What it costs to own a car in Japan...

[Undrstm8ed™]

Due to concerns of an over-populated, smog-infested country, Japan has integrated strict emissions laws, regular taxes, a Parking Space (an annual tax fee in and of itself) and a mandatory inspection fee.

Living in a big city in Japan, costs are meant to discourage citizens from owning a car. Traffic jams as far as 30 miles, excessive fuel prices, cities jam-packed with cars to the brim, and highways bunged worst than any day in New York City.

You can see why the Japanese government has had no choice but to enforce such rules with which they austerely enforce.

You Think We Got It Bad:

Shakoshomeishou
(Parking Tax):

One must first register for a parking space prior to registering for the vehicle itself.There are options here and prices do vary (anywhere from a few thousand Yen/month up to over 100 000 Yen/month ($869.56 usd/month) in the heart of most major Japanese cities.

(Regular Taxes):

There are three main taxes to pay when you purchase a car. The bigger the car, the more you will pay.

One is the Acquisition Tax, which is approximately 5% of the car's worth.

Second is the Weight tax which is dependent on the size of the engine

01-2000 cc's (2 liter's) 56700 Yen ($493 usd)

2001 + cc's (2 liter's +) 75600 Yen ($657.39 usd)

Third is an annual Tax Fee to be paid once a year in the month of May

Tax ranges from:

Kei Cars (660 cc or less) 5000 Yen/year ($43.47/year usd)

Medium-Size 34500 Yen - 39500 Yen/year ($300-343.47/year usd)

2.5 Liter Cars 45000 Yen/year ($391.30/year usd)

3 Liter Cars 56000 Yen/year ($486.95/year usd)


*License Plate Configuration

Kei Cars (660 cc or less) have a Yellow Plate

50-something on plate indicates a Medium-Sized Car

Passenger Cars with 33 or 300 in the Top-Right Hand Corner are the highest in acquisition Taxes.

Now there is also a Consumption tax due with every fill-up at the gas pump, varying up to15yen/ltr (.13/ltr usd) and many fuel stations will not post their prices.



WOW, there's still car insurance:

There are 2 insurance options

(kyosei hoken) This is mandatory and covers the car.

(jibaiseki hoken) This is optional and covers injuries you may receive or cause.

Theft, vandalism, disaster damage, lost wages, etc. are all extras and are not covered by the base jibaiseki hoken.

Cost varies of course, as they do here, and range from age, number of drivers, experience and offenses as well as whether or not your car has an airbag.



“But such low mileage??”

(Shaken):

In Japan, people take great pride in both their driving skills and their machines. They judiciously maintain and respect each other's cars; something that is the norm rather than the exception. But there is more to this theory as to how we are able to provide you with the quality we do; Shaken.

Shaken is a mandatory maintenance check to all cars 3 years old and is continual every other year following. Prices are weight dependent but usually falls between 120000 yen –160 000 yen ($1043-$1391 usd) for smaller cars, more the larger they get. Up to around $3000 usd for a large car.

As a car gets older (and older by Japanese Standards is 3 ½ to 4 years old; this where USDM/CDM Manufacturer's Industry Standards is still under a car's warranty) it has an official value of Zero (0 yen) and it has been known to happen that owners have to pay someone to take the cars off their hands.

Currency Conversion
115 yen = $1.00 usd (it changes almost daily)