What is the difference between the electronic vehicle inspection certificate and the previous specifications?
Electronic vehicle inspection certificates are used on new cars delivered after January 4, 2023, and motorcycles that have undergone vehicle inspections.
The electronic vehicle inspection certificate for the CBR650R owned by the author
Comparison with conventional vehicle inspection certificates (Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)
At a glance, you’ll notice that, as mentioned above, the vehicle inspection certificate has been downsized from the previous A4 size to the equivalent of A6, and the information written on it has been simplified. The information on the vehicle inspection certificate is limited to information about the vehicle itself, such as the license plate number, chassis number, basic vehicle dimensions, and weight. All other information is stored electronically in an IC chip embedded in an IC tag affixed to the back of the vehicle inspection certificate.
The back of the electronic vehicle inspection certificate. An IC tag with an IC chip is attached to the left side.
How to use the vehicle inspection certificate viewing app
If you want to know the information stored in the IC chip, you can access the information stored in the IC tag by installing a dedicated application called the “Vehicle Inspection Certificate Viewing Application” on your smartphone or PC.
Detailed information such as expiration date can be read using a dedicated app installed on your smartphone.
As a test, I downloaded the app onto my smartphone and loaded the information. Sure enough, it displayed detailed information such as the expiration date and the owner’s address.
By the way, if you want to read it onto your smartphone, it’s relatively easy; just enter the security code on the bottom right of the front of the vehicle inspection certificate, then hold your smartphone close to the IC tag on the vehicle inspection certificate.
The security code is printed on the front of your vehicle inspection certificate at the bottom right.
However, if you place the vehicle inspection certificate on a metal table, it may not be scanned. In such cases, you can place a thick magazine or piece of paper underneath, or place the vehicle inspection certificate on a non-metallic surface such as a wooden table before scanning it.
The operating system requirements for the app (as of March 2025) are iOS 16, 17, and Android 11, 12, 13, and 14 (NFC-enabled models only). The iPad does not support NFC, so it is not compatible.
For PCs, Windows 10 version 22H2 (64-bit), Windows 11 version 22H2, or version 23H2 are required, and an IC card reader is also required to read the data. Note that compatibility will no longer be confirmed for Windows 10 after Microsoft’s support for it ends (scheduled for October 2025).
The main purpose is to simplify the process of issuing vehicle inspection certificates.
The above is an overview of electronic vehicle inspection certificates, but what are the actual benefits?
To summarize the announcement by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the purpose of the electronic system is mainly to enable maintenance businesses that operate private vehicle inspection centers to renew vehicle expiration dates and other procedures at their own offices when registering new cars or for vehicle inspections, without having to go to the Land Transport Bureau. In other words, it is to “simplify the process of issuing vehicle inspection certificates.”
Electronic vehicle inspection certificates are now compact and the information written on them is simplified.
In addition to the hassle for maintenance companies, computerization will also increase work efficiency for the Land Transport Bureau, and will have the benefit of reducing congestion during times when there are many applications, such as in spring.
On the other hand, are there any benefits for users? As mentioned above, the compact size makes it easier to fit into the storage space under the seat of a motorcycle, but if you want to know the expiration date of your vehicle inspection, for example, you have to go to the trouble of reading it on your smartphone or PC.
Of course, once you’ve loaded the details, you can save the “Vehicle Inspection Certificate Record” document as a PDF in the app. This means you don’t have to load the information from the IC chip over and over again; you can just open the app and open the PDF. However, that doesn’t make it all that convenient. If anything, it feels like it’s made things easier for maintenance companies and land transport bureaus rather than for users.
Vehicle inspection certificate records can be saved as PDFs in a dedicated smartphone app.
Furthermore, small-scale motorcycle shops that are not certified as workshops (i.e., they are not private vehicle inspection centers) will ultimately have to take their motorcycles to the Land Transport Bureau for inspection, etc. Therefore, it can be said that there is not much benefit for such businesses either.
In addition, in the case of user vehicle inspections, the vehicle must still be brought to the Land Transport Bureau, so the hassle is the same as for motorcycle shops that are not private vehicle inspection centers. Considering this, it is difficult to say that the new electronic vehicle inspection certificate will be beneficial for all businesses and users when it comes to issuing vehicle inspection certificates.
Be careful not to damage the IC tag
Furthermore, it can be said that users now have more things to be careful about, mainly in terms of storage methods.
First, where to carry it when driving. Even with the electronic vehicle inspection certificate, it is still necessary to carry it along with the compulsory automobile liability insurance certificate when driving, just as before.
When it comes to motorcycles, I think many riders store their vehicle inspection certificate in the storage space under the seat. However, especially on models with small storage spaces, such as sports bikes, the vehicle inspection certificate often needs to be folded to fit, no matter how small it has become. In fact, when I try to fit my beloved CBR650R into the storage space under the rear seat, I have to fold the electronic vehicle inspection certificate, which is now A6-sized, without being able to fit it in.
The author’s Honda CBR650R
When doing so, be careful not to bend the part of the electronic vehicle inspection certificate where the IC tag is attached, as this may damage the certificate. If the IC tag is damaged, the detailed information cannot be read, and the certificate will have to be reissued.
When placing it in the storage space under the seat, be careful not to bend the IC tag.
Furthermore, IC tags and IC chips are sensitive to high temperatures. For example, in the case of four-wheeled vehicles, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism states that “it is possible to store them inside the dashboard.” However, it also says that “it is advisable to avoid leaving them for long periods of time in places that become extremely hot in the summer, such as on the dashboard.”
