How to Support Foreign Residents in Getting a Moped License: Methods, Reservations, and Preparation in Kanagawa Prefecture [For Employers and Supporters]

This article is for staff at companies, registered support organizations, and educational institutions in Kanagawa Prefecture who support foreign employees or the people they assist in getting a moped license.

Do not choose the method based only on whether the person has a foreign license. Choose based on 4 points: "the conditions for conversion," "the language in which the person can read the test," "the reservation date," and "the date the license is needed."

For people who can take the test in Japanese or English, getting a new moped license may move faster. For people who want another language, check whether they can use conversion from a foreign license.

When explaining to the person, please use the article written in plain Japanese.

First, 4 things to confirm with the person

1. Can the foreign license be converted to a moped license?

Check the type, expiration date, and original issue date of the foreign license. In addition, confirm whether the person can prove a total stay of 90 days or more in the issuing country while that license was valid after obtaining it.

Having a foreign license and proof of a 90-day stay does not guarantee conversion to a moped license. Check with the driver's license center which license categories can be converted. The conditions for applying, such as the person's address and residence status in Kanagawa Prefecture, also need to be confirmed.

2. In which language can the person "read and understand the test questions"?

It is important not to judge only by nationality or everyday conversation ability. Confirm the language in which the person can read traffic rule questions and judge whether they are true or false.

• Getting a new moped license: the written test in Kanagawa Prefecture is in Japanese or English.

• Converting a foreign license: the knowledge test is available in Japanese and 20 foreign languages.

3. When can each be reserved?

For a new license, check the written test date. For license conversion, check the document review date. It is the same "waiting for a reservation," but the procedure being waited for is different.

4. By when is the license needed?

Confirm the date the person wants to start driving for commuting or work. Do not assume they will pass on the first try. Plan for retakes and for the training course falling on a different day.

Comparing the 2 methods

Method ② is called "license conversion (gaimen kirikae)." Depending on the country or region that issued the foreign license, the knowledge test may be waived.

How to choose: for people who can use both ① and ② and can take the test in Japanese or English, compare the reservation dates and the time needed for document preparation. For people who find the Japanese or English test difficult, check whether they meet the conditions for ② and can choose a language they can read.

The reservation wait is not "the number of days until the license"

The following is what the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center told us by phone on September 2, 2026. It does not show current availability.

① Getting a new moped license

We were told that written test reservations are 2 weeks to 1 month ahead. The moped training course after passing may fall on a different day, so do not set the test date itself as the date driving begins.

② Converting a foreign license

The earliest reservation date for the document review was November 16, 2026, about 2 and a half months from the date of our call.

We were told that if the document review is passed, the knowledge test can be taken on the same day, with no separate reservation needed for it. On the other hand, if the person fails the knowledge test, we were told the wait for a retake is about 1 month.

These reflect operations and congestion at the time of our inquiry. When the person makes their reservation, confirm what happens after the document review, whether the training course is needed, how to reserve a retake, and the procedures required before issuance.

What staff should record are 3 things: "the date checked, the procedure being reserved, and the date that can be reserved." Do not pass on only a period, such as "license conversion takes 2 and a half months."

Supporting ① getting a new moped license

From reservation to issuance

1. Reserve the written test online.

2. On the reserved date, the person goes through reception, the aptitude test (eye test and so on), and the written test.

3. After passing, the person takes the 3-hour moped training course in principle.

4. When the required procedures are finished, the license is issued.

Test reception is Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 9:00. Closed on national holidays, other holidays, and the year-end and New Year period. The first time, time is also needed to fill in the application form.

Kanagawa Prefectural Police: Moped test procedures and online reservation guide

Test and costs

The written test has 46 text questions and 2 illustration questions, and you pass with 45 points or more out of 50. Each illustration question has 3 sub-questions, and 2 points are awarded only if all are answered correctly.

The above are the fees when taking the training course. They differ if the course is waived. Costs for retakes, photos, transportation, obtaining a translation, and so on are not included.

What staff can help prepare

• Required documents: the certificate of residence (juminhyo) must list all required items such as nationality and residence status and be issued by the city, ward, town, or village within the last 6 months. Copies cannot be used for the procedure. Also check the official guide for the residence card, identity documents, and application photo.

• Schedule for the day: secure time not only for the test but also for the training course, and adjust work shifts and travel.

• Clothing for the training course: prepare long sleeves, long pants, and shoes suitable for riding. Rain gear is needed on rainy days. Helmets and gloves can be borrowed.

If the person has a foreign license, also check for a training course waiver

If the person held a foreign license allowing moped riding within 6 months before the application date and stayed in that country for a total of 3 months or more after obtaining it, the moped training course may be waived.

The foreign license, its Japanese translation, passport, and so on are needed for the check. Even when getting a new moped license, a foreign license can be grounds for a training course waiver. Do not overlook this point.

