A person seeking to drive a motor vehicle or general motorized bicycle (hereinafter referred to as a "motor vehicle or motorized bicycle") must obtain a driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "license") from a public safety commission.
A license is classified as either a class 1 driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "class 1 license"), a class 2 driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "class 2 license"), or a provisional driver's license (hereinafter referred to as a "provisional license").
免許は、第一種運転免許（以下「第一種免許」という。）、第二種運転免許（以下「第二種免許」という。）及び仮運転免許（以下「仮免許」という。）に区分する。
Class 1 licenses are classified into 10 categories: large motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "L-MVL"); mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "M-MVL"); semi-mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "SM-MVL"); standard motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "S-MVL"); special large motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "SL-MVL"); large motorcycle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "L-ML"); standard motorcycle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "S-ML"); special small motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "SS-MVL"); motorized bicycle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "MBL"); and towing licenses.
第一種免許を分けて、大型自動車免許（以下「大型免許」という。）、中型自動車免許（以下「中型免許」という。）、準中型自動車免許（以下「準中型免許」という。）、普通自動車免許（以下「普通免許」という。）、大型特殊自動車免許（以下「大型特殊免許」という。）、大型自動二輪車免許（以下「大型二輪免許」という。）、普通自動二輪車免許（以下「普通二輪免許」という。）、小型特殊自動車免許（以下「小型特殊免許」という。）、原動機付自転車免許（以下「原付免許」という。）及び牽引免許の十種類とする。
Class 2 licenses are classified into five categories: class 2 large motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "class 2 L-MVL"); class 2 mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "class 2 M-MVL"); class 2 standard motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "class 2 S-MVL"); class 2 special large motor vehicle license (hereinafter referred to as "class 2 SL-MVL"); and class 2 towing licenses.
第二種免許を分けて、大型自動車第二種免許（以下「大型第二種免許」という。）、中型自動車第二種免許（以下「中型第二種免許」という。）、普通自動車第二種免許（以下「普通第二種免許」という。）、大型特殊自動車第二種免許（以下「大型特殊第二種免許」という。）及び牽引第二種免許の五種類とする。
Provisional licenses are classified into four categories: provisional large motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "provisional L-MVL"); provisional mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "provisional M-MVL"); provisional semi-mid-sized motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "provisional SM-MVL"); and provisional standard motor vehicle licenses (hereinafter referred to as "provisional S-MVL").
仮免許を分けて、大型自動車仮免許（以下「大型仮免許」という。）、中型自動車仮免許（以下「中型仮免許」という。）、準中型自動車仮免許（以下「準中型仮免許」という。）及び普通自動車仮免許（以下「普通仮免許」という。）の四種類とする。
Read this with the articles around it
motor vehiclemachine translation
「自動車」
A vehicle that runs on a motor without rails or overhead wires, or that carries out specified automated operation (特定自動運行), other than motorized bicycles (原動機付自転車), light road vehicles (軽車両), small mobility vehicles (移動用小型車), vehicles for persons with physical disabilities (身体障害者用の車), remotely operated small vehicles (遠隔操作型小型車), and walking-aid carts, prams and other small vehicles used while walking that a Cabinet Order (政令) specifies (歩行補助車等).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (ix)· applies throughout the law
drivingmachine translation
「運転」
Using a vehicle or streetcar on a road as it is meant to be used, including moving a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle by pedals or other human-powered gear it has besides its motor, but not specified automated operation (特定自動運行).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xvii)· applies throughout the law
public safety commissionmachine translation
「公安委員会」
A prefectural public safety commission (都道府県公安委員会), the body in each prefecture that manages its police and that this Act empowers to regulate road traffic and to grant driving licenses.
Short name set inArticle 4, paragraph (1)
general motorized bicyclemachine translation
「一般原動機付自転車」
A motorized bicycle (原動機付自転車) of the kind in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (x)(a): one with an engine or motor no larger in total displacement or rated output than a Cabinet Office Order (内閣府令) sets, other than one meeting the standard in item (x)(b) for small vehicles that need no great skill to drive.
Defined inArticle 18, paragraph (1)
license
「免許」
A driving license (運転免許) granted by a prefectural public safety commission (都道府県公安委員会).
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (1)
motor vehicle or motorized bicyclemachine translation
「自動車等」
Motor vehicles (自動車) and general motorized bicycles (一般原動機付自転車), the vehicles a person must hold a driver's license (運転免許) to drive.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (1)
provisional license
「仮免許」
A provisional driving license (仮運転免許), the third category of driving license beside class 1 and class 2 licenses, which under Article 87 lets a person drive a large, mid-sized, semi-mid-sized or standard motor vehicle only for practice or in a driving test or skills evaluation (技能検定).
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (2)
class 1 license
「第一種免許」
A class 1 driver's license (第一種運転免許), one of the three classes of license under Article 84, paragraph (2) beside class 2 licenses (第二種免許) and provisional licenses (仮免許); Article 84, paragraph (3) divides it into ten kinds.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (2)
class 2 license
「第二種免許」
A class 2 driver's license (第二種運転免許), one of the three classes of license under Article 84, paragraph (2) beside class 1 licenses (第一種免許) and provisional licenses (仮免許); Article 84, paragraph (4) divides it into five kinds.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (2)
M-MVL
「中型免許」
A mid-sized motor vehicle license (中型自動車免許), the class 1 license (第一種免許) needed under Article 85, paragraph (1) to drive a mid-sized motor vehicle (中型自動車); under Article 85, paragraph (2) it also covers semi-mid-sized and standard motor vehicles, special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
MBL
「原付免許」
A motorized bicycle license (原動機付自転車免許), the class 1 license (第一種免許) needed under Article 85, paragraph (1) to drive a general motorized bicycle (一般原動機付自転車).
