Make sure you understand the compensation available with
your insurance policy!
Make sure you understand
what is included in your insurance plan.
The minimum insurance option is included in the rental fee of a car, but in the case of a traffic accident, every driver is expected to bear a portion of the cost. With only minimal insurance, the driver must pay 50,000 yen of the total expenses incurred by the accident. Japan has a lot of narrow roads and parking spaces. Driving in an unfamiliar car with the handle on the right, it is easy to inadvertently bump into another vehicle. In order to relax and enjoy your road trip, it is best to opt for the deductible compensation system, which offers the most comprehensive insurance. This generally costs 1,000 yen per 24 hours. In order to receive complete coverage, make sure to comply with Japanese traffic regulations and any agreement you sign with the car rental company.
An Example of Insurance Compensation
| Bodily Injury | Unlimited per person (including automobile liability insurance) |
| Property Damage | Unlimited (a charge of 50,000 yen will be incurred for exclusion of liability) |
| Car Damage | Up to the actual value per accident (a charge of 50,000 yen will be incurred for exclusion of liability; 100,000 yen for buses and large size trucks) |
| Physical Disability | Up to 30,000,000 yen per person*1 |
*1 Compensation will be paid for injuries to passengers (including death and residual disability) regardless of the degree of the driver’s responsibility (Up to 30,000,000 yen: The amount of damage will be calculated by the insurance company based on the insurance clause)
| Non-Operation Charge (NOC) When an accident, theft, or any other sort of damage is incurred to a rented car which temporarily puts it out of commission, the customer must pay for the business lost by the rental company in the form of a non-operation charge.If the rental car is returned to the shop by the customer, this charge is 20,000 yen. If the car does not get returned, the charge increases to 50,000 yen. |
How to get the ideal road side support
The price of a car rental includes basic insurance. Certain car rental companies include road side assistance within the basic rate. This means that if you get a flat tire or the battery dies, someone will come help you out for no extra cost! However, if this is not included in the basic rate, you can ask for additional coverage.
For example, if you get stuck in traffic and can’t return the car on time, you can have the late fee waived for the first hour, as long as you contact the company.
There are many other insurance options, including higher compensation rates in the case of an accident. If you are feeling a little uncertain about driving in Japan for the first time, its a good idea to opt for some additional coverage.
Every company is slightly different, so make sure to ask for details when you go to rent a car.
