To transfer to a Japanese licence, your licence must be at least three months old. To apply, bring an official Japanese translation of the licence from the Japan Automobile Federation (www.jaf.or.jp), a valid passport, alien registration card, the foreign driver’s licence, two 3cm x 2.4cm photos, as well as the relevant application form, to one of three testing and issuing centres (see table). You are also required to take an eye test on site. The transfer fee is around ¥4,000. JapanDriversLicense.com (03 5575 6321) can help you prepare the paperwork and acquire a licence at one of the Licensing Centres (see table below). They can also help you to prepare for the road test preparation and provide translators for written exams. If the foreign licence was issued by one of the 22 countries (see Compatible Licences above) with reciprocal agreements with Japan, you are exempt from the road test and need only pass a short, straightforward exam. If your licence is from the US or another country not on the list, you will need to schedule a driving test. You can do the test in a manual or automatic car. If you do the test in an automatic, your licence will not be valid for a manual car. Driving licences must be renewed every three years. If you have no points on your licence (p.143), go to the relevant police station with your licence and alien registration card to renew it. To check which police station you should go to, call your local licensing centre. If you have points on your licence, you’ll have to renew it at one of the licensing centres.