Paying Automobile Tax and Shaken Renewal

Automobile owners, who own a car as of April 1st, need to pay the automobile tax 自動車税 annually. The automobile owners are supposed to receive a tax notice (payment slip) from the Municipal / Prefectural Taxation Office and need to pay the tax by the end of May.

The automobile tax of Light Vehicle 軽自動車, Motorcycle 二輪車 and Scooter スクーター must also be paid by May 31.

What if you put off the payment?

The tax rate is high compared to other countries, which might make the owners feel reluctant to pay. However, delaying payment makes the situation worse, as penalty fees are added to the rate...

Avoid keeping any motor vehicle that you no longer need

Dispose of that unused vehicle as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will need to keep paying the vehicle tax as long as you have it.

When disposing of a vehicle, such as when selling it to someone, be sure to visit a local government office and submit the appropriate notification forms. This will inform them that you no longer own the vehicle and help you avoid any future taxation on it.

Certificate of Tax Payment is necessary to have "Shaken"

If you have paid the automobile tax, you will receive a Certificate of Tax Payment (納税証明書). This certificate is necessary for obtaining the Shaken (車検), or motor vehicle inspection. Having the Shaken is crucial, as it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle in Japan without this inspection, according to traffic laws.

Automobile owners do not receive any notice from the government about when to renew their Shaken. Therefore, they need to be aware of the renewal period themselves. If you buy a car from a car agency, they may send you a notification for your convenience.

Do you have any motorcycles that have been left unused?

Shaken is not required for owning motorbikes up to 250cc, but the owner still needs to pay the automobile tax. If you have a motorcycle that has been left unused, consider relinquishing the ownership; otherwise, you will have to keep on paying the tax.

Related Website

MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION SYSTEM IN JAPAN
https://www.mlit.go.jp/english/inspect/index1e.html