THE MOTOR INDUSTRY OF JAPAN 2019

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● SIGNIFICANCE OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION DATA & NUMBER PLATE TYPES● CLASSIFICATION OF MOTORCYCLES● CLASSIFICATION UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 　 (for driver’s license issuance)Classifications According to the Road Vehicles Act and the Road Traffic ActJapan classifies motor vehicles according to the provisions of two basic laws: the Road Vehicles Act and the Road Traffic Act. Road Vehicles Act classifications are used for registration statistics, vehicle inspection, and related maintenance and repair, while Road Traffic Act classifications determine the different categories of driver’s licenses. Vehicle registration number/character combinations are determined by vehicle type and usage in accordance with Road Vehicles Act designations. “Vanity” number plates are obtainable nationwide, as are specially designed number plates commemorating the Japan-held 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and illustrated vanity plates are obtainable in designated regions.Vehicle-Based SystemsMotor Vehicle ClassificationUsage DesignationsSource: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism品川 500さ 23－45Large-Sized Number PlatesLarger-than-standard-size plates are issued to vehicles weighing 8 tons or more, with payload of 5 tons or more, or 30-person or more occupancy.Mid-Sized Number PlatesStandard-size plates are issued to standard and small vehicles and mini-vehicles with engine capacity of more than 360cc, whether for private or commercial business use. Small-Sized Number PlatesSmall-size plates are issued to small- and mini-sized motorcycles and mini-vehicles with engine capacity of 360cc or less, excluding those designated with any one of the 40-to-49, 50-to-59 or 80-to-89 number categories.22cmx44cm16.5cmx33cm12.5cmx23cmOrdinary and large motor vehiclesPrivate useCommercial business useRental vehicleForeign military vehicle Mini-vehiclesPrivate useCommercial business useRental vehicleForeign military vehicleHiragana character indicates vehicle usage category: private, commercial business, rental or foreign military vehicle (private or official).Number Plate ColorsGreen characters on white backgroundWhite characters on green backgroundBlack characters on yellow backgroundYellow characters on black backgroundOrdinary and large motor vehiclesPrivate use or rental vehicleCommercial business useMini-vehiclesPrivate use or rental vehicleCommercial business useNumber Assignment From “1” to “99-99” Designated Number CategoriesIndicating Vehicle TypeOrdinary trucksOrdinary busesOrdinary passenger carsThree- or four-wheeled small trucksThree- or four-wheeled small passenger cars and small busesSpecial-purpose vehiclesLarge special-purpose vehiclesLarge special-purpose vehicles used as construction machineryさすせそたちつてとなにぬねのはひふほまみむめもやゆらりるろあいうえかきくけこをわれEHKMTYよあいうえかきくけこさすせそたちつてとなにぬねのはひふほまみむめもやゆよらるろをりれわAB1, 10-19, 100-199, 10A-19Z, 1A0-1Z9, 1AA-1ZZ2, 20-29, 200-299, 20A-29Z, 2A0-2Z9, 2AA-2ZZ3, 30-39, 300-399, 30A-39Z, 3A0-3Z9, 3AA-3ZZ4, 40-49, 400-499, 40A-49Z, 4A0-4Z9, 4AA-4ZZ 6, 60-69, 600-699, 60A-69Z, 6A0-6Z9, 6AA-6ZZ5, 50-59, 500-599, 50A-59Z, 5A0-5Z9, 5AA-5ZZ 7, 70-79, 700-799, 70A-79Z, 7A0-7Z9, 7AA-7ZZ8, 80-89, 800-899, 80A-89Z, 8A0-8Z9, 8AA-8ZZ9, 90-99, 900-999, 90A-99Z, 9A0-9Z9, 9AA-9ZZ0, 00-09, 000-099, 00A-09Z, 0A0-0Z9, 0AA-0ZZMotor Vehicle Registry Designation: Kanji indicate geographical area of vehicle registration.Road Vehicles ActCategorySmall-sizedMini-sizedMotor-driven cycle Class 2Motor-driven cycle Class 1Engine CapacityOver 250cc126cc to 250cc51cc to125cc50cc andunderRated OutputOver 1.0kWOver 1.0kWOver 0.6kWto 1.0kW0.6kW andunderLengthOver 2.5m2.5m and under2.5m and under2.5m and underHeightOver 2.0m2.0m and under2.0m and under2.0m and underWidthOver 1.3m1.3m and under1.3m and under1.3m and under Road Traffic ActEngine CapacityOver 400cc51cc to400cc50cc andunderCategoryLargeOrdinaryMotorized bicycleQuasi-Middle CategoryGross vehicle weight: 3.5≤tons<7.5Payload: 2≤tons<4.5Middle CategoryGross vehicle weight: 7.5≤tons<11Payload: 4.5≤tons<6.5or Occupancy: 11≤persons<30Large/Small Special-Purpose Motor VehiclesMotor vehicles with caterpillar treads such as bulldozers, steamrollers, graders, snowplows, tractors, etc. Small special-purpose motor vehicles are those of up to 15km/h in maximum speed, up to 4.7m in length, up to 2m in height,* and up to 1.7m in width.LargeGross vehicle weight: ≥11 tonsPayload: ≥6.5 tonsor Occupancy: ≥30 personsOrdinaryMotor vehicles that do not meet the classification requirements for large, middle category, quasi-middle category or large/small special-purpose motor vehicles, or for large or ordinary motorcycles.Note: A motorcycle that exceeds any one of the requisites above is classified in the higher category.Note: A vehicle that exceeds any one of the requisites above is classified in the higher category.*Projections on small special-purpose vehicles should not exceed 2.8m.● CLASSIFICATION UNDER　 THE ROAD VEHICLES ACT　 (for registration, inspection, etc.)StandardOver 2,000cc in engine capacity, excluding diesel enginesOver 4.7mOver 1.7mOver2mSmallOver 660cc to 2,000cc in engine capacity, excluding diesel enginesOver 1.48m to 1.7m2m andunderOver 3.4m to 4.7mMini660cc and under in engine capacity1.48m and under2m andunder3.4m and under47