[Comprehensive Guide] Registering a motorcycle without a license plate or documents! Can you re-issue the documents yourself?

What is a motorcycle without documents?

A motorcycle without documents refers to a motorcycle lacking documents such as a vehicle inspection certificate or a license plate issuance certificate (which varies depending on engine displacement). Without these documents, a license plate cannot be issued, and the motorcycle cannot be ridden on public roads.
The documents required to obtain a license plate differ depending on the engine displacement: for displacements of 125cc or less, it's a "license plate issuance certificate"; for 126cc to 250cc, it's a "light vehicle notification certificate"; and for 251cc or more, it's a "vehicle inspection certificate (車検証)."

Motorcycles listed as "no documents" on sites like Yahoo Auctions cannot have a license plate issued as is. Caution is advised when considering purchasing such a motorcycle, unless it's for parts.
Reissuing documents for a motorcycle without them can cost anywhere from 50,000 yen to a maximum of 300,000 yen if you request it from a specialized dealer.

To obtain a license plate for a motorcycle that has been scrapped or held as a collection item and never registered, it is necessary to re-issue the documents (document generation). In the case of a scrapped motorcycle, the certificate issued at the time of scrapping is required.

A quick review of scrapping a vehicle

While many may imagine scrapping a vehicle to mean crushing it, it actually refers to the procedure for deregistering a motorcycle. Documents such as the vehicle inspection certificate and license plate issuance certificate are also required when performing the deregistration procedure.

There are two types of deregistration: "temporary deregistration" and "permanent deregistration," and a motorcycle is only considered deregistered after completing the procedure. Even if a motorcycle is scrapped at a scrap yard without going through the deregistration process, it will still be considered to exist on paper, and tax payment notices will continue to be sent, so caution is advised.
"Temporary deregistration" is a procedure performed when you won't be riding the motorcycle for a period or when transferring it to another person; generally, "scrapping" refers to temporary deregistration.

Since motorcycle registration is based on the frame number, even if only the frame remains due to an accident, a temporary deregistration procedure is performed if there is a possibility of riding on public roads later.
"Permanent deregistration" is the deregistration procedure performed when the motorcycle will never be ridden on public roads again, such as when it is scrapped. This deregistration process, which makes it impossible to re-register the motorcycle, is called permanent deregistration.
When deregistration is completed, a certificate of deregistration (e.g., cancellation registration certificate) is issued. In the case of temporary deregistration, this document is necessary when re-registering the motorcycle.

Can you generate motorcycle documents yourself?

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You can generate motorcycle documents if the motorcycle was deregistered through temporary deregistration and you have the deregistration certificate, such as the cancellation registration certificate.
If the deregistration certificate is lost, the motorcycle cannot be re-registered, so you will need to re-issue the deregistration certificate. However, it is difficult to complete this procedure yourself.
What should you do if you lose the deregistration certificate?

If the deregistration certificate is missing due to loss, etc.

If the deregistration certificate is missing due to loss or other reasons, it is common to ask a specialist company that handles document generation.
In the past, it was almost impossible to re-issue documents for motorcycles that had never been registered, or for motorcycles whose vehicle inspection certificates or deregistration certificates issued at the time of scrapping had been lost.
Currently, there are specialized companies that can generate and re-issue documents, so if you have lost your deregistration certificate, it is advisable to ask a specialist company.
The cost varies depending on the motorcycle model and condition, ranging from 50,000 yen to 300,000 yen.

Stolen vehicles cannot be registered.

Since the motorcycle will be investigated to see if it is stolen during re-registration, stolen or illegally acquired motorcycles cannot be re-registered.
If a motorcycle transferred through an auction turns out to be stolen, it cannot be re-registered even through a dealer, making it impossible to ride on public roads.

Next, we will explain the re-issuance procedure for lost documents such as the vehicle inspection certificate (document name varies depending on engine displacement).

If you don't have or have lost your vehicle inspection certificate (light vehicle registration certificate, license plate issuance certificate)

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To ride a motorcycle on public roads, you need documents such as a vehicle inspection certificate or a license plate issuance certificate (which varies depending on engine displacement).
If you lose them, you won't be able to get a vehicle inspection for motorcycles that require one, nor can you transfer ownership when selling a motorcycle without documents.
Here, we explain the re-issuance procedure for lost documents such as the vehicle inspection certificate.
The document names vary by engine displacement: for 125cc or less, it's a "license plate issuance certificate"; for 126cc to 250cc, it's a "light vehicle notification certificate"; and for 251cc or more, it's a "vehicle inspection certificate (車検証)."

Motorcycles with an engine displacement of 125cc or less

The document for motorcycles with an engine displacement of 125cc or less is the "license plate issuance certificate."
The re-issuance of a license plate issuance certificate is handled by the municipal office that manages license plates. Some branch offices may also accept applications, so it's a good idea to check your local government's website.
The municipal office with jurisdiction over your motorcycle is indicated by the city/town/village name on your license plate.
Bring your license plate, identification such as your driver's license, and your seal (no Shachihata allowed) to the municipal office counter and request the re-issuance procedure. Once you have completed the necessary documents and they have been accepted, your license plate issuance certificate will be re-issued.
The re-issuance fee is free if it was stolen, but a compensation fee may apply if it was lost (this varies by municipality).

