The first decision after “I need a car in Japan” is usually kei (軽自動車) or regular. Kei cars wear yellow plates, sit under a legal size and 660 cc cap, and cost less to tax. Regular cars (white or green plates) are simply everything else — Fit, Aqua, Freed, Corolla.
Neither is “better” for every foreigner. It depends on parking, how often you leave town, and whether you will sell locally or export when you leave. KMC JAPAN in Ogori, Fukuoka can source both; start with buying in Fukuoka as a foreigner.
The rules in one table
| Kei (軽) | Regular | |
|---|---|---|
| Plates | Yellow (private) | White (private) |
| Size cap (current) | About 3.4 × 1.48 × 2.0 m, 660 cc | No kei cap |
| Tax / 自賠責 | Usually lower | Higher, scales with engine size |
| Parking paper | Often a notification (届出); some cities still require it | Usually a full 車庫証明 |
| Highway / typhoon | Noisy, more wind wander | Calmer at 80–100 km/h |
| Resale in Japan | Very easy for N-BOX, Tanto, Spacia | Easy for Aqua, Fit, Freed |
Draft parking forms on kmcjapan.org. Guide: How to get a parking certificate. Confirm kei vs regular rules with your city hall and police station.
Choose kei if you…
- Park on a slope or in a one-car closet (Sasebo, older Fukuoka nagaya, apartment mechanical parking with a width limit)
- Mostly do school, grocery, and base–city loops
- Want the lowest tax while you are here two or three years
- Like sliding doors (N-BOX, Tanto, Spacia)
Model ideas: best cheap used cars for foreigners (kei section).
Choose regular if you…
- Drive Hakata–Sasebo, airport runs, or Kyushu road trips often
- Want a hybrid (Aqua, Prius, Sienta) for fuel more than kei tax savings
- Need ISOFIX plus luggage that is not Tetris
- Might export the car home — destination countries sometimes treat kei as too small or as a special category
Navy families around CFA Sasebo: 10 affordable family cars mixes both classes.
SOFA / base plates
If you register through a US base PMV office, kei vs regular is still a vehicle choice, but the paperwork is not the Japanese 車検証 path. Follow the current handout from your command. KMC is a civilian dealer/exporter, not a Navy vendor.
Cost trap foreigners miss
A ¥200,000 regular car with shaken due next month is not cheaper than a ¥450,000 kei with 18 months left. Add optional insurance: some insurers rate kei lower, but a clean Aqua can be inexpensive too. Get both quotes before you fall in love with yellow plates.
Our usual advice
City + short stay + tight parking → kei. Highway + kids + possible export → compact regular. If you are unsure, tell us your garage width, weekly km, and visa length — we will shortlist both.
This is practical comparison, not legal or tax advice.
