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Vehicle Parking Space Registration

Vehicles in Japan must have their parking spaces registered with the police in order to prevent unauthorized use of parking areas and prevent vehicles from blocking the road with something called a shako shoumeisho (車庫証明書). All normal cars must be registered. Kei cars (軽自動車), or light cars, need to be registered depending on the municipality. Most municipalities do not require kei cars to be registered. You can check the requirements for Gunma here.

This must be done at local police stations or through a new online system. Police stations are usually open from 8:30 to 5:15.

This procedure may take a week or so to be completed.

Registration

For new cars or new used cars, take the following documents to a local police station:

  • Personal seal or signature
  • Vehicle inspection certificate (shakensho, 車検証)
  • Proof of address change [a copy of a family registry (jyuminhyo, 住民票) or, a seal certification or sign certification (inkan shoumeisho, 印鑑登録書)]
  • Parking space notification form (application) – 2 copies
  • Parking space certification mark application form – 2 copies
  • Map of parking area  form (surroundings and local detail maps) – 1 copy
  • Proof of consent or registration for use of parking space (see below)
  • Fees (about 2000 yen for application + 500 yen for certification marks + cost of application forms)

Changing registration details

If selling a car, no application is necessary. If changing a name, a new registration is required. If changing an address, an address change is required.

Take the following documents to a local police station:

  • Personal seal or signature
  • Vehicle inspection certificate (shakensho, 車検証)
  • Proof of address change [a copy of a family registry (jyuminhyo, 住民票) or, a seal certification or sign certification (inkan shoumeisho, 印鑑登録書)]
  • Parking space notification form (application) – 1 copy
  • Parking space certification mark application form – 2 copies
  • Map of parking area  form (surroundings and local detail maps) – 1 copy
  • Proof of consent or registration for use of parking space (see below)
  • Fees (about 500 yen for certification marks + cost of application forms)