Driver’s License Colors | What’s the Difference Between “Green,” “Blue,” and “Gold”? | Motorcycle Law Q&A

[Q.] What do the different colors on a driver’s license mean?

[A.] There are three colors but five meanings. There are differences in the validity period, etc.

The different coloured bands on a driver’s license have the following meanings:

[Green License]

・License category: New holder

・Validity period: 3 years

・Continuous period since obtaining license: First time

・Whether or not there has been a violation or accident: None

[Blue License Part 1]

・License classification: First-time renewer

・Validity period: 3 years

・Continuous period since obtaining license: Less than 5 years

・Whether or not there have been any violations or accidents: Not applicable to the category of violating driver training

[Blue License Part 2]

・License classification: Driver with violations

・Validity period: 3 years

・Continuous period since obtaining license: None

・Whether or not there are any violations or accidents: Multiple violations or accidents resulting in injuries

[Blue License No. 3]

・License category: General driver

・Validity period: 5 years

・Continuous period since obtaining license: 5 years or more

・Whether or not there have been any violations or accidents: Only one minor violation with a score of 3 points or less

[Gold License]

・License classification: Good driver

・Validity period: 5 years

・Continuous period since obtaining license: 5 years or more

・Whether or not there are any violations or accidents: No accidents or violations

A green license is given to people who obtain a license for the first time, and is valid for three years. However, there are cases where the license changes to a blue belt before the expiration date. For example, if you first obtain a regular four-wheeled vehicle license and then obtain a motorcycle license within one year,

Blue licenses are actually divided into three categories, each with different validity periods and the content of the courses taken when renewing.

The ” first-time renewer” category in [Blue License Part 1] refers to the category given to new Green License holders who, when renewing their license next time, have no violations or accidents that qualify for a driver’s license violation training course. More specifically, a “first-time renewer” is someone who has had no accidents or violations in the three years since obtaining their Green License, or who has only had one minor violation with three points or less.

In [Blue License Part 2] , ” violating drivers” are those who have committed multiple violations or have caused an accident resulting in injuries.

[Blue License Part 3] “General Driver” refers to a person who has held a license continuously for more than five years and has only one minor violation with three points or less. Even though the license is blue, the validity period is usually five years, unlike the three years for first-time renewers and drivers with violations.

A Gold License is a license for a “good driver .” It is available to drivers who have held a license continuously for more than five years and have not committed any violations or accidents resulting in injuries. It is usually valid for five years. It has the same validity period as a regular driver with a Blue License, but the course for license renewal is shorter and the fee is cheaper. Another benefit is that renewal procedures can be completed not only at a driver’s license testing center, but also at the nearest designated police station in your area.

The “validity period” here refers to the number of years from the date you obtained your license or the date of your last renewal until your third or fifth birthday. If the validity period is three years, it will be your third birthday from the date you obtained your license or the date of your last renewal, and if the validity period is five years, it will be your fifth birthday.

However, the actual validity period is one month after your birthday. For example, if you have a three-year driver’s license and your birthday is June 20th, your validity period will be from the date you obtained your license or last renewed until July 20th of the year that marks your third birthday.

In addition, the color of the license band and expiration date will reflect all points for traffic violations and accidents resulting in injuries over the five years prior to the 40 days before your birthday. Therefore, please note that if a person whose license has been suspended is deemed to have no previous convictions if they have had no accidents or violations for over a year, this is different from the case where no points are accumulated after the suspension.

↓For more information on “My Number License” etc., please check here

There are many other detailed rules regarding license renewal, such as the length of the renewal training course depending on the category. Also, from 2025, a new system called “My Number License” will be introduced, which combines the My Number Card and license. In addition, the system has undergone major changes, including the introduction of “online renewal training courses” that can be taken via smartphone or computer, and changes to fees.

For more details on these, please refer to the article linked below.

Licenses come in three colors: green, blue, and gold, but they have five different meanings! What has changed with the introduction of the “My Number License”? | Motor-Fan is a media platform that distributes articles related to automobiles.

The color of your license tells you the classification and validity period. First, the color of the band on your driver’s license has the following meaning. [Green License] ・License classification: New license holder ・Validity period: 3 years ・Continuous period since obtaining the license: First time ・Violation or accident […]

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