🇯🇵 Japan · Editorial Q&A
Do I need JAF or AAA membership to rent a car in Japan?
Question
I am visiting Japan for a road trip around Hokkaido. Several travel forums mention JAF — is it required, or just nice to have?
Answer · Drive This World Editorial · reviewed 2026-05-02
JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) is not required to rent a car as a foreign visitor. The actual paperwork the rental desk needs is:
- Your home driving license plus an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. (Japan does not accept IDPs issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention — most European countries.)
- Passport.
- A credit card in your name.
JAF membership is useful for: roadside assistance (Japan's equivalent of AAA tow service) and the JAF discount on toll roads / parking. Most major rental companies (Toyota Rent-a-Car, Nissan, Times Car Rental) include 24-hour roadside assistance in the rental price, so JAF is a nice-to-have, not a must.
Special note for licenses from non-Geneva-signatory countries (Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan): you cannot rent in Japan with an IDP — you need an official Japanese translation of your license, which JAF provides for ~¥4,000 and a few business days.