Japan's new vehicle category 「特定小型原動機付自転車」 for electric kick scooters and the like takes effect — no driver's license required if the standards are met, but riding by anyone under 16 is prohibited and travel on the 車道 (roadway) is the rule (July 1, 2023)
Source material is a Japanese government announcement (in Japanese); this page is a summary.
From July 1, 2023, electric kick scooters and the like that meet certain standards may be ridden as 「特定小型原動機付自転車」 without a driver's license, but riding by anyone under 16 is prohibited, and vehicles that do not meet the standards still require a driver's license as before. Travel on the 車道 (roadway) is the rule; the sidewalk is an exception, on which a 「特例特定小型原動機付自転車」 meeting the 5 requirements may travel giving priority to pedestrians, and only on sidewalks where this is permitted by road signs and the like.
Key facts
| Date of entry into force and legal basis | July 1, 2023 (令和5年7月1日) — the provisions on traffic rules and the like for 特定小型原動機付自転車 in the 「道路交通法の一部を改正する法律」 (Act partially amending the Road Traffic Act, 令和4年法律第32号) took effect. The detailed standards are set by the 「道路交通法施行規則」 (Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act, as amended by 令和5年内閣府令第17号), and the vehicle standards by the 「道路運送車両の保安基準」 (Safety Standards for Road Transport Vehicles, as amended by 令和4年国土交通省令第91号). |
|---|---|
| Standards for qualifying as 特定小型 | Body size — length 190cm or less, width 60cm or less. Body construction — ① an electric motor with a rated output of 0.60kW or less ② incapable of exceeding a speed of 20km/h ③ the maximum-speed setting cannot be changed while travelling ④ an AT機構 (automatic transmission mechanism) ⑤ a 最高速度表示灯 under 第66条の17 of the 道路運送車両の保安基準 fitted. A vehicle that does not meet these standards is not a 特定小型原動機付自転車 even if it is shaped like an electric kick scooter, and the traffic rules for its own vehicle category (一般原動機付自転車 or 自動車) apply as before. |
| No driver's license required — but riding by anyone under 16 is prohibited | No driver's license is needed to ride a 特定小型原動機付自転車, but riding by anyone under 16 is prohibited, and providing one to a person under 16 who is likely to ride it is prohibited as well (【罰則】6月以下の拘禁刑又は10万円以下の罰金). Moreover, riding an electric kick scooter or the like that does not meet the standards requires a driver's license and may not be done on the sidewalk, and violations are subject to penalties. |
| Where you may travel — the rule is the 車道 (roadway) | Where there is a division between the roadway and the sidewalk or the 路側帯 (roadside strip), you must travel on the 車道 (travel on cycle tracks is also possible). On roads you must as a rule keep to the 左側端 (left edge), and travel on the right is prohibited (【罰則】3月以下の拘禁刑又は5万円以下の罰金等). Travel on the sidewalk is permitted only as the exception limited to the 「特例特定小型原動機付自転車」 below. When turning right at an intersection where traffic is being directed, you must make a 「二段階右折」 (two-stage right turn) (【罰則】5万円以下の罰金). |
| Where you may travel — the only exception is 「特例特定小型」 | The rule is travel on the 車道; as an exception, only a 「特例特定小型原動機付自転車」 may travel on a sidewalk when travel on the sidewalk is permitted by road signs and the like (places where the 「普通自転車等及び歩行者等専用」 road sign is installed, and so on). When travelling on the sidewalk you must travel along the part of that sidewalk on the roadway side of its centre or the 普通自転車通行指定部分; pedestrians have priority, and you must make a 一時停止 (temporary stop) when you would obstruct the passage of pedestrians. A 路側帯 installed on the left side of the road (excluding a 路側帯 for pedestrians) may also be travelled on, except where doing so would markedly obstruct the passage of pedestrians (【罰則】2万円以下の罰金又は科料). |
| The 5 requirements for 「特例特定小型」 | It means a 特定小型原動機付自転車 that meets all 5 of the following — ① the 最高速度表示灯 flashes while it is travelling on a sidewalk or the like ② while the lamp is flashing, the construction of the body makes it incapable of exceeding a speed of 6km/h (running at no more than 6km/h by operating the accelerator does not satisfy this requirement) ③ no 側車 (sidecar) is attached ④ the brake is in a position where it can be operated easily while travelling ⑤ there are no sharp projections — and that is not towing another vehicle (excluding those that can be made to travel by remote operation). |
| Transitional measure for the 最高速度表示灯 — ended December 22, 2024 | Vehicles manufactured before the date the amending Act took effect (July 1, 2023) were given until December 22, 2024 (令和6年12月22日) to be fitted with a 最高速度表示灯, and during that period a vehicle without the lamp had to display instead a 型式認定番号標 or a 性能等確認済シール, or the 標識 (small number plate) that is to be attached to a 特定小型原動機付自転車. Under the same 保安基準, during the transitional period a vehicle without the lamp did not satisfy requirement ① for a 「特例特定小型」 and so could not travel on sidewalks or 路側帯. This transitional period already ended on December 22, 2024. |
