Renting a Car in Japan as a New Driver: Nine Companies' Conditions and How a First Rental Works

All nine major and budget rental companies compared here generally rent to people who have held a licence for less than a year. Passenger requirements and available protection plans differ by company. This guide compares Toyota, Nippon, Times, Orix, Nissan, JR Eki, Sky, Nico Nico and Guts, checked on 1 November 2026, and sets out how a first rental runs from booking to return.

The table concerns Japanese licences and the companies' domestic rules. If you hold a foreign licence, the documents, booking route and even whether a company rents to you are different. Use our licence and IDP guide and pickup documents guide for those conditions, and tell the company how long you have held your licence before relying on the table.

Licences under one year and age conditions

Company	Licence held under one year	Age	Extra protection (CDW and similar)	Beginner mark
Toyota Rent a Car	Generally yes	Generally no limit (some branches have age limits)		Lent for a fee at some branches
Nippon Rent-A-Car	Yes (safe-driving briefing at departure)	Briefing at departure for under-21s too		Display it if you are required to
Times Car Rental	No restriction
Orix Rent a Car	No restriction	No restriction	No restriction (beginners can join)	Supplied to those who need it
Nissan Rent a Car	Yes			Lent (limited number; contact the branch in advance)
JR Eki Rent-A-Car	No restriction			Limited number, so bring your own
Sky Rent a Car	Yes			Bring your own or borrow one at the branch (¥330 per rental)
Nico Nico Rent a Car	A passenger with three or more years' licence is required from departure	No limit with a licence (may refuse if it judges an older driver's fitness to drive to be in doubt)	Under-21s and those licensed under one year cannot join	Bring your own
Guts Rent a Car	Generally yes (some branches restrict)	Generally no limit (some branches restrict)	Those licensed under one year, under 21 or 70 and over cannot join CDW	Some branches have no stock or do not offer it (telephone in advance)

Blank cells mean the condition is not stated in the sources for this table. The beginner mark is the sticker that drivers in their first year of a Japanese licence must display.

Many companies do not refuse anyone with a licence on grounds of age. Toyota and Guts do set age and similar limits at some branches, so telephone the branch you plan to book.

Nico Nico attaches a passenger condition for beginners. If the contract holder or a driver has held a licence for under one year, a "safety adviser" with three or more years' licence must ride along from departure and bring their original licence. Nippon, Nissan and Nico Nico do not rent on a provisional licence, nor do they allow a provisional-licence holder to drive a car rented by a licensed person.

Costs when you cannot join extra protection

Whether younger drivers and beginners can join a plan that waives their accident costs also varies. At Nico Nico, under-21s and those licensed under one year cannot join extra protection. After an accident, they pay a ¥50,000 vehicle deductible and a ¥50,000 property deductible, plus NOC (non-operation charge) of ¥20,000 if the car can be driven back or ¥50,000 if it cannot.

Guts does not include vehicle insurance to begin with. The renter pays for damage to the car up to ¥50,000 if it can be driven and up to ¥100,000 if it cannot (the property deductible is ¥50,000). Those licensed under one year, under 21 or 70 and over cannot join the CDW that waives this, and CDW does not waive the NOC.

Some plans, such as Nippon's CDW, cannot be added after the rental procedure. Decide on protection when you book. Our CDW and NOC guide explains the difference between them.

From booking to return

A first rental runs in much the same way at every company.

Stage	What to do	Guide
Booking	Choose company, branch and car, and decide drivers, protection and options	Company comparison, protection
Counter	Show your licence, hear the protection explained, sign the contract and pay	What to bring
Damage check	Inspect the car for scratches and dents with the staff	Accidents and scratches
Departure	Adjust seats and mirrors, ask about controls and note contact details	Accidents and breakdowns
Refuelling	Fill up near the return branch and keep the receipt	Refuelling and return
Return	Return on time, check the car with staff and settle up	Refuelling and return

Booking

Choose the company and branch, the car class, the date and time, and protection. Name everyone who will drive when you book. If anyone has held a licence for under one year, give the date they got it. Our company comparison sets out differences between companies.

Book these together with the car: a child seat for children and an ETC card for expressways. A pet needs its own application with the branch. Our cancellation guide lists the fees if your plans change.

On a first trip, choose a car close in size and controls to the one you usually drive. Avoid combining long distances, night driving and unfamiliar mountain roads in one plan, so that it is easy to adjust if you fall behind.

Counter

Go to the branch at your booked time and show every driver's licence. At Toyota, JR Eki and Nico Nico, staff prepare the contract and explain protection and what to do after an accident. Sign and pay the planned charge. At Nippon, if anyone is licensed under one year or under 21, staff give an accident-prevention and safe-driving briefing (Safety Start) at this stage.

If you may be late for your booked time, contact the branch. If you pass one hour without contacting them, Toyota, Orix, Nico Nico and others may cancel the booking. Our documents guide lists what to bring and how to pay.

