A person seeking to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle as set forth in the left-hand column of the following Table must obtain the corresponding class 1 license set forth in the right-hand column of that Table:
| Type of motor vehicle or motorized bicycle | Type of class 1 license |
| Large motor vehicle | L-MVL |
| Mid-sized motor vehicle | M-MVL |
| Semi-mid-sized motor vehicle | SM-MVL |
| Standard motor vehicle | S-MVL |
| Special large motor vehicle | SL-MVL |
| Large motorcycle | L-ML |
| Standard motorcycle | S-ML |
| Special small motor vehicle | SS-MVL |
| General motorized bicycle | MBL |
A person who has obtained a class 1 license set forth in the right-hand column of the Table in the preceding paragraph may, in addition to driving the motor vehicle or motorized bicycle of the category that the Table sets forth, drive the types of motor vehicles or motorized bicycles set forth in the right-hand column of the following Table, according to the type of license set forth in the left-hand column of that Table:
| Type of class 1 license | Types of motor vehicles or motorized bicycles that may be driven |
| L-MVL | Mid-sized motor vehicles, semi-mid-sized motor vehicles, standard motor vehicles, special small motor vehicles, and general motorized bicycles |
| M-MVL | Semi-mid-sized motor vehicles, standard motor vehicles, special small motor vehicles, and general motorized bicycles |
| SM-MVL | Standard motor vehicles, special small motor vehicles, and general motorized bicycles |
| S-MVL | Special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles |
| SL-MVL | Special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles |
| L-ML | Standard motorcycles, special small motor vehicles, and general motorized bicycles |
| S-ML | Special small motor vehicles and general motorized bicycles |
In addition to obtaining a license (other than a provisional license) for a motor vehicle equipped for towing, a person seeking to drive that motor vehicle equipped for towing in order to tow a heavy towable vehicle must obtain a towing license.
A person holding a towing license who also holds an L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, SL-MVL, class 2 L-MVL, class 2 M-MVL, class 2 S-MVL, or class 2 SL-MVL at the time in question may tow a heavy towable vehicle while driving a motor vehicle equipped for towing that the license permits the licensee to drive.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an L-MVL who is under 21 years of age or who has not held an L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, or SL-MVL for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a large motor vehicle, mid-sized motor vehicle, or semi-mid-sized motor vehicle that Cabinet Order prescribes.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an M-MVL (other than a person also holding an L-MVL) who is under 21 years of age or who has not held an L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, or SL-MVL for at least three years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a mid-sized motor vehicle or semi-mid-sized motor vehicle that Cabinet Order prescribes.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an SM-MVL (other than a person also holding an L-MVL or M-MVL) who is as set forth in one of the following items to drive a motor vehicle as provided in the item:
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an S-MVL (other than a person also holding an SM-MVL) who has not held a L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, or SL-MVL for at least two years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a standard motor vehicle that Cabinet Order prescribes.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an L-ML who has not held a L-ML or S-ML for at least two years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a large motorcycle or standard motorcycle that Cabinet Order prescribes.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an S-ML (other than a person also holding an L-ML) who has not held an L-ML or S-ML for at least two years in total (not counting any period during which the person's license was suspended) to drive a standard motorcycle that Cabinet Order prescribes.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2) or (4), if a motor vehicle that a person may drive pursuant to paragraph (2) is a motor vehicle used for passenger motor carrier services (hereinafter referred to as a "motor vehicle used for passenger services"), or if a heavy towable vehicle towed by a motor vehicle equipped for towing that a person may drive pursuant to paragraph (4) is a heavy towable vehicle used for passenger motor carrier services (hereinafter referred to as a "vehicle used for passenger services"), it is not permissible for a person holding a class 1 license to drive the motor vehicle used for passenger services or the motor vehicle towing the vehicle used for passenger services in order to transport passengers as a part of passenger motor carrier services.
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), it is not permissible for a person holding an S-MVL, SM-MVL, M-MVL, or L-MVL to drive a motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated driver as prescribed in paragraph (6) of Article 2 of the Act on Regulation of Professional Designated Driving Services (Act No. 57 of 2001) (limited to standard motor vehicles; hereinafter referred to as a "standard motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated driver").
Read this with the articles around it
(Class 1 Licenses)
A person seeking to drive a motor vehicle or motorized bicycle as set forth in the left-hand column of the following Table must obtain the corresponding class 1 license set forth in the right-hand…
次の表の上欄に掲げる自動車等を運転しようとする者は、当該自動車等の種類に応じ、それぞれ同表の下欄に掲げる第一種免許を受けなければならない。 自動車等の種類 第一種免許の種類 大型自動車 大型免許 中型自動車 中型免許 準中型自動車 準中型免許 普通自動車 普通免許 大型特殊自動車 大型特殊免許 大型自動二輪車 大型二…
Open this provision(Class 1 Licenses)
A person who has obtained a class 1 license set forth in the right-hand column of the Table in the preceding paragraph may, in addition to driving the motor vehicle or motorized bicycle of the…
前項の表の下欄に掲げる第一種免許を受けた者は、同表の区分に従い当該自動車等を運転することができるほか、次の表の上欄に掲げる免許の種類に応じ、それぞれ同表の下欄に掲げる種類の自動車等を運転することができる。
Open this provision(Class 1 Licenses)
A person holding a towing license who also holds an L-MVL, M-MVL, SM-MVL, S-MVL, SL-MVL, class 2 L-MVL, class 2 M-MVL, class 2 S-MVL, or class 2 SL-MVL at the time in question may tow a heavy towable…
牽引免許を受けた者で、大型免許、中型免許、準中型免許、普通免許、大型特殊免許、大型第二種免許、中型第二種免許、普通第二種免許又は大型特殊第二種免許を現に受けているものは、これらの免許によつて運転することができる牽引自動車によつて重被牽引車を牽引して当該牽引自動車を運転することができる。
Open this provisionmotor 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
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)
heavy towable vehiclemachine translation
「重被牽引車」
A light road vehicle (軽車両) built and equipped to be towed whose gross vehicle weight, as defined in the Road Transport Vehicle Act, exceeds 750 kilograms.
Short name set inArticle 51-4, paragraph (1)
passenger motor carrier servicesmachine translation
「旅客自動車運送事業」
A business of carrying passengers by motor vehicle for payment to meet others' demand, as Article 2, paragraph (3) of the Road Transportation Act defines it: the general services listed in Article 3 of that Act — shared-ride, chartered and hired-car — and specified services for a particular party.
Short name set inArticle 64, paragraph (3)
motor vehicle equipped for towing
「牽引自動車」
A large, mid-sized, semi-mid-sized, standard or special large motor vehicle with the structure and equipment for towing.
Short name set inArticle 75-8-2, 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)
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)
vehicle used for passenger servicesmachine translation
「旅客用車両」
A heavy towable vehicle (重被牽引車) used for passenger motor carrier services (旅客自動車運送事業).
Short name set inArticle 85, paragraph (11)
motor vehicle used for passenger servicesmachine translation
「旅客自動車」
A motor vehicle used for passenger motor carrier services (旅客自動車運送事業).
Short name set inArticle 85, paragraph (11)
standard motor vehicle that is to be driven by a professional designated drivermachine translation
「代行運転普通自動車」
A standard motor vehicle (普通自動車) that a substitute driving business is driving on its customer's behalf — a service mainly for customers who have been drinking — as Article 2, paragraph (6) of the Act on Regulation of Substitute Driving Service defines such a vehicle.
Short name set inArticle 85, paragraph (12)