Car Buyer's Guide

Purchasing a Vehicle

Certificate of Personal Seal (Inkan Toroku Shomeisho) or Certificate of Signature (Sign Shomeisho): A Certificate of Personal Seal needs to be attached to a Power of Attorney, Ininjo, which gives dealers the right to take care of a vehicle registration process on your behalf.
Japanese people generally have a registered personal seal, and a Certificate of Personal Seal (InkanToroku Shomeisho) is the most commonly used method for public notary. In case you do not have a registered personal seal, a Certificate of Signature is accepted.
A Certificate of Personal Seal must be issued within the last three months.
It can be issued at the city, ward, town, or village office where you are registered as a resident or resident alien. If you have not registered a personal seal yet, you will need to register one first.

"Personal Seal Registration Card (Inkan Torokusho)"
You can register only one seal and the seal must contain either your first or last name as it appears on your foreign resident registration card. There are many rules regarding the design of registered seals. We recommend checking with the officials at the city office before having your seal made. Once your seal is registered, you will be issued a seal registration card.; A Certificate of signature needs to be attached to a Power of Attorney, Ininjo, which gives dealers the right to take care of vehicle registration process on your behalf.
In Japan, because it is common for individuals to have a registered personal seal, Certificate of Personal Seal is commonly used for public notary, but if you do not have registered personal seal, the Certificate of Signature can be used for substitution.
Also, when you have the Certificate of Signature issued at the embassy of your country, please be sure to have your current address written on it so that you will not need a "Certificate on Registered Matters", which ensures your current address later.
A Certificate of Signature must be issued within the last three months and contain your name and current address.
Certificate on Registered Matters (Gaikokujin Toroku Genpyo Kisaijiko Shomeisho): This document is to prove your current address. If you have a Certificate of Signature with your current address on it, you will not need this document. Please make sure to have your current address on the Certificate of Signature　when you have it issued at the embassy of your country.
Power of Attorney (Ininjo): A Power of Attorney allows your dealer to take care of registration process on your behalf. Attachment of a Certificate of Signature or Certificate of Personal Seal is required.
Application Form for Certificate of Vehicle Parking Space (Jidosha Hokanbasho Shomei Shinseisho): A car owner is obligated to have an exclusive parking space for his / her car at the time of purchase in Japan, therefore you will have to get a Police Parking Certificate that proves the availability of the parking space. You will be required to submit three documents to the police department and this application form is one of them.
You will need to make two weekday visits to the police station, when applying and receiving, to complete the application process, which usually takes 3 to 4 business days. In most cases, dealers handle this process on your behalf.
*When dealers handle the process on your behalf, all the documents must be filled out and signed by you.
Statement of Ownership of the Parking Space (Jininsho) / Certificate of Permission for Vehicle Parking Space Use (Chushajo Shiyo Kyokasho): This is one of the documents to submit to get Police Parking Certificate. Either one of the Certificate of Permission for Vehicle Parking Space Use or Statement of Ownership of the Parking Space is required depending on who owns the space.
If you rent the parking space, the landowner of the parking space have to fill out the Certificate of Permission for Parking Space Use.
If you own the parking space, you have to fill out the Statement of Ownership of the Parking Space.
Location Map and Layout of the Parking Space (Chushajo Shozaichi / Haichizu): This is one of the documents to submit get a Police Parking Certificate. Both the Location Map and Layout of the Parking Space need to be drawn on the document.
Certificate of Deposit on Recycling Charge: Certificate of Deposit on Recycling Charge proves that you have paid the Deposit on Recycling Fee. Japanese law obligates every car owner to make a deposit for recycling fee. The certificate is issued at a dealer when you purchase a new vehicle.
The deposit on recycling fee will be refunded to you when you resell your car or have it traded-in, and the new owner will be responsible for the payment.

Reselling a Vehicle

Certificate of Personal Seal (Inkan Toroku Shomeisho) or Certificate of Signature (Sign Shomeisho): A Certificate of Personal Seal needs to be attached to a Power of Attorney, Ininjo, which gives dealers the right to take care of a vehicle registration process on your behalf.
Japanese people generally have a registered personal seal, and a Certificate of Personal Seal (InkanToroku Shomeisho) is the most commonly used method for public notary. In case you do not have a registered personal seal, a Certificate of Signature is accepted.
A Certificate of Personal Seal must be issued within the last three months.
It can be issued at the city, ward, town, or village office where you are registered as a resident or resident alien. If you have not registered a personal seal yet, you will need to register one first.

"Personal Seal Registration Card (Inkan Torokusho)"
You can register only one seal and the seal must contain either your first or last name as it appears on your foreign resident registration card. There are many rules regarding the design of registered seals. We recommend checking with the officials at the city office before having your seal made. Once your seal is registered, you will be issued a seal registration card.; A Certificate of signature needs to be attached to a Power of Attorney, Ininjo, which gives dealers the right to take care of vehicle registration process on your behalf.
In Japan, because it is common for individuals to have a registered personal seal, Certificate of Personal Seal is commonly used for public notary, but if you do not have registered personal seal, the Certificate of Signature can be used for substitution.
Also, when you have the Certificate of Signature issued at the embassy of your country, please be sure to have your current address written on it so that you will not need a "Certificate on Registered Matters", which ensures your current address later.
A Certificate of Signature must be issued within the last three months and contain your name and current address.
Certificate on Registered Matters (Gaikokujin Toroku Genpyo Kisaijiko Shomeisho): This document is to prove your current address. If you have a Certificate of Signature with your current address on it, you will not need this document. Please make sure to have your current address on the Certificate of Signature　when you have it issued at the embassy of your country.
Power of Attorney (Ininjo): A Power of Attorney allows your dealer to take care of registration process on your behalf. Attachment of a Certificate of Signature or Certificate of Personal Seal is required.
Certificate of Change of Ownership (Joto Shomeisho): This document certifies that you are transferring the ownership of your current car to the third party.
*When dealers handle the process on your behalf, all the documents must be filled out and signed by you.
Vehicle Inspection Certificate (Shakensho): Vehicle Inspection Certificate proves that your car has been inspected and complies with the safety regulation. It is obligated to carry the certificate whenever you drive the car.
Certificate of Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance (Jibaiseki Hoken Shomeisho): It is obligated by Automobile Liability Security Law to purchase Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance at the time of your vehicle purchase and carry the certificate in the car when you drive.
Proof of Automobile Tax Payment / Certificate of Automobile Tax Payment (Jidosha-zei Nozei Shomeisho): This document certifies the payment of Automobile Tax on your current car. Because Automobile Tax is paid annually, you will get a refund if you trade-in or sell your car before the end of the year (March).
Account for Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance (Jibaiseki Hoken Shonin Seikyusho): This is to request a change of name of the account holder for Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance. When you sell your car to someone, you will need to submit this form; otherwise, your contractual right and / or obligation to the vehicle will not be transferred automatically.
Power of Attorney for Automobile Tax Refund (Jidosha-zei Kanpu Ininjo): This document needs to be submitted to your dealership / municipal office along with the Certificate of Tax Payment to have a tax refund if you trade-in or sell your car before the year end.
Maintenance Handbook (Seibi Techo)
Owner’s Manual (Toriatsukai Setsumeisho)

MyToyota.jp Staff talk

MyToyota.jp Customer Service staff picks up a variety of interesting and beneficial car related information especially for non-Japanese residents in Japan and introduce them in this section.

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