If you register a car in Japan, the transport office often asks for proof that a parking place (保管場所) is secured. That proof is the parking-location certificate — 自動車保管場所証明書, commonly called 車庫証明 (shako shomei).

KMC JAPAN exports vehicles from Japan through kmcjapan.co.jp. When you (or your company) need to register a car inside Japan, you still apply for 車庫証明 at the police station. You can draft the official-style application pack in our member portal at kmcjapan.org.

What a parking certificate is

The certificate is issued by the prefectural police, not by the exporter and not by the portal. It confirms that:

  • You have a parking place you may legally use
  • The place is close enough to the vehicle’s registered base (使用の本拠)
  • The stall is large enough for the vehicle and can be entered from the road

Without it, new registration, a name change, or a move to another jurisdiction can be delayed. Always follow the latest instructions of the police station that has jurisdiction over the parking place.

A4 landscape parking-certificate application documents on a desk
Typical pack: two application copies, a location map and layout diagram, plus a self-certification or usage-consent sheet.

Who usually needs it

Most passenger-car registrations in Japan require 車庫証明. It is especially relevant if you:

  • Buy a used car at auction or from a dealer and register it in your name
  • Import a vehicle and then register it for use on Japanese roads
  • Move house or change the parking place listed on the registration
  • Register a company car at an office address

Some light vehicles (軽自動車) use a different notification (保管場所届出) instead of a full certificate. Rules differ by municipality — confirm locally.

The 2 km rule and the one-month window

As a rule of thumb, the parking place should be within about 2 km of the registered base (home or office). If the base and the stall are the same point, the location map can often be omitted.

The certificate is typically valid only if it was issued within about one month before the registration application. Do not apply too early.

Map with pins for the registered base and the parking place
Pin the parking place (required) and the base, then record the straight-line distance on the location diagram.

Papers the police usually ask for

Exact attachments vary, but most stations expect a pack based on the National Police Agency unified form (Form No. 1 / 別記様式第１号), including:

  1. Application for a parking-location certificate — two copies (① and ②)
  2. Location map and layout diagram (所在図・配置図) — A4 landscape
  3. Proof you may use the place — self-certification (自認書) if you own it, or a usage-consent certificate (使用承諾証明書) if it is leased or shared
  4. Your seal (印鑑) or signature, ID, and any extra sheets the station lists (for example a copy of the rental contract)

Fees (保管場所証明申請手数料 and the mark fee) are set by the prefecture. Bring cash as instructed on the station’s notice.

How to apply at the police station

  1. Identify the police station that covers the parking address (not always the station nearest your home).
  2. Fill the forms in Japanese — that is the language of the filed documents.
  3. Submit the pack at the traffic/parking counter, pay the fee, and keep the receipt.
  4. Collect the certificate after the review period (often a few weekdays; some stations offer a mailbox return).
  5. Take the certificate to the transport branch (運輸支局) with the rest of the registration file.
Submitting parking-certificate papers at a Japanese police station counter
File at the station that has jurisdiction over the parking place, then use the issued certificate at the transport office.

Prepare the application pack on kmcjapan.org

You do not need to draw the maps by hand. The KMC JAPAN member portal on kmcjapan.org includes a parking-certificate workflow:

  • Fill applicant, vehicle, and police-station fields
  • Drop map pins for the base and the parking place (about 2 km guideline)
  • Build the layout diagram (stall size, road width, neighbouring buildings)
  • Print A4 landscape or download PDF — form body stays in Japanese for filing

Create a free account, then open the tool:

Create a free portal account Parking certificates (sign in)

A longer product overview is on the portal blog: Create Japan parking-location certificates in the member portal.

The portal helps you draft and print. It does not replace the police review, and it is not legal advice.

Buying a car from Japan for export

If your car is leaving Japan rather than being registered for domestic use, you generally do not file 車庫証明 for overseas delivery. For auction sourcing, yard handling, and RoRo/container shipping, start on kmcjapan.co.jp or contact our export desk.

Please note

Prefectures update forms, fees, and counter hours. Confirm the current checklist with the police station before you travel. Certificates are typically needed within about one month of the registration filing date.