Driver duties: alcohol, phone, seat belts and child seats: Japan license conversion written test rules

You must not drive while under the influence of alcohol, or of narcotics, stimulants or paint thinner. 教則第4章第1節 4, p. 30 From 21 July 2026, drunk driving explicitly includes having 0.5 mg or more of alcohol per liter of breath (or 1.0 mg or more per ml of blood). 道路交通法第117条の2 第1項第1号 (2026 amendment) While the vehicle is moving, you must not use a mobile phone or gaze at images shown on a car navigation device, except when properly using the automated driving system of an automated vehicle. 教則第5章第1節 2(4), p. 41 The driver of a car with seat belts must wear one and must have front-seat and rear-seat passengers wear them too, even if the car has airbags. 教則第5章第1節 3(1), p. 42 When carrying an infant (young child), you must have the child use a child seat suited to the child's stage of growth, except when there is an unavoidable reason such as illness. 教則第5章第1節 4(1), p. 42 On a long drive you should take a rest at least once every 2 hours. 教則第4章第1節 2, p. 30

Key rules

You must not drive while under the influence of alcohol (酒気を帯びている) or under the influence of narcotics, stimulants, paint thinner, etc. 教則第4章第1節 4, p. 30
From 21 July 2026, 'drunk' driving (酒酔い運転) explicitly includes having 0.5 mg or more of alcohol per liter of breath (or 1.0 mg or more per ml of blood), as well as any other state where alcohol may prevent normal driving. Penalty: up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine up to 1,000,000 yen. 道路交通法第117条の2 第1項第1号 (2026 amendment)
While the vehicle is moving you must not use a mobile phone such as a smartphone, or gaze at images shown on a car navigation device, except when properly using the automated driving system of an automated vehicle. 教則第5章第1節 2(4), p. 41
When driving a car equipped with seat belts, the driver must wear one and must have front-seat and rear-seat passengers wear them too, even if the car has airbags; an exception is when there is an unavoidable reason such as illness. Note: Not required when there is an unavoidable reason such as illness. Airbags do NOT remove the duty. 教則第5章第1節 3(1), p. 42
When carrying an infant (young child) in a car, you must have the child use a child seat suited to the child's stage of growth, except when there is an unavoidable reason such as illness. 教則第5章第1節 4(1), p. 42
When driving a car or moped on the road, you must hold the license for that vehicle type and must carry your license card or a My Number Card with the license recorded on it (免許証等). Note: 免許証等 = 運転免許証 or 免許情報記録個人番号カード (マイナ免許証), defined in 教則第4章第1節 1(1)ア. 教則第4章第2節 (2026 amendment)
If a police officer asks after a violation or accident, you must show your 免許証等. If you show a My Number Card with license data and the officer asks you to allow the steps needed to check that license data, you must comply. 教則第4章第2節 (2026 amendment)
Even if you hold a license, you cannot drive during a period of license suspension. 教則第4章第2節前文, p. 30
You must not drive when overfatigued (過労). 教則第4章第1節 3, p. 30
You must not ask a person without a license or a person under the influence of alcohol to drive. 教則第1章第4節 4, p. 9
You must not serve or offer alcohol to a person who is about to drive a vehicle. 教則第1章第4節 5, p. 9
You must not drive wearing geta (wooden clogs), high heels or similar footwear. 教則第5章第1節 2(2), p. 41
You must not carry people or load goods beyond the prescribed passenger capacity (which includes the driver) or loading limits. 教則第4章第4節 1, p. 36
When driving for a long time, you should take a rest at least once every 2 hours. 教則第4章第1節 2, p. 30
Children who cannot properly wear a seat belt should use a child seat. 教則第5章第1節 4(1), p. 42

Common traps

Watch the number: taking a rest at least once every 2 hours is advice (should), not a must. 教則第4章第1節 2, p. 30
Airbags do not replace seat belts: the driver must wear a belt and have front and rear passengers wear theirs even if the car has airbags. 教則第5章第1節 3(1), p. 42
The phone ban is for while the vehicle is moving, and it also covers gazing at images on a navigation device; the one exception is properly using the automated driving system of an automated vehicle. 教則第5章第1節 2(4), p. 41
Alcohol can last into the morning: even if you drank the previous night, alcohol may still affect you when driving the next morning. 教則第4章第1節 4, p. 30
The duty reaches other people: you must not ask a person without a license or a person under the influence of alcohol to drive, and you must not serve or offer alcohol to a person who is about to drive. 教則第1章第4節 4, p. 9 教則第1章第4節 5, p. 9

Try 5 statements

Decide True or False first, then reveal the answer. Each answer comes with its explanation and the rule it is based on.

Statement 1 of 5

If your car has airbags, you do not need to make your front-seat passenger wear a seat belt.

Reveal the answer

False. The driver must make front and rear passengers wear seat belts even if the car has airbags. Only an unavoidable reason such as illness is an exception.

Source: 教則第5章第1節 3(1), p. 42

Statement 2 of 5

A pregnant woman should wear only the lap belt so that the belt does not press on her abdomen.

Reveal the answer

False. During pregnancy you should not wear only the lap belt. Wear both lap and shoulder belts, and keep the belt from crossing the abdomen.

Source: 教則第5章第1節 3(3), p. 42

Statement 3 of 5

On a long drive, you should take a rest at least once every 2 hours.

Reveal the answer

True. When driving for a long time, you should plan to rest at least once every 2 hours.

Source: 教則第4章第1節 2, p. 30

Statement 4 of 5

A private ordinary passenger car must have a periodic inspection every 6 months.

Reveal the answer

False. A private ordinary passenger car must be inspected every 1 year, with any necessary maintenance done.

Source: 教則第4章第3節 3, p. 36

Statement 5 of 5

You should set the seat so that your knee is slightly bent when the clutch pedal is fully pressed.

Reveal the answer

True. Set the seat position so the knee is slightly bent with the clutch pressed, and the seatback so the elbows are slightly bent with both hands on the wheel.

Source: 教則第5章第1節 2(1), p. 41

Now try the full test

The free practice test has 50 true/false statements in 30 minutes, and the pass mark is 45. No sign-up, and every answer is explained with its rule.

Take the free test

Questions and answers

Can I use my phone while driving in Japan?

While the vehicle is moving, you must not use a mobile phone or gaze at images shown on a car navigation device, except when properly using the automated driving system of an automated vehicle. 教則第5章第1節 2(4), p. 41

Are seat belts and child seats required in Japan?

The driver of a car with seat belts must wear one and must have front-seat and rear-seat passengers wear them too, even if the car has airbags. 教則第5章第1節 3(1), p. 42 When carrying an infant (young child), you must have the child use a child seat suited to the child's stage of growth, except when there is an unavoidable reason such as illness. 教則第5章第1節 4(1), p. 42

What is the drunk driving level in Japan?

Driver duties: alcohol, phone, seat belts and child seats: Japan license conversion written test rules

Key rules

Common traps

Try 5 statements

Now try the full test

Questions and answers

Other topics

Sources