What is a My Number license?
The My Number card is a combination of a driver’s license and a My Number card. The license-specific information stored on the IC chip of the driver’s license is recorded on the IC chip of the My Number card, thereby integrating the two.
Image of My Number Card
Driver’s license image
Regarding this integration, the Road Traffic Act was partially amended in April 2022 (Reiwa 4) to include the following provisions:
“Any person currently holding a driver’s license who only holds a driver’s license for that license may apply at any time to have certain information related to that person’s driver’s license (hereinafter referred to as “specific license information”) recorded in a separate section of their Individual Number Card.
An Individual Number Card with specific license information recorded on it will be deemed to be a driver’s license for the purposes of applying the regulations regarding the obligation to carry and present a driver’s license.”
(Source: House of Councillors website, bill information, “Summary of the 208th Diet (Regular Session) Bill”)
As you know, the personal number card referred to here is the My Number Card. To put it simply, these provisions mean that anyone who has a driver’s license can apply to have their license information (specific license information) recorded on their My Number Card.
In other words, a single My Number card linked to your driver’s license information will reveal information such as the license type, number, issue date, and validity period. It has also been decided that even if you only carry this My Number card while driving, it will be treated as if you have a driver’s license.
The My Number license aims to integrate the license-specific information stored on the IC chip of a driver’s license by recording it on the IC chip of the My Number card.
What are the benefits of a minor driver’s license?
Two cards become one…This is a benefit for people who find it troublesome to carry around a lot of cards, such as point cards and credit cards.
The National Police Agency also lists other benefits, including:
First, it will make address change procedures one-stop . This means that procedures can be simplified when your address changes due to moving or other reasons. Currently, driver’s licenses are processed at police stations or driver’s license centers, while My Number cards are processed at city halls or municipal offices. However, if you have a My Number license, procedures can be unified at the city hall or municipal office.
Another benefit cited is that it will be possible to take the “online renewal training course,” which the National Police Agency is also in the process of starting .
This online renewal course is a model project that was implemented on a trial basis in Hokkaido, Chiba, Kyoto, and Yamaguchi prefectures from February 2022 (Reiwa 4). The initiative was aimed at good drivers and general drivers who hold a My Number card, allowing them to take license renewal courses via smartphone or computer. The aim is to improve the convenience of license renewal by allowing them to take the course at their preferred location, such as home or work, 24 hours a day.
The National Police Agency plans to expand the operation of this online renewal course nationwide, and anyone who obtains a My Number license will be able to receive this service.
However, even if you take the online renewal course, you still need to go to a driver’s license testing center within the renewal period to receive your new driver’s license, just like before. The online course simply means that you can take the license renewal course at any time and place. Just to be clear, this course is only available to good drivers and general drivers.
Once a minor driver’s license is obtained, good drivers and general drivers can also take online renewal courses.
Is a minor driver’s license mandatory?
The question here is, will the integration of driver’s licenses and My Number cards become mandatory? In other words, is it something that absolutely has to be done? In particular, since obtaining a My Number card is optional, there are likely many people who do not have one. It is also interesting to know what will happen in these cases.
In this regard, the following options are possible:
1. Only the “traditional driver’s license” (no unification)
2. Only the “minor driver’s license” (unification)
3. “Carrying two cards”: the traditional driver’s license and the minor driver’s license
In other words, if you don’t have a My Number card and have no intention of getting one in the future, you can continue to use your regular driver’s license as before, as in 1.
Integrating driver’s licenses and My Number cards is entirely optional
License fees also increase
The National Police Agency has also announced that it will be reviewing and raising fees for issuing licenses and other matters in conjunction with the introduction of the My Number license system. The reason for this is “rising material and labor costs.” The price increase will take effect on March 24, 2025, the same date as the introduction of the My Number license system.
So, what kind of fees will actually be increased, and by how much? We will mainly introduce those related to motorcycle driver’s licenses.
First, let’s talk about the fees and training costs involved in obtaining a motorcycle license. As you may know, when obtaining a regular motorcycle license (including small-sized and automatic transmission only) or a large-sized motorcycle license (including automatic transmission only), you can either take a one-shot test at a driver’s license testing center or attend a driving school. The fees for each are as follows:
Fees and training costs for obtaining a motorcycle license will also increase.
[For one-shot tests]
Before the revision
: Exam fee: 2,600 yen
, Test vehicle use fee: 1,450 yen
, License issuance fee: 2,050 yen
, Total: 6,100 yen
. ↓
After the revision (after March 24, 2025)
: Exam fee: 2,800 yen
, Test vehicle use fee: 1,750 yen
, License issuance fee: Conventional license: 2,350 yen, Minority license: 1,550 yen, Dual license: 2,450 yen
, Total: 6,900 to 7,000 yen.