Damage check

At Toyota, JR Eki and Sky, you check the car for scratches and dents with staff after the paperwork. At Times, you check the exterior, tyres and interior yourself. At Orix, too, you look over the exterior and point out anything of concern.

If you notice an existing scratch, say so before driving off. Our accidents and scratches guide explains how to prepare for damage claims after return.

Departure

Adjust the seat and mirrors, and fasten seat belts in the front and rear. Ask staff before you leave about any controls you do not understand, such as how to open the fuel flap, the lights and wipers, the navigation system and ETC (Times, Orix, JR Eki and Sky all suggest this). After fitting a child seat, check for yourself that it is secure.

At Orix, those who must display a beginner mark put it where it is easy to see on the front and rear of the car. Whether you can borrow one varies, and as the table shows, some companies assume you bring your own. At Nippon and Nico Nico, carry the rental contract (rental certificate) while using the car. Also note the contacts for an accident or breakdown; see our accidents and breakdowns guide.

Refuelling

Most companies supply a full tank and require a full tank on return. Fill up at a petrol station near the return branch and bring the receipt. Times asks you to show a fuel receipt on return. Nico Nico requires one if you fill up anywhere other than the return branch. If you do not return full, you pay a fuel charge calculated from the distance driven (Toyota, Sky, Times). Our refuelling and return guide covers the steps and what to do if you lose the receipt.

Return

Return by the contract time. If you may be late, contact the departure branch before that time passes. At the branch, staff check for damage and you settle any overtime or fuel charges (Toyota). At Sky you check the car together with staff, and at Nico Nico the car's condition is also checked at return.

Check that you have not left an ETC card or smartphone behind. Nico Nico and Guts generally do not accept returns outside business hours (at Nico Nico, only participating branches do), so plan to arrive during opening hours.

Renting on the day or without a reservation

Company	Walk-in without a reservation	Online booking deadline	How far ahead you can book
Toyota Rent a Car	Within one hour of departure, telephone the branch	Up to one hour before use	From six months before the departure date
Nippon Rent-A-Car	Under one hour, ask the branch	Up to one hour before use (if booked before opening, from one hour after opening)	Up to 210 days before the return date (91–210 days before only for some)
Times Car Rental	Yes if a car is free (credit card only)	Up to 30 minutes before at the latest
Orix Rent a Car
Nissan Rent a Car	Yes (from cars at the branch; there may be none free)	From one hour later at the earliest (varies by branch and model)	Within six months
JR Eki Rent-A-Car	Yes (the car you want may not be available, and preparation may take time)	Up to three hours before use (bookings after 18:00 the day before and on the day are for departures from 11:00)	From three months before
Sky Rent a Car		Up to 15 minutes before on the day (some branches do not offer this)
Nico Nico Rent a Car		Generally up to three hours before (some branches up to 30 minutes before)	Up to 180 days ahead
Guts Rent a Car	Varies by branch	Varies by branch	Online from one to three months before; by telephone any number of days before

Times, Nissan and JR Eki rent without a reservation, but only if a car is free, and the class you want may not be available. A walk-in at Times can pay only by credit card. If you want a car on the day, check online availability or telephone the branch before you go, so you do not make a wasted trip.

First-time renters take longer at the counter and checking the car. Booking by the day before and departing at a time that leaves room at the counter lets you check things calmly, compared with booking at the last minute.

Sample enquiry to a branch

"I would like to rent a compact car at the [branch name] branch on [date]. I am [age], and I got my standard licence (automatic only) in [month and year]. The drivers will be me and a companion who has held a licence for [number] years. Could you tell me whether we can rent on these conditions, whether we can join the CDW and NOC protection, and whether we can borrow a beginner mark?"

For Nico Nico, also say whether your passenger has held a licence for three or more years. Check in the booking confirmation email that the branch's answer and the booking match.

Common questions

Can I drive if an experienced friend rents the car in their name?

Changing the name does not change the conditions for the driver. Everyone who will drive must be named when booking or at departure, and must show a licence. At Nippon, a driver named at departure can use the same insurance and protection as the renter. At Nico Nico, the car cannot be used if the driver differs from the one named on the booking. At Orix, the rental procedure cannot go ahead unless the person who made the booking comes to the branch.

Can I borrow a beginner mark?

Toyota (for a fee at some branches), Nissan (limited number) and Sky (¥330 per rental) lend them. JR Eki advises bringing your own because its numbers are limited, Nico Nico expects you to bring one, and Guts asks you to telephone in advance because some branches have no stock or do not offer them. If you need to be certain, bring your own.

If I may be late for return, should I hurry back?

Put safety first. Contact the departure branch from a place where you can stop, and follow their instructions. Under the Toyota, Orix and JR Eki rental terms, being late without contact means a penalty of double the overtime charge on top of the overtime charge itself.