Hello, I will be returning to Japan in a month or so and i will be bringing my pickup truck with me.  I read on here that it could be possible for me to register as a 300 plate instead of a 100 plate.  

It will cost you 700.ish annually....... the only difference I have seen from the plates is how much money comes out of your pocket it's based on size and engine. Of course you have to get all the inspections performed, just fyi~ it must have lights on the side of the car or you will be drilling holes to mount them, unless you can find magnetic ones. (being that new you may be just fine on that one) It must have retractable (folding mirrors) or you will be buying and mounting them "I think they are required to be electrical as well but I'm not sure". I'm sure you will discover a few other quirky requirements during the process too.

Good luck.......

I have all the parts to modify as required when i get to Japan. I'm installing mirror turn signals, fender mirror, and reverse light below the bumper. I'm going to wait until i get there to make sure the modifications i make are both necessary and also adequate. I have lived in Japan for several years, so i'm familiar with the cost of registration and such, but i was more interested in finding out if i could register my truck with the same plate as a large passenger car. I read somewhere that it can be done, but i don't have the specifics and that is what i'm looking for. If i register as a "100" series plate, i have to pay inspection and registration every year. If I can register as a "300" plate, then i only have to get inspection every 2 years. There is also a "400" series truck plate, but i'm not sure what the difference is. I could swear there was a nissan pickup on base in Yokosuka that had 300 plates when I was there in March. I appreciate your feedback.


Wade

As a 100 plate you need to do the inspection every year, but it is half the cost and road take is also about half the price. The total 2 year cost for a 100 plate is cheaper. You can register it as a 300 plate and the process is the same. At LTO they will ask if you are doing 100 or 300. A 400 is for a company registration and not for normal use.

Posted By Life Town Japan on 07-28-2011 4:15 PM
As a 100 plate you need to do the inspection every year, but it is half the cost and road take is also about half the price. The total 2 year cost for a 100 plate is cheaper. You can register it as a 300 plate and the process is the same. At LTO they will ask if you are doing 100 or 300. A 400 is for a company registration and not for normal use.

That's good to hear.  I had heard that the 100 plate was very expensive.  I think i can handle the annual trip to Yokohama for inspection if the price of the plate isn't more than a 300 plate.  Thank you for the info.

I didn't bring a car but was going to do and research about it.

I'm sure you can get inspection in your area but gas test is doing at Akishima it's near Yokota AB. And gas test takes 2 days. Yokosuka to Yokota is about 2hours drive depends on traffic.
Cost of the gas test is around 20man yen(¥200,000).

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Owning a 2-ton, straight-6, 4.0 liter Jeep Wrangler100 class vehicle I can tell you that the costs are much higher than a 300/500 class which are standard pax cars. Class is determined by vehicle weight and engine dsiplacement. The lower the class number the higher the costs. The V6 marks you for a 100 class and there's no way around it. Annual road tax is Y18,000. Annual inspection/registration is only for vehicles over 10 years old. I also own an 1980 MGB so have had to make that trip annually. There is a cars/vehicle forum here that will give you all the info you need so please go there and read thoroughly.

The V6 really doesn't have anything to do with it.

Here is how it breaks down:

500 (formally 55 numbers, before that 50 numbers, and so on...) are going to be 2000ccs or less. There is also a height, width, length combo of measurements that counts.

300 plates are all over 2000cc's, or exceed a certain L,W,H combo. My Harrier is a 3000 cc V6 with a 33 plate. My Altezza I had was a 2000cc 4 cylinder, also a 300 plate because it was too wide.

If you see a vehicle with over fenders, it will be a 33 number or higher.

100 or 400 numbers are considered minor commercial class vehicles. They usually exceed a certain length or are in a recreational only catagory. The trucks will often exceed the length, pushing it into the 100 class. I saw a US Spec Toyota Tundra with a 300 E plate, so your vehicle may be a lucky one. It really boils down to how the last one that came in was registered. They will often look to the homologation data to figure out which plate to grant it.


There is one saving grace you can do. Mount a portable sink and removable mattress combo and register it as an 88, which is camping class. This is the cheapest alternative if your vehicle will pull the 100 number.

Oh, and before I get flamed, engine displacement doesn't apply to diesels until they are over 2600 cc's. If you see an older Mitsubishi Pajero or Toyota Hilux with a 55 number or 500 number, it is probably a diesel.

Oh, and any car with the exception of 4,1,and 8 plates are eligible for 2 years of JCI now. The "10 year, 1 Year" inspection rule was phased out in 1996 Japan wide.

Wade,

Also make sure that the rear turn signals are amber and that the brake, signal and back up lights are all separate and function independently. I.e. You can not have the brake lights function as turn signal indicators.

I had to resort to creative wiring to get my old car pass inspection.