edition)" / Test languages from Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, "Written tests available in foreign languages" (updated May 11, 2026) / License conversion changes from Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, "Revised Road Traffic Act Enforcement Regulations effective October 1, 2025" / License conversion pass rates from National Police Agency results for October–December 2025 (knowledge test 42.8%, driving skills test 13.1%) / The Japanese requirement and framework for Specified Skilled Workers in "Automobile Transportation" are based on Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, "Accepting Specified Skilled Workers in the automobile transportation field" and the operating policy revision of January 23, 2026. The special eligibility training course took effect on May 13, 2022. Rules change. Always check the official websites before starting any procedure. Prices and features are current as of September 2026.
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