Points and fines · Updated September 2026

Japan's traffic points system and fines, explained in English

Japan counts points up, not down. Every violation and accident adds points, and your total over the past three years decides whether your licence is suspended or revoked. Minor violations also carry a fixed fine; serious ones go to court. The figures below are Tokyo's (Keishicho) published tables, for ordinary cars.

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Short answer: with a clean record, 6 points within three years means a 30-day suspension and 15 points means revocation. Holding a phone while driving is 3 points and ¥18,000; running a red light is 2 points and ¥9,000.

How points add up

Points accumulate over the three years before your most recent violation or accident.
Accidents add more on top of the violation's points: 2 to 20 points depending on the injuries and how much you were at fault. Leaving an injured person (hit-and-run) adds 35 points; leaving after damaging property adds 5.
A clean year resets the count. If you go one year with no accident, violation or suspension, earlier points stop counting. And if you had two clean years, a single 1 to 3 point violation followed by three clean months is not added up either. The record itself stays on file.

When you are suspended or lose your licence

No previous suspension	6 to 8 points: 30-day suspension. 9 to 11: 60 days. 12 to 14: 90 days. 15 or more: revocation (at least 1 year before you can apply again).
One previous suspension	4 or 5 points: 60 days. 6 or 7: 90 days. 8 or 9: 120 days. 10 or more: revocation.
Two previous suspensions	2 points: 90 days. 3: 120 days. 4: 150 days. 5 or more: revocation.

"Previous suspension" means an administrative suspension or revocation in the last three years. Suspensions come with a lecture at Fuchu or Samezu: short (up to 39 days), medium (40 to 89) or long (90 to 180). A good score on the lecture's test shortens the suspension. If you do not understand Japanese, bring someone who can interpret, though they cannot help during the test.

Points and fines for common violations (ordinary cars)

Speeding, under 15 km/h over	1 point, ¥9,000
Speeding, 15 to 20 km/h over	1 point, ¥12,000
Speeding, 20 to 25 km/h over	2 points, ¥15,000
Speeding, 25 to 30 km/h over	3 points, ¥18,000
Speeding, 30 km/h or more over (40 on expressways)	6 points (12 at 50 km/h or more over), no fixed fine: a criminal case
Holding a phone while driving	3 points, ¥18,000. If it causes danger: 6 points and a criminal case.
Red light	2 points, ¥9,000 (flashing signal: 2 points, ¥7,000)
Not stopping at a stop sign	2 points, ¥7,000
Obstructing a pedestrian at a crossing	2 points, ¥9,000
Not stopping at a railway crossing	2 points, ¥9,000
Unattended car in a no-stopping zone	3 points, ¥18,000 (no-parking zone: 2 points, ¥15,000)
Not wearing a seatbelt	1 point
Beginner mark not displayed	1 point, ¥4,000
Not carrying your licence	No points, ¥3,000
Driving under the influence	13 points (breath alcohol under 0.25 mg/l), 25 points (0.25 or more), 35 points (drunk driving)
Driving without a licence	25 points

Blue ticket or red ticket

Minor violations get a blue ticket (反則切符): pay the fixed fine by the deadline and the matter ends there. Serious violations, such as the higher speeding bands, get a red ticket (交通切符) and go through a summary court procedure: in Tokyo you report on the date given to the traffic enforcement branch at Sumida or Tachikawa, and the process, including paying the court fine, takes about two hours. Summary fines can be up to ¥1,000,000. Suspensions and revocations are separate: they are notified by the licence headquarters of the prefecture where you live.

New drivers

In your first year after getting a licence, 3 points (4 if a single violation is worth 3) sends you on a compulsory novice driver course, and more points after that means a re-examination. See the beginner driver mark and your first year.

Frequently asked questions

How many points before my licence is suspended in Japan?

With no suspension in the last three years, 6 points within three years means a 30-day suspension, and 15 or more means revocation. With previous suspensions the thresholds are lower.

Do points expire in Japan?

Points count over three years from your latest violation, and a full year with no accident, violation or suspension stops earlier points from counting. The record itself stays on file.

What is the fine for using a phone while driving in Japan?

For an ordinary car, holding a phone while driving is 3 points and a ¥18,000 fine. If it causes danger, it is 6 points and a criminal case.

What is the fine for speeding in Japan?

For an ordinary car: under 15 km/h over is ¥9,000 and 1 point; 25 to 30 km/h over is ¥18,000 and 3 points. From 30 km/h over (40 on expressways) it becomes a criminal case with 6 or more points.

What is the difference between a blue ticket and a red ticket?

A blue ticket is for minor violations: you pay a fixed fine and it ends there. A red ticket is for serious violations and goes to a summary court procedure with a court fine.

Is not wearing a seatbelt a fine in Japan?

It is 1 point for the driver. It is not on Keishicho's list of fixed fines.

Related guides

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This page was last checked in September 2026 against the Tokyo Metropolitan Police (Keishicho) pages on the points system, the administrative penalty thresholds, accident points, the list of violation points, the table of fixed fines and the procedure after a traffic stop. Rules, fees and formats are set prefecture by prefecture and change with little notice, so always confirm the current requirements with your local licence centre before you book. Independent study material; not affiliated with any prefectural police, licence centre or driving school.