Costs for the initial training and first aid course to be taken after passing the one-shot test
Before the revision
: Large motorcycle license (including automatic transmission only): 16,650 yen
Regular motorcycle license (including small motorcycle and automatic transmission only): 16,200 yen
↓
After the revision (after March 24, 2025)
: Large motorcycle license (including automatic transmission only): 18,450 yen
Regular motorcycle license (including small motorcycle and automatic transmission only): 18,150 yen
[If you graduate from a driving school and take the written test]
Before the revision :
Exam fee 1,750 yen
, license issuance fee 2,050 yen
, total 3,800 yen
↓
After the revision (after March 24, 2025)
: Exam fee 1,850 yen
, license issuance fee: 2,350 yen for a conventional license, 1,550 yen for a minor license, 2,450 yen for dual licenses
, total 4,200 to 4,300 yen
Regarding the cost of driving schools, it is difficult to generalize as the fees vary from school to school, but since the written test is taken at a driver’s license testing center after graduation, the main changes will be the test fee and license issuance fee. Also, if you take the one-shot test, the test fee, test vehicle usage fee, license issuance fee, and the cost of lessons after passing are all subject to price increases.
As mentioned above, under the new system, people will be able to choose from three types of driver’s licenses: a traditional license (single license), a minor license (single license), or both. Therefore, there are three types of license issuance fees when obtaining a new license. In any case, fees and other charges have increased overall, and it is certain that the cost burden at the time of acquisition will increase.
Furthermore, a moped license can be obtained by obtaining a higher-level license, such as a regular car license for a four-wheeled vehicle, or a regular motorcycle license or a large motorcycle license. However, there are cases where people aged 16 or older can obtain only a moped license. In such cases, the fees and other charges will change as follows:
[For moped licenses]
Before the revision :
Examination fee: 1,500 yen
, license issuance fee: 2,050 yen
, total: 3,550 yen
.
After the revision (after March 24, 2025):
Examination fee: 1,600 yen
, license issuance fee: 2,350 yen for conventional license, 1,550 yen for minor license, 2,450 yen for dual license holders
, total: 3,950 to 4,050 yen.
The cost of the moped training course you take after passing the license:
Before the revision:
4,500 yen
↓
After the revision (after March 24, 2025):
5,250 yen
Fees for obtaining a moped license will also increase.
Driver’s license renewal fees will also increase!
Meanwhile, people who already have a driver’s license will also be affected by the price hike. For example, fees for renewing a license when it is nearing expiration date, as well as the fees for training courses taken when renewing, will all be revised at the same time.
[License renewal fee]
Before the revision:
2,500 yen
↓
After the revision (after March 24, 2025):
2,850 yen for a conventional license / 2,100 yen for a minor license / 2,950 yen for dual licenses
Regarding license renewal fees, under the new system, three types of fees will be set, as people will be able to choose from three types: “traditional license (single license),” “minor license (single license),” and “both.”
In addition, the cost of training courses taken at the time of renewal is scheduled to be revised as follows.
[Renewal Courses]
Before the revision
: Good Driver Course: 500 yen
; General Driver Course: 800 yen
; Violator Course/First-time Driver Course: 1,350 yen
. ↓
After the revision (from March 24, 2025)
: Good Driver Course: 500 yen in person, 200 yen online
; General Driver Course: 800 yen in person, 200 yen online
; Violator Course/First-time Driver Course: 1,400 yen.
As you know, renewal courses are divided into license categories based on whether or not you have had any accidents or violations.
The “Good Driver Course ,” also known as the Gold License, is available to those who have held a license continuously for five years or more and have not committed any violations or been involved in any accidents resulting in injuries (valid for five years).
The “general driver’s course” is for people who have held a driver’s license continuously for five years or more and have only committed one minor violation with a score of three points or less (valid for five years).
The “Driving Violator Course” is aimed at people who have committed multiple violations or caused accidents resulting in injuries (valid for three years).
The “Initial Driver’s Course” is for people who have obtained a driver’s license and are renewing it for the first time. More specifically, it is for people who have held a license continuously for less than five years and whose violations or accidents do not fall under the category of a driver’s course for violators (valid for three years).
Of these, as mentioned earlier, if you obtain a minor driver’s license, you can also take the good driver’s course and general driver’s course online. The online course is cheaper than the traditional in-person courses taken at driver’s license testing centers or police stations. However, as mentioned above, you will need to go to a driver’s license testing center to get the license itself issued, so just to be safe. Also, the offender’s course and first-time driver’s course will be in-person, just like before the revision, but the course fees will increase, so be careful.
License renewal fees and training costs will also increase.
As such, this new system not only introduces the My Number license, but also increases in license-related fees. Recently, the cost of motorbikes and cars has been rising, with gasoline prices continuing to remain high, as well as food and daily necessities. And now, this price hike has come. Personally, I feel more strongly that the increased burden of fees and other expenses will come than the increased convenience of the My Number license.
