Complete guide
How to get a garage certificate (shako shomei) in Japan
Anyone can get a garage certificate without an agent. Here is the whole process, with the Japanese terms you will see on the forms.
Contents8
What is a garage certificate?
The garage certificate — 車庫証明 (shako shomei), officially 自動車保管場所証明書 — proves that you have a parking space for your car. It is issued by the police under the Garage Act (車庫法). You need it to register a car: when you buy a new or used car, change ownership or change your address.
For foreign residents: the rules are exactly the same as for Japanese citizens. Use the address on your residence card (在留カード) / resident record (住民票) as your "".
When do you need one?
| Situation | Regular car | Kei car (yellow plates) |
|---|---|---|
| Buying a new or used car | Yes, before registration | Notification in some areas (details) |
| Moving house | Yes | In some areas |
| Changing parking space | Yes | In some areas |
| Buying from a private seller | Yes | In some areas |
Documents
| Document | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Application form — 自動車保管場所証明申請書 | At the police station or downloaded from the prefectural police website. If you apply online (OSS), it is replaced by the online input screens. |
| & — 所在図・配置図 | You make them. See location map and layout drawing, or generate both with the tool. |
| Proof of right to use the space | Self-declaration (自認書) if you own the land, consent certificate (承諾書) otherwise (a lease copy is accepted in some prefectures). |
| Proof of place of use | Only if your registered address differs from where you use the car (e.g. utility bill). |
The application asks for the make, model code, chassis number and dimensions of the car. For a new car, ask the dealer (order form / quote); for a used car, read them from the (shaken-sho).
Step by step
- Secure a parking space within 2 km of your home.
- Prepare the documents listed above.
- Apply at the police station that covers the parking space address (weekdays) and pay the application fee.
- On-site check: the police verify that the space exists as described.
- Pick up the certificate (保管場所証明書) on the date given.
- Register the car at the Transport Bureau with the certificate.
What changed in 2025 (no more sticker, online applications)
- The parking sticker (保管場所標章) was abolished on 1 April 2025: no sticker fee, nothing to put on the car.
- With a My Number Card you can apply online through the One Stop Service (OSS). You still attach the location map, layout drawing and consent/self-declaration as files — the drawings from our tool can be saved as PDF.
- Application fees are set by each prefecture and some were revised in April 2026. Check the current amount with your police station.
Cost and timing
- Cost: application fee only, set by each prefecture — in the ¥2,000s (online applications can be cheaper). See fees by prefecture.
- Timing: about 3–7 business days.
- Validity: no legal expiry, but registration offices generally require a certificate issued within about one month.
At the counter you need at least two weekday visits (apply + pick up). With a My Number Card you can apply online (OSS) instead. If neither works for you, a gyoseishoshi can do it for you.
Conditions for the parking space
- Within 2 km in a straight line of your place of use (check it).
- The whole car must fit, with unobstructed access from the street.
- You must have the right to use it (ownership or the owner's consent).
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| No dimensions on the layout drawing | Write width, depth, entrance and street width in metres. |
| No distance on the location map | Mark both points and write the straight-line distance. |
| Expired use period on the | Check it is valid on the application date. |
| Car data differs from the shaken-sho | Check model code and chassis number character by character. |
| The car doesn't fit | Compare the shaken-sho dimensions with your measurements (automatic check). |
Glossary
- 保管場所ほかんばしょ · hokan basho
- The parking space where the car is kept. It must be within 2 km, in a straight line, of the place of use. Guide →
- 自認書じにんしょ · jininsho
- A self-declaration you write yourself when the space is on land or a building that you alone own.Official name：保管場所使用権原疎明書面 Guide →
- 承諾書しょうだくしょ · shodakusho
- Certificate filled in by the owner or management company when the space is on someone else’s land (e.g. monthly parking).Official name：保管場所使用承諾証明書 Guide →
- 配置図はいちず · haichizu
- Drawing of the parking space: its size, the entrance and the width of the street in front. Guide →
- 所在図しょざいず · shozaizu
- Map showing the place of use, the parking space and the straight-line distance between them. Guide →
- 車検証しゃけんしょう · shakensho
- Vehicle inspection certificate: make, model code, chassis number and the car’s length, width and height. For a new car, ask the dealer (order form or quote).Official name：自動車検査証
FAQ
Can a foreigner get a garage certificate in Japan?
Do I need to speak Japanese?
Do I still get a parking sticker?
Can I apply online?
How long does it take?
Can I apply on weekends?
This site explains the general procedure and provides a tool to help you prepare your own documents. Forms, fees and required documents may differ by prefecture, police station or Transport Bureau office. Always check with the office in charge before applying.