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
L-ML
「大型二輪免許」
A large motorcycle license (大型自動二輪車免許), the class 1 license (第一種免許) needed under Article 85, paragraph (1) to drive a large motorcycle (大型自動二輪車); under Article 85, paragraph (2) it also covers standard motorcycles, special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
L-MVL
「大型免許」
A large motor vehicle license (大型自動車免許), the class 1 license (第一種免許) needed under Article 85, paragraph (1) to drive a large motor vehicle (大型自動車); under Article 85, paragraph (2) it also covers mid-sized, semi-mid-sized and standard motor vehicles, special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
SL-MVL
「大型特殊免許」
A special large motor vehicle license (大型特殊自動車免許), the class 1 license (第一種免許) needed under Article 85, paragraph (1) to drive a special large motor vehicle (大型特殊自動車); under Article 85, paragraph (2) it also covers special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
SS-MVL
「小型特殊免許」
A special small motor vehicle license (小型特殊自動車免許), the class 1 license (第一種免許) needed under Article 85, paragraph (1) to drive a special small motor vehicle (小型特殊自動車).
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
S-ML
「普通二輪免許」
A standard motorcycle license (普通自動二輪車免許), the class 1 license (第一種免許) needed under Article 85, paragraph (1) to drive a standard motorcycle (普通自動二輪車); under Article 85, paragraph (2) it also covers special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
S-MVL
「普通免許」
A standard motor vehicle license (普通自動車免許), the class 1 license (第一種免許) needed under Article 85, paragraph (1) to drive a standard motor vehicle (普通自動車); under Article 85, paragraph (2) it also covers special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
SM-MVL
「準中型免許」
A semi-mid-sized motor vehicle license (準中型自動車免許), one of the kinds of class 1 license (第一種免許) that Article 84, paragraph (3) sets out; the supplementary provisions (附則) of Act No. 40 of 2015 use the term for that license as that Act left Article 84, when deeming licenses held under the earlier wording to be licenses of the new kinds.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (3)
class 2 M-MVL
「中型第二種免許」
A class 2 mid-sized motor vehicle license (中型自動車第二種免許), the class 2 license (第二種免許) that Article 86, paragraph (1) requires for driving a mid-sized or semi-mid-sized motor vehicle (中型自動車, 準中型自動車) used for passenger motor carrier services (旅客自動車運送事業) in order to carry its passengers.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (4)
class 2 SL-MVL
「大型特殊第二種免許」
A class 2 special large motor vehicle license (大型特殊自動車第二種免許), the class 2 license (第二種免許) that Article 86, paragraph (1) requires for driving a special large motor vehicle (大型特殊自動車) used for passenger motor carrier services (旅客自動車運送事業) in order to carry its passengers.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (4)
class 2 L-MVL
「大型第二種免許」
A class 2 large motor vehicle license (大型自動車第二種免許), the class 2 license (第二種免許) that Article 86, paragraph (1) requires for driving a large motor vehicle (大型自動車) used for passenger motor carrier services (旅客自動車運送事業) in order to carry its passengers.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (4)
class 2 S-MVL
「普通第二種免許」
A class 2 standard motor vehicle license (普通自動車第二種免許), one of the kinds of class 2 license (第二種免許) that Article 84, paragraph (4) sets out; the supplementary provisions (附則) of Act No. 90 of 2004 and Act No. 40 of 2015 use the term for that license as each of those Acts left Article 84, when deeming licenses held under the earlier wording to be licenses of the new kinds.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (4)
provisional M-MVL
「中型仮免許」
A provisional mid-sized motor vehicle license (中型自動車仮免許), the provisional license (仮免許) that under Article 87 lets a person who does not hold the full license drive a mid-sized motor vehicle (中型自動車), a semi-mid-sized motor vehicle or a standard motor vehicle for practice, or in a driving test or skills evaluation (技能検定).
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (5)
provisional L-MVL
「大型仮免許」
A provisional large motor vehicle license (大型自動車仮免許), the provisional license (仮免許) that under Article 87 lets a person who does not hold the full license drive a large motor vehicle (大型自動車), a mid-sized, semi-mid-sized or standard motor vehicle for practice, or in a driving test or skills evaluation (技能検定).
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (5)
provisional S-MVL
「普通仮免許」
A provisional standard motor vehicle license (普通自動車仮免許), the provisional license (仮免許) that under Article 87 lets a person who does not hold the full license drive a standard motor vehicle (普通自動車) for practice, or in a driving test or skills evaluation (技能検定).
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (5)
provisional SM-MVL
「準中型仮免許」
A provisional semi-mid-sized motor vehicle license (準中型自動車仮免許), one of the four kinds of provisional license (仮免許) that Article 84, paragraph (5) sets out.
Short name set inArticle 84, paragraph (5)