Driver's License

Plan 1

• Attend the nearest driving school.
• If it’s difficult to fit in the schedule between February and March, and if I get accepted into the University of Tokyo, I can continue taking lessons after April when I return home.
  • It’s a hassle to come back after April.
• It will cost around 250,000 yen.

Plan 2

• If I move to Tokyo, I can attend a driving school there.
• Is it possible to transfer schools?
  • If I get a provisional license, will the cost be cheaper at the next school?

Plan 3

• Go to the Driver’s License Camp after April.
• If I get accepted into the University of Tokyo and a foreign university, it might be during the summer vacation before going to the US.
  • The domestic summer vacation is usually around July 20th.
  • The start of the overseas program is usually around September 1st.
  • So it would be sometime between the end of July and the end of August.
    • But it feels like a waste to use this one month for a license camp, haha.
• If I’m going to get it, I also feel like getting it as early as possible, around February to March.

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• What should I do? Should I get it?

• Assuming that I will go to the US,

  • If I plan to drive in America,
    • I can get an International Driver’s License and it will be valid if I return to Japan once a year.
  • If I don’t plan to drive in America,
    • It depends on whether Level 5 autonomous driving will be practical within the next 5 years.
    • I think I won’t need a license in 10 years
  • I wonder which cities are likely to require a license…
    • Maybe Pasadena, Los Angeles?
    • Depending on the city you live in, it’s probably better to assume that you will need it (based on Houston standards) (rickshinmi).

• How long will it take?

  • How long does it take to get a driver’s license? A comparison between attending school and intensive training! | Mycom Driving School
  • At least 57 hours.
  • For those considering getting a driver’s license! How long does it take to graduate from a driving school? | Maji O Drivers School Tama School│Driving Schools in Hachioji, Fuchu, and Hino

    • The training is divided into two stages for both the classroom and practical lessons. For automatic transmission cars, the first stage of the classroom lessons is 10 hours, and the second stage is 16 hours, totaling at least 26 hours. The first stage of the practical lessons is 12 hours, and the second stage is 19 hours, totaling at least 31 hours.

    • In most driving schools, each lesson lasts about 1 hour, so if we do a simple calculation, a total of at least 57 hours is required.

    • In addition, while there is no limit to the number of classroom lessons that can be taken in a day, there is a limit of 2 lessons for the first stage of practical lessons and 3 lessons for the second stage.

    • Therefore, it is not possible to cram as many lessons as you want in a day.

    • However, you can take lessons according to your schedule and even use the 1-2 hour gaps in your schedule to take lessons.

    • As for the duration, it generally takes about 1 to 3 months from enrollment to graduation.

• Do I really want to do it?

  • It seems a little exciting and fun.
    • However, if there’s no need to get a license, my motivation might fade away halfway.

• Cost

  • The nearest driving school
    • Around 230,000 yen.
    • Since it’s located within cycling distance, I feel like it’s okay to attend (blu3mo).