Driving Insurance in Japan

mad pierrot · 29 May 2004

I might be buying a car in the near future and I want to know if anyone else here who drives a car in Japan can answer a few questions for me.

1. What kind of insurance do you use?
2. Where did you get it?
3. How much does it cost?

JETs, I expect a few answers from you!

Thanks,

:sorry:

Mandylion · 31 May 2004

Hark! A fellow JET in trouble! Greetings commrade -

I would see if you are eligible for insurance through your city hall. If you are a BOE or a public employee of any kind you might be. If you are contracted to a specific school, you might be out of luck.

I have my insurance through the town office (BOE employee). Costs me 30,000 a year (yes, I thought something was wrong too) for a 1.5 liter Nissan. It will go up or down depending on engine size. It is a bare-bones coverage, but as I live way out in the boonies, I only have to worry about driving into rice fields and hurting myself, not others. The insurance covers any immediate family driving the car too.

Past that, they are always showing adds on skypa for insurance. It comes with some silly km/year limits and some other qualifiers, but things look to cost around 5 to 6 man a year with them.

BTW, What kind of car you looking at?

mad pierrot · 31 May 2004

Thank you, Mand!

You see, the problem is, my BOE dosen't want me to get one, so I'd rather not go through the town hall for insurance....

I'm buying the car off another JET who is leaving this year. It's a Mira Daihastu Kei car. The best things is it just had it's check up, so it's good to go until 2006. Skypa, eh?

Buddha Smoker · 31 May 2004

I go through AIU (mainly because they allow you to take your driving history back to which ever country you are from which will establish a cheaper....anyway, I think you get the point). I have to plans to ever return but also I find this company the best I've been to or had in the almost 10 years I've been in Japan.

I pay about 80000 a year but the longer you stay with your car insurance place the cheaper it gets for most places.

Mandylion · 1 Jun 2004

MP, your BOE can't force you not to get a car and not to get the insurance you want. They can only tell you not to drive it when you are on the clock.

30,000 is a lot cheaper than 80,000. The coverage might not be as good, but you will need to look at your own driving environment and style to decide what you want. I still think you can get almost the same coverage you would get with a private company at 8man for less at city hall. Also, insurance on a Mira will be less than a white plate (the quotes I was giving you).

I can understand not wanting to mix things up at the home BOE though. Sounds like you are in a tight spot...

Buddha Smoker · 1 Jun 2004

Mandylion said:
MP, your BOE can't force you not to get a car and not to get the insurance you want. They can only tell you not to drive it when you are on the clock.

30,000 is a lot cheaper than 80,000. The coverage might not be as good, but you will need to look at your own driving environment and style to decide what you want. I still think you can get almost the same coverage you would get with a private company at 8man for less at city hall. Also, insurance on a Mira will be less than a white plate (the quotes I was giving you).

I can understand not wanting to mix things up at the home BOE though. Sounds like you are in a tight spot...

Yeah, but I pay for me and my wife and age is a factor as well but I have full insurance not just liability or anything because you never know and it is better to be safe than sorry.

Also, what kind of car are you driving? Also, what do you mean from city hall? or do you mean the government insurance? Just curious.

Mandylion · 2 Jun 2004

Buddha Smoker said:
Also, what do you mean from city hall? or do you mean the government insurance? Just curious.

As far as I know, it is insurance available to people working in the public sector (ie city employees and offices thereof). Working on JET for the board of eductation makes me a public employee. I literally mean I get my insurance from city hall - that is who takes my money and given me my insurance papers.

I don't know if this scheme is open to private citizens or not...

Buddha Smoker · 2 Jun 2004

Mandylion said:
As far as I know, it is insurance available to people working in the public sector (ie city employees and offices thereof). Working on JET for the board of eductation makes me a public employee. I literally mean I get my insurance from city hall - that is who takes my money and given me my insurance papers.

I don't know if this scheme is open to private citizens or not...

Ahhh...okay. I think I know what insurance you are using. It's the government type insurance. The really cheap one (not meant in a bad way), just most people get it from a private company, etc.... I just haven't know too many people that have that one. At least yours is cheaper than mine , but I just want to be safe than sorry. Anyway, I think you know what I mean even if it didn't come out right

Mandylion · 2 Jun 2004

No worries, I got ya. I would go for more insurance, but I don't really need it foer the places where I drive. If I lived in Osaka or the like, you can bet I would carry more!

Buddha Smoker · 2 Jun 2004

Mandylion said:
No worries, I got ya. I would go for more insurance, but I don't really need it foer the places where I drive. If I lived in Osaka or the like, you can bet I would carry more!

I hear ya on that. Unfortuately, my job entails alot of driving/traveling in the Kanto area so that is why I opt for the expensive insurance.

I asked you before but where are you living again?

I take that back, I see below your avatar.

Driving Insurance in Japan

mad pierrot

I jump to conclusions

Mandylion

Omnipotence personified

mad pierrot

I jump to conclusions

Buddha Smoker

Finally Enlighted One

Mandylion

Omnipotence personified

Buddha Smoker

Finally Enlighted One

Mandylion

Omnipotence personified

Buddha Smoker

Finally Enlighted One

Mandylion

Omnipotence personified

Buddha Smoker

Finally Enlighted One

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