[Moped License Exam Prep Course] How should you use it? A clear, easy-to-understand guide to recommended study methods!

The written test for the moped license (gentsuki; officially called a motorized bicycle) has 48 questions worth 50 points in total. You need 45 points or more (90% correct) to pass. There are 46 text questions and 2 illustration questions, and the test time is 30 minutes. You can lose no more than 5 points.

This article explains what order to study in, and for how long, to pass using Drivey's moped license written test course. If you have signed up but are not sure how to use it, read on.

What kind of test is the moped written test?

*The number of questions, points, and passing score are based on Kanagawa Prefectural Police: Test Procedures for Moped and Small Special Vehicle Licenses. Eligibility is based on Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Moped License Test.

Each illustration question has 3 sub-questions about one picture. You get 2 points only if all 3 answers are correct. One wrong answer gives you 0 points. The 2 illustration questions are worth 4 points together, so missing them puts the 45-point passing line far out of reach.

👉 A new category of moped was added on April 1, 2025. Two-wheelers of 125cc or less whose maximum output is limited to 4.0 kW or less can also be ridden with a moped license. However, vehicles over 4.0 kW are Class 2 mopeds (gentsuki nishu) and cannot be ridden with a moped license.

What topics are on the test?

The test covers the following topics.

• Basic rules for pedestrians and drivers

• What to know before riding a car or moped, and how to ride

• Riding in dangerous places

• How to ride a two-wheeler

• What to do in traffic accidents, breakdowns, and disasters

• Hazard prediction (illustration questions)

The moped written test broadly checks the basics of riding a moped safely.

👉 If you convert your home country's license to a moped license through license conversion, the test range is different. The knowledge test for license conversion (gaimen kirikae) covers almost the same range as the final test for a regular car license, even when you are getting a moped license. It includes expressway driving. For details, see our article on the differences between the 2 tests.

What languages can I take the test in?

Only for the moped written test, each prefecture decides its own languages. Since June 2024, 20 languages have been introduced nationwide, but this applies to the written tests for Class 1 licenses, Class 2 licenses, and provisional licenses, and to the knowledge test for license conversion. The moped license is handled differently (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Written Tests Available in Foreign Languages).

In Tokyo, the moped test is available in 5 languages: English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Myanmar. You can take it on weekdays at the Fuchu, Samezu, and Koto test centers. Kanagawa and Chiba offer English only, and Aomori, Iwate, Akita, and Nagano offer Japanese only.

👉 The languages, required documents, and fees for all 47 prefectures are listed in this article. For prefectures whose official pages do not say, we confirmed the information by calling the driver's license center.

How long do I need to study to pass?

Covering the full range takes about 2 to 4 weeks. At 4 to 5 lessons a day, it takes about 4 weeks. If you have more time, you can finish one round in about 2 weeks. This estimate is for going through Drivey's learning content from start to finish.

The table below is an example of a 4-week plan. For a 2-week plan, combine weeks 1 and 2 into one week, and weeks 3 and 4 into one week.

👉 This is not a test you can pass without studying. According to the National Police Agency's Driver's License Statistics (2025), 162,668 people took the moped written test in one year, and 95,495 passed. In other words, 67,173 people failed in one year.

Where should I start studying?

Start with the videos in the learning content. Memorizing answers alone will not get you through the written test. You score points only when you can understand, remember, and actually make the right judgment. Drivey's lessons take you through these 3 steps in order.

1. Understand with videos

First, watch the videos to grasp the traffic rules, cautions, and key points with images. Content that is hard to follow in text is easier to understand in a video.

2. Remember with Q&A

Next, check what you learned in the videos with question-and-answer Q&A. Recalling the answer yourself and checking it right away helps you remember it.

3. Check with mini tests

Finally, take a short mini test to check that you really understand. When you get something wrong, go back to the video or Q&A and review it, fixing weak points on the spot.

For topics you are not confident about, watch the video again and then retry the mini test. Going back and forth like this is the most effective way to build your skills.

How many terms do I need to learn?

The goal is 30 terms a week. On the moped written test, whether you know the meaning of the words has a big effect on whether you pass. The more traffic-rule words you know, the faster you understand the text questions.