With that in mind, when it comes to motorcycles, for example, if you go on a summer tour and you’re going to be away from the vehicle for a long time, it can be a bit worrying to leave it in the storage space under the seat. It depends on where you park, but if you’re going to leave it in the hot sun, it might be better to take it out and carry it with you.
Is it dangerous to store your electronic vehicle inspection certificate under the seat when parking your vehicle outdoors for long periods of time, such as during summer touring? (Photo is for illustrative purposes only)
Be careful about using the same vehicle inspection certificate for years
There’s another point of concern: with an electronic vehicle inspection certificate, the vehicle inspection certificate itself remains the same when you go through the next inspection, and only the information stored in the IC chip is updated digitally. This means that unless you damage the certificate or sell the vehicle, you’ll be using the same paper for years to come.
In fact, my beloved CBR650R also had its first vehicle inspection in January 2023, so I have been using the electronic vehicle inspection certificate for some time. After that, I had my second vehicle inspection in January 2025, but the vehicle inspection certificate itself remained the same as the one issued in January 2023.
With conventional vehicle inspection certificates, even if issued when a new car is purchased, a new one is issued each time the car is inspected. However, with electronic vehicle inspection certificates, the same paper and IC tag itself can be used for years, or even for more than ten years.
With that in mind, it seems a bit dangerous to ride or store your electronic vehicle inspection certificate in the storage space under the seat. Especially on a motorcycle with a small storage space like my own, as mentioned above, you have to bend it to fit.
Storage space under the rear seat of the CBR650R. There isn’t much space because it also holds the ETC unit in addition to the tools.
Even if you fold it carefully, avoiding the IC tag, it’s still paper. Over the years, the folds can deteriorate and even tear. Also, if you encounter heavy rain while touring, or forget to put it in your car and wash it, water can seep into the under-seat storage space, causing the vehicle inspection certificate to soak and deteriorate faster, or even become damaged.
By the way, the fee for reissuing a lost or damaged license is 350 yen. The cost itself is not that expensive, but if you ask a motorcycle shop to do it for you, you will probably be charged a handling fee, and if you go to the Land Transport Bureau yourself, it will take time and effort. For people who are busy with work or other daily tasks, it can be a bit of a hassle.
If you want to store your electronic vehicle inspection certificate in the storage space under the rear seat, you can put it in a zippered vinyl bag. However, if you use the same bag for many years, the bag itself will deteriorate and there is a risk of water leaking inside.
As a worrier, I don’t put my electronic vehicle inspection certificate in the storage space under the seat, but instead put it in a bag or knapsack when I ride my motorcycle. This is because I thought it was better than putting it in the storage space under the seat and accidentally getting it wet, which would mean having to go through the hassle of having to get it reissued. This is a matter of personal judgment, but it’s definitely a good idea to be careful about how you store and carry it.
What is the new vehicle inspection system that will start on April 1st?
There will also be several other changes to the vehicle inspection system from April 1, 2025. First, passenger cars will be required to undergo a renewal inspection every three years for new cars, and every two years thereafter, but the inspection period will be changed. Previously, the inspection period was from “one month before the expiration date” of the vehicle inspection certificate, but this will be extended to “two months before the expiration date.”
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced the monthly number of vehicles undergoing inspection (average for the five years from 2019 to 2023) (left) and the details of the revisions (right).
This is a measure to alleviate the congestion at the end of the fiscal year when vehicle inspections are concentrated. In reality, vehicle inspections can be taken “at any time” as long as it is before the expiration date. Traditionally, there has been no problem with taking an inspection two months or even earlier than the expiration date. However, if you take an inspection too early, the next expiration date may be brought forward, which can be a loss.
For example, if a motorcycle whose vehicle inspection certificate expires on December 10, 2025, passes its inspection two months earlier on October 10, 2025, the next inspection will expire on October 10, 2027. If you had paid fees up until December 10, 2025, for the previous inspection (renewal inspection fees, compulsory automobile liability insurance premiums, etc.), you would have lost two months’ worth of fees under the previous law.
On the other hand, for a motorcycle whose vehicle inspection certificate expires on the same date, December 10, 2025, even if you have it inspected one month earlier, on November 10, 2025, the next inspection will expire on December 10, 2027, so you won’t lose out. Under the new system, this rule will be extended to two months before the vehicle inspection certificate’s expiration date. As in the example above, if the expiration date is December 10, 2025, even if you have it inspected on October 10, 2025, the next inspection will expire on December 10, 2027.
However, please note that this only applies to those undergoing a renewal inspection after April 1, 2025. Therefore, this system can only be used for motorcycles whose vehicle inspection certificate validity period ends on June 1, 2025. Even if a motorcycle whose license expires on June 1, 2025 undergoes a vehicle inspection on April 1, 2025, the next vehicle inspection will be on June 1, 2027, and the same inspection period will apply from then on.
Additionally, starting April 1, 2025, when motorcycles (small two-wheeled vehicles) that require vehicle inspection undergo a renewal inspection, they will no longer be required to present a paper (light motor vehicle tax) tax payment certificate. This is because the One-Stop Service (OSS), which has already been introduced for four-wheeled vehicles, has been expanded to include small two-wheeled vehicles. After the system is introduced, transport bureaus and other agencies will be able to check the payment of light motor vehicle tax on the system, just like for four-wheeled vehicles. Therefore, it will no longer be necessary to present a paper tax payment certificate.
From April 1, 2025, it will no longer be necessary to present a paper tax payment certificate (for light motor vehicles).
However, if you have just paid the tax or moved to another city or town, the tax payment history may not be updated in the system and you may not be able to confirm the payment of the light vehicle tax. In such cases, please note that you may be required to present a paper tax payment certificate, as before.
