Average travel distance of private car owners in Japan 2015-2024

According to a survey conducted in July 2024, car owners in Japan traveled with their private vehicles approximately 6.97 thousand kilometers per year on average, increasing from around 6.79 thousand kilometers in the previous year. However, the typical yearly travel distance was between 3,000 and 5,000 kilometers.

Maintaining a car in Japan is costly

Consumer estimates regarding car maintenance surpassed the 10,000 Japanese yen benchmark: fuel, insurance, automobile taxes, and vehicle inspection were the most burdensome costs. While it is possible to mitigate some of those, ownership-inherent taxes, inspections, and insurance are unavoidable. Throughout the ownership, vehicle owners pay an annual tonnage tax (at least 2,500 yen; weight-based) plus an automobile tax or mini-vehicle tax (at least 10,800 yen for cars; displacement-based in principle). Mandatory vehicle liability insurance adds to the overall costs, as do vehicle inspections, which can range between 10,000 yen and 60,000 yen every other year. For single-households, vehicle-related costs are more often than not unreasonable. Most families, on the other hand, invest in a car. 

How to save on car maintenance expenses in Japan

Driving economically and avoiding Japan’s expensive toll roads might be the simplest way, but the vehicle choice might be even more impactful. For example, there is a leap of 14,200 yen once automobile taxes apply instead of mini-vehicle taxes. Kei cars are light vehicles that typically belong to a lower tonnage tax class and have superior fuel efficiency, making them an economic vehicle choice. Unsurprisingly, kei cars are quite popular in Japan.
Electric vehicles might be even more economical considering all maintenance expenses since they also receive various exemptions and subsidies. The downside: their purchase price is still a reason for many to dismiss them. Yet another popular option in Japan is not to buy, but to rent, lease, or share a passenger car, reducing expenses significantly and saving worries about maintenance altogether.