The glossary is most useful on days when you do not have much time. You can use it on the train or bus, during breaks, or for a few minutes before bed. 3 to 5 minutes is enough.

Once the videos, Q&A, and glossary feel easy, move on to the test features early.

In what order should I work on the questions?

Traffic sign questions → practice questions → skill check → mock tests. If you start with mock tests right away, you will not score well and may stop studying.

(A) Traffic sign questions

Traffic sign questions always appear on the moped test. Japan has more than 200 kinds of traffic signs, and many look alike in shape or color or have similar meanings that are easy to mix up.

Drivey does not just ask you to memorize them. It helps you understand why each sign exists and what danger it is meant to prevent. Reaching a perfect score on these early in your study builds confidence for the whole test.

(B) Practice questions

Each practice set has 10 questions, so you can work on them while commuting or during breaks. You can review the questions you got wrong in a list later, see which points you often get wrong, and focus your review on weak topics.

As you go, think about why you got a question wrong and which part you did not understand.

(C) Skill check

The skill check test has about half as many questions as the real test. It shows objectively how much you have learned and which topics are still weak. Use it to test yourself just before the exam and to decide what to focus on in the remaining time.

(D) Mock tests

The mock test is the most realistic test, with the same number of questions and the same time limit as the real test. It builds test-day skills: pacing yourself, staying focused, and making decisions under pressure.

Take the real test only after you can score over 90% consistently.

What should I be careful about on test day?

(1) Read each sentence carefully

Most questions are short, only 1 or 2 lines. That is why one word can decide whether an answer is right or wrong. Pay attention to expressions like these.

• Types of signals: steady green light, flashing red light, yellow arrow, and so on

• Different numbers: 3 seconds before / 30 meters before, within 3 meters / within 5 meters

• Sentence endings: "is / is not," "may / may not"

Do not answer based on a vague feeling. Read the numbers and words carefully.

(2) Take each question at face value

Simply decide whether what is written is true or false. Many questions can be answered with common sense, and overthinking them leads to mistakes.

However, sentences with words like "always," "absolutely," or "in any situation" often test whether there are exceptions. Read those carefully.

(3) Always review your answers

After answering all the questions, go back and review from the beginning. This prevents marking errors, misreading, and unanswered questions. On a test that requires 45 points, missing a question you know leads directly to failing.

Frequently asked questions

Do I get my license right after passing the written test?

No. When you get a new license at a driver's license center, you must take a moped training course (with a real moped) after passing the written test. This course is given in Japanese. In Tokyo, the course fee is 5,250 yen (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department).

How much does it cost?

In Tokyo, the test fees are 3,950 yen (1,600 yen test fee and 2,350 yen license issuing fee), plus the 5,250 yen moped training course fee (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department). Fees differ by prefecture.

If I have a license from my home country, can I skip the test?

No. Licenses from countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, China, Nepal, and the Philippines are not exempt from the knowledge test. However, if you get a moped license through license conversion, you do not need the driving skills test or the moped training course. The pass rate is low at 42.8%, but the Japanese-language barrier is only the 50-question knowledge test. See the test content and how to prepare and practice questions (with answers and explanations) to decide which is right for you.

Signing up for the course, and use by companies

For personal use, you can try the course for free from the moped license course page.

If you have a driver's license from your home country, also consider the license conversion course.

If you support several learners at a company, supervising organization, registered support organization, newspaper distributor, or similar, see our corporate service. The corporate dashboard lets you check each learner's progress remotely. For quotes and demos, please use the contact form.

*Information as of September 2026. Rules, languages, and fees may change. Before taking the test, check with the police or driver's license center of the prefecture where you will take it.

Sources: Kanagawa Prefectural Police: Test Procedures for Moped and Small Special Vehicle Licenses (46 text + 2 illustration questions, 45 points or more) / Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Moped License Test (eligibility, fees, moped training course) / Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department: Written Tests Available in Foreign Languages (updated May 11, 2026) / National Police Agency, Driver's License Statistics, 2025 edition (162,668 test takers, 95,495 passed, 58.7% pass rate) / For the new moped category, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) guidance (effective April 1, 2025; 125cc or less and maximum output of 4.0 kW or less)