Foreign Licence friendly rental car place

[Xaero]

Does anyone know a rent-a-car company which is happy to rent to people with foreign licences?

I've got a International driving permit so there is no legal issues, just my wife has phoned a few and they so far only deal with people who have Japanese licences.

I'm based in Saitama near Omiya and preferably would want to rent close to here.

Only want something small and basic for 24 hours, not a van or anything special.

 

[Mike Cash]

I rather doubt it; keep kissing frogs. Or google レンタカー and 国際免許.

Is there some reason you haven't switched to a Japanese license yet? If you've been here over a year I believe that international license isn't worth the paper it is printed on. You can't keep using one.

EDIT:

Your profile shows you've been here over a year. Unless you have returned home for over three months your IDL is just so much toilet paper as far as the authorities are concerned, even if it has not expired. If anything happened, you would be considered an unlicensed driver and be open to all sorts of grief. Any company renting to you would be renting to an unlicensed driver.

 

[Xaero]

I've lived in Japan for 15 months prior (12 on working holiday visa, 3 on tourist visa) I was in the UK for the past 6 months.

I've been here for 3 weeks now on a spouse visa, so thought the international permit (which I have; not a international licence if there is much of a difference) is OK for the first year here since I entered on that visa.

I've not looked into converting to a Japanese licence yet as it hasn't been a priority.

I found Mazda rent cars in Omiya and have a English website although it's aimed at tourists, not sure if there will be an issue.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Glenski]

Your writing is not very clear. when did you get the permit? It sounds like it is no longer valid. As Mike told you, it doesn't matter what the permit people do or say. Get a J license. It's a priority now. If you are given a rental car anyway, and you get stopped for any reason by police, you will be in deep trouble.


If you are British, it's a very simple matter, no testing required. Go.

By the way, if you want to rent for just a day, can't your wife drive?

 

[Mike Cash]

If he was out for six months he's alright, according to what I found. But he really should take care of it.

 

[Xaero]

I got the permit before I came this time round, the permit validity started in October 2012 and is valid for a year.

Wife can drive but doesn't want to, I just want to get out of the urban areas and have a look around that's all.

I didn't realise changing a UK licence to a Japanese one would be so easy, I don't suppose you would know if it's as easy changing back? I also have a full motorbike licence (any size engine) on the licence and wouldn't want to lose that if possible. I'm not sure how the motorbike licensing works in Japan so will research it a bit.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I don't know about motorbikes, but driver's licenses are very simple if yours is from the UK. It seems you're worried that if you transfer your UK license to its Japanese equivalent, you'll lose your original one, but that is not the case. You'll have two separate licenses after the process is complete. I don't believe the Japanese government even has the authority to revoke your British license even if it wanted to.

 

[Mike Cash]

Get yourself over to Gaijin Riders. Lots of your fellow Uklanders there who can tell you all about it. Try to get yourself a bike by next spring if you can. There are tons of very nice countryside rides within easy distance of you.

 

[TheBandit]

I've got a International driving permit so there is no legal issues, just my wife has phoned a few and they so far only deal with people who have Japanese licences.

Did you get this response from Toyota rentacar? I have rented cars from them in past using a UK license and a IDP.

 

[Xaero]

I haven't rented yet. I decided to take up the idea of getting a licence, but need to prove I've lived in my home country for more than 3 months after getting my licence.

This is usually done with a passport, but I got a new passport this year which only shows 2 months in the UK, so had to have my old passport sent over before I get a Japanese licence.