| Insurance, plates and other duties | Taking out compulsory automobile liability insurance (or mutual aid) is a duty, and a vehicle that does not conform to the 保安基準 may not be put into service (a vehicle bearing a 性能等確認済シール or the like meets these standards). The owner must obtain a 標識 (number plate) as provided by the ordinances and the like of the 市町村 (municipality, including 特別区) and attach it in a conspicuous place on the body, and must ask the municipality about the procedure for obtaining it. Wearing a helmet is a duty of effort, and carrying 2 people is prohibited (【罰則】5万円以下の罰金等). 特定小型原動機付自転車 are subject to the traffic-violation notification system and the abandoned-vehicle penalty system, and if violations are repeated the 都道府県公安委員会 may order the rider to take 特定小型原動機付自転車 rider training (failure to comply with the order to attend: 5万円以下の罰金). |
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On July 1, 2023 (令和5年7月1日) Japan brought into force the provisions on traffic rules and the like for 「特定小型原動機付自転車」 (specified small motorized bicycles) contained in the 「道路交通法の一部を改正する法律」 (Act partially amending the Road Traffic Act, 令和4年法律第32号). Among motorized bicycles, electric kick scooters and the like that meet the standards set by the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act (length 190cm or less and width 60cm or less; an electric motor with a rated output of 0.60kW or less; incapable of exceeding a speed of 20km/h; the maximum-speed setting cannot be changed while travelling; an AT機構 (automatic transmission mechanism); and a 最高速度表示灯 (maximum-speed indicator lamp) fitted) may now be ridden without holding a driver's license. Not needing a license does not mean that anyone may ride, however: riding by anyone under 16 is prohibited (【罰則】6月以下の拘禁刑又は10万円以下の罰金), and electric kick scooters and the like that do not meet the standards still require a driver's license on and after July 1, 2023, may not be ridden on the sidewalk, and violations are subject to penalties. As for where they may travel, travel on the 車道 (roadway) is the rule (travel on cycle tracks is also possible, and as a rule they must keep to the left edge, with travel on the right prohibited); the sidewalk is an exception, available only to a 「特例特定小型原動機付自転車」 meeting all 5 requirements, only on sidewalks where travel is permitted by road signs and the like, and only along the part of that sidewalk on the roadway side of its centre or the 普通自転車通行指定部分, giving priority to pedestrians. In addition, a duty of effort to wear a helmet, a prohibition on carrying 2 people, a duty to take out compulsory automobile liability insurance (or mutual aid), and a duty to obtain and attach a 標識 (number plate) apply, and the vehicles are subject to the traffic-violation notification system and to the 特定小型原動機付自転車 rider training system.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
Summaries reflect national-level programs. Municipal (city/ward/town) programs may differ — confirm with the official desk before applying.
FAQ
If no driver's license is required, can anyone ride one?
No. A 特定小型原動機付自転車 meeting the standards may be ridden without holding a driver's license, but riding by anyone under 16 is prohibited, and providing one to a person under 16 who is likely to ride it is prohibited as well (【罰則】6月以下の拘禁刑又は10万円以下の罰金). Also, even if it is shaped like an electric kick scooter, a vehicle that does not meet the standards of the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Traffic Act (length 190cm or less and width 60cm or less, an electric motor with a rated output of 0.60kW or less, incapable of exceeding a speed of 20km/h, and so on) is not a 特定小型原動機付自転車, so a driver's license is required, it may not be ridden on the sidewalk, and violations are subject to penalties.
May I ride on the sidewalk?
The rule is travel on the 車道 (roadway). Where there is a division between the roadway and the sidewalk or the 路側帯, you must travel on the 車道 (travel on cycle tracks is also possible), and as a rule you must keep to the left edge, with travel on the right prohibited (【罰則】3月以下の拘禁刑又は5万円以下の罰金等). As an exception, only a 「特例特定小型原動機付自転車」 meeting all 5 requirements may travel on a sidewalk where travel is permitted by road signs and the like, such as a place where the 「普通自転車等及び歩行者等専用」 road sign is installed. Even then you must travel along the part of that sidewalk on the roadway side of its centre or the 普通自転車通行指定部分; pedestrians have priority, and you must make a 一時停止 (temporary stop) when you would obstruct the passage of pedestrians (【罰則】2万円以下の罰金又は科料).
What do I have to do about compulsory liability insurance and the number plate?
For a 特定小型原動機付自転車, taking out compulsory automobile liability insurance (or mutual aid) is a duty. As for the premium, the 警察庁 guidance page says that up to the end of March 2024 (the end of 令和6年3月) the compulsory liability premium for motorized bicycles applies, and that from April of that year a new premium for 特定小型原動機付自転車 is 「予定」 (planned) to apply; that where the new premium turns out to be cheaper than the motorized-bicycle premium, the corresponding difference is 「予定」 (planned) to be refunded on the policyholder's application, apart from some cases; and that as for details, 「現在、金融庁において検討されています」 (they are currently under consideration by the Financial Services Agency) — that is, it is not presented as settled content. The 標識 (number plate) must be obtained by the owner as provided by the ordinances and the like of the 市町村 (including 特別区) and attached in a conspicuous place on the body, and the procedure for obtaining it must be asked about at the municipality.