Motorcycles with an engine displacement between 125cc and 250cc

The "Light Vehicle Registration Certificate" is a document required for motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 125cc and up to 250cc. Although it's called a "light vehicle," motorcycles in this displacement category are classified as light motorcycles, and thus are different from four-wheeled light vehicles.
Re-issuance is done at the transport branch office or motor vehicle inspection and registration office that has jurisdiction over the area listed on the license plate.
Documents required for re-issuance of the Light Vehicle Registration Certificate include the compulsory insurance certificate, a seal (Shachihata not allowed), and identification documents such as a driver's license. The re-issuance fee is free.
At the transport branch office, fill out the "Application for Issuance of Light Vehicle Registration Certificate" and "Notification of Loss of Light Vehicle Registration Certificate," submit them, and once accepted, they will be re-issued on the same day.
The re-issuance fee is free.

Motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 250cc (e.g., 400cc)

The document for motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 250cc is the "vehicle inspection certificate (車検証)." Re-issuance is handled at the relevant transport branch office or motor vehicle inspection and registration office.
Necessary documents for the vehicle inspection certificate include a "Reason for Re-issuance" form with a seal (Shachihata not allowed). If a motorcycle shop or other agent is handling the re-issuance procedure on your behalf, a power of attorney is required.
Fill out the vehicle inspection certificate re-issuance application form available at the transport branch office, attach 300 yen worth of stamps to the fee payment slip, and submit it to the counter. Once accepted, it will be re-issued on the same day.
The required fee is 300 yen for the stamps.

If you lose your compulsory automobile liability insurance certificate

If you lose your compulsory automobile liability insurance certificate, it can be re-issued.
Re-issuance is done at the counter of the compulsory insurance company you are enrolled with, or by contacting the insurance company to start the re-issuance procedure.
The compulsory automobile liability insurance certificate is a document that must always be carried when riding a motorcycle. Failure to carry it is stipulated by the Automobile Liability Security Act to be punishable by a fine of up to 300,000 yen. It is such an important document, so always carry it when riding and promptly follow the re-issuance procedure if it is lost.
If you don't know which insurance company you are enrolled with, you can contact the motorcycle shop where you purchased the bike to confirm.

If the license plate is missing or lost

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If a motorcycle's license plate is missing or lost, the procedure and necessary documents for re-issuance vary depending on the engine displacement category, similar to document re-issuance.
If it's lost due to theft or other reasons, you must first report the lost license plate to the nearest police station.
Once the loss is reported to the police station, a "reception number" necessary for license plate re-issuance will be issued.
Also, you can request an administrative scrivener to handle the re-issuance procedure on your behalf, with costs ranging from several thousand yen to about 20,000 yen. If you don't have time to handle the license plate re-issuance procedure yourself or feel uneasy about it, it might be a good idea to consider hiring one.

Motorcycles with an engine displacement of 125cc or less

The re-issuance of a license plate for a motorcycle with an engine displacement of 125cc or less is carried out at the municipal office.
Fill out the necessary documents for license plate re-issuance and submit them to the counter to complete the re-issuance procedure.
The necessary documents require the reception number issued after reporting the loss to the police station, so first obtain the reception number from the police station.

Motorcycles with an engine displacement between 125cc and 250cc

The re-issuance of a license plate for a motorcycle with an engine displacement exceeding 125cc and up to 250cc is carried out at the relevant transport branch office.
The necessary documents for re-issuance include the Light Vehicle Registration Certificate Application Form and Light Vehicle Tax Declaration Form (provided by the Land Transport Bureau), Light Vehicle Registration Certificate, a statement of reasons, compulsory insurance certificate, and a seal (Shachihata not allowed).
The statement of reasons is a document that explains why the license plate needs to be re-issued. In addition to the explanation of reasons, it also requires the name of the police station where the report was filed, the date of the report, and the reception number.
If a license plate is lost, it is necessary to first report it to the police station, so complete this before going to the Land Transport Bureau. The cost for re-issuance is around several hundred yen.

Motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 250cc (e.g., 400cc)

Re-issuance of license plates for motorcycles with an engine displacement exceeding 250cc, such as 400cc or larger motorcycles, is also carried out at the Land Transport Bureau.
Necessary documents include the re-issuance application form and fee payment slip available at the Land Transport Bureau, the automobile tax declaration form (issued by the Land Transport Bureau), the vehicle inspection certificate, a statement of reasons, and a seal (Shachihata not allowed).
The statement of reasons needs to include not only the reason for license plate re-issuance but also the name of the police station where the loss was reported, the date of the report, and the reception number issued when the report was made.
The cost for re-issuance is around several hundred yen.

Summary

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When re-registering a motorcycle that has undergone temporary deregistration (scrapping), or when registering a motorcycle that has never been registered before and obtaining a license plate, it is necessary to generate the vehicle inspection certificate (which varies by engine displacement) and other documents (re-issuance of documents).
Document generation requires a certificate issued for temporary deregistration (e.g., cancellation registration certificate). If the certificate is not available, document generation cannot be performed.
If the certificate is not available, it is difficult to generate documents yourself, so it is common to ask a specialized company.
Even with a specialized company, documents cannot be generated for stolen motorcycles.
The procedure for re-issuing documents such as vehicle inspection certificates and license plates varies depending on the motorcycle's engine displacement, and re-issuance costs around several hundred yen.
If you find it difficult to handle the re-issuance procedure yourself, you can ask an administrative scrivener to do it for you for around several thousand to 20,000 yen, so you should consider using their services depending on the situation.