Kanagawa Prefectural Police: Moped training course, waiver conditions, and what to bring

Supporting ② getting a moped license through license conversion

3 stages: reservation, document review, knowledge test

The figure is an image of the main procedures. Its lengths do not represent waiting times. Waivers of tests or the training course and the timing of issuance are confirmed individually.

1. Reserve the document review date at the counter: in principle, go to Counter No. 12 of the driver's license center on weekdays from 14:00 to 15:00. Check the official guide for the days you can visit.

2. Document review on the designated date: submit the foreign license, passport, Japanese translation, certificate of residence, residence card, and so on, and have the conditions for conversion checked.

3. Knowledge test, if required: taken after passing the document review. Confirm the handling of same-day testing when the person makes their reservation.

After that, the license is obtained once any required training course and the issuance procedures are completed. Confirm the procedures and costs required for conversion to a moped license, and do not apply the general license conversion guidance as is.

Kanagawa Prefectural Police: License conversion reservations, required documents, and contacts

Points where document preparation tends to stall

• License expiration and issue date: confirm whether the original issue date can be verified and whether the license will expire during the procedure. If the expiration is near, consult early.

• Proof of 90-day stay: a passport alone may not be enough. If there are no entry or exit stamps, check what additional materials are needed, such as a certificate of employment, pay slips, or a graduation certificate.

• Japanese translation: it must be prepared by an organization listed in the official guide.

• Interpreting: if communicating in Japanese is difficult, a Japanese interpreter must accompany the person. The languages supported for the test and the languages supported at the counter are different.

Knowledge test questions and supported languages

The knowledge test has 50 true-or-false questions, and 45 or more correct answers is a pass. It may be waived depending on the issuing country or region.

In addition to Japanese, the following 20 languages are supported.

• English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish

• Thai, Tagalog, Russian, Persian, Korean

• Indonesian, Khmer, Nepali, Burmese, Mongolian

• Ukrainian, Sinhala, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi

These 6 items are the record to share among staff

When supporting several people, recording the following items for each person reduces missed checks and handover mix-ups.

1. The person's conditions: address and residence status, the type, expiration, and original issue date of the foreign license, and the status of the 90-day proof

2. The chosen method and reason: new license / license conversion, and the chosen test language

3. Target date: the date the license is needed, and the date the person wants to start driving for work or commuting

4. Reservation information: the date checked, the procedure reserved, the date and time, and the next procedure to reserve

5. Preparation status: missing documents, translation, interpreter or companion, and study status

6. Next action: who does what by when. Also record re-reservations in case of failure

Securing the reservation and preparing for the test proceed in parallel. Once the test type and language are decided, start studying and check comprehension before the test.

Using Drivey for learning support

Official information, commercial study materials, in-house training, learning services, and so on can be used for studying. Drivey, from Ziplus, the company that operates this site, offers preparation for the moped written test and the license conversion knowledge test, with plans for individuals and for organizations.

• When the person starts studying on their own: guide them to the individual course that matches the test they will take.

• When a company or support organization provides ongoing support: sort out the number of people and how study status will be checked, then consult about corporate use.

The languages supported by the study materials and the test languages available at the driver's license center are different. After the person learns the traffic rules in a language they understand easily, confirm that they can also read the questions in the actual test language.

Check the available courses, languages, management features, and contract terms before applying.

• See moped written test preparation

• See license conversion knowledge test preparation

• Ask about corporate use of Drivey

Frequently asked questions

If the person has a foreign license, should license conversion be the first choice?

There is no single answer. If the person can take the test in Japanese or English and the written test reservation is soon, a new license may be more suitable. Compare with the possibility of a training course waiver and document preparation included.

Can a company representative complete the procedures on the person's behalf?

Identity verification, the aptitude test, the written test, and the knowledge test are done by the person. Check with the driver's license center about the scope of support staff can provide for reservations, document preparation, interpreting, and accompanying.

Can driving duties start on the first test date?

The test date alone is not enough to decide. Confirm that the license has actually been issued and that its category and conditions match the vehicle to be driven before deciding to start driving.

Official guides and contacts

Kanagawa Prefectural Police Driver's License Center: 045-365-3111 (main number)

Questions about license conversion reservations: 045-365-6000. In principle, someone who understands Japanese should call on weekdays from 15:00 to 16:00. This number is for questions; reservations are made at Counter No. 12.

• Moped license test procedures

• Moped training course guide

• Converting a foreign license to a Japanese license

Official police information checked on September 11, 2026. The reservation waiting times, same-day knowledge test, and retake waiting time are based on our phone check on September 2, 2026. We did not re-check reservation availability on September 11. Please check the latest procedures, costs, and reservation availability before applying.

A plain-Japanese guide to getting a license that you can hand to the person