[Permanent Preservation] How to Register a 50cc-125cc Moped at the City Hall Explained!

If your moped is 50-125cc, you can get a license plate at the city hall.

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50cc motorcycles are called "Class 1 Mopeds" and 125cc motorcycles are called "Class 2 Mopeds." You can obtain license plates for mopeds at your local city or ward office.

Mopeds are officially called "motorized bicycles," and because they are treated as bicycles with an engine, the license plates are issued by the city, town, or village office.

Motorcycles exceeding 125cc are classified as "motorcycles," and to obtain a license plate, you must go to the District Transport Bureau that has jurisdiction over your address.

Mopeds are not only easy to ride for commuting, school, or quick errands, but the advantage is that you can easily obtain a license plate at your local government office.

The city tax division issues moped license plates at city hall.

Moped (Class 1 and 2 Mopeds) license plates can be issued at your local city, town, or village office, but the window for applying for a license plate is the municipal tax division (city tax division).

To apply at the counter, you will need to fill out a "Light Vehicle Tax Declaration and License Plate Issuance Application Form" completely, stamp it, and submit it. You will also need identification, such as a driver's license, to confirm your identity.

In addition to your address, name, and date of birth, you will also need the moped's vehicle name and frame number for the application, so be sure to write down or take a picture of the frame number with your smartphone before applying so you can fill it in.

Depending on how crowded the counter is, you should be able to get your license plate issued in about 20-30 minutes if there are no problems with your application.

Precautions regarding the frame number when applying

Depending on the government office where you apply for a moped license plate, you may be required to provide a "rubbing" of the moped's frame number.

A rubbing is like a proof of existence to verify that the moped actually exists. It involves placing a piece of paper over the engraved frame number and rubbing it with a pencil to transfer the frame number to the paper.

Since it may or may not be required depending on the government office where you apply, it's a good idea to call in advance to confirm whether a rubbing is necessary to avoid a wasted trip.

How to attach a moped license plate

The city hall will issue both the license plate and screws for attaching it, so you will need a Phillips head screwdriver to tighten the screws.

Attaching the license plate is simply a matter of securing it with screws, so even if you're not used to turning screws, you can easily attach it.

First, tighten the screws straight by hand, and once they're somewhat in, use a Phillips head screwdriver to tighten them further for a smooth and secure fit.

However, if you turn the screws with too much force, they may break. So, once the screw reaches the point where it can't go any deeper, it's best to give it a final tighten with about 70% of your strength.

Also, if the screw and screw hole are not perpendicular and the screw goes in crooked, it can also cause the screw to break, so be sure to tighten the screws straight.

How much does it cost to get a moped license plate?

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The cost of obtaining a moped license plate varies depending on whether you apply for it yourself or ask a motorcycle shop to do it.

Cost of applying for a moped license plate yourself

There is no charge for obtaining a moped license plate yourself by going to the city office.

The documents required for a license plate application are: a Light Vehicle Tax Declaration and License Plate Issuance Application Form (available at the counter, or downloadable), a seal (Shachihata seals are not accepted), identification (driver's license, etc.), and a sales certificate (issued by the motorcycle dealer).

It is mandatory to have compulsory automobile liability insurance to ride a motorcycle after obtaining a license plate. If you are caught riding without it, you will face penalties such as license suspension, imprisonment for up to 6 months, or a fine of up to 300,000 yen, so be sure to get insured.

Also, by registering the license plate, you incur the obligation to pay light vehicle tax, and a tax payment notice will be sent to the owner as of April 1st of each year.

The amount of light vehicle tax is 2,000 yen/year for engines 50cc to 90cc, and 2,400 yen/year for engines 90cc to less than 125cc. Another tax on motorcycles, the tonnage tax, does not apply to Class 1 or Class 2 mopeds.

Fees for requesting a moped license plate application from a shop, etc.

The fee for requesting a moped license plate application from a shop (registration agency fee) varies depending on the shop, but the average is around 5,000 to 10,000 yen.

Gathering the necessary documents is the same whether you register yourself or ask a shop. If you can go to the government office yourself, you can get a license plate issued easily and for free, so if you want to save money, it's a good idea to try registering the license plate yourself.

How to obtain a license plate when purchasing from a store

Source: https://car.motor-fan.jp/article/10017678

When you purchase a moped from a shop, they usually complete the license plate acquisition for you before delivery.

Rarely, you might be told to "get the license plate yourself" (often by small, independent shops that also sell bicycles), but most shops will include the license plate acquisition fee in the estimate for the motorcycle itself and delivery costs.

If you want to keep initial costs down, consult with the store

If you want to keep initial costs down, some stores will allow you to obtain the license plate yourself if you consult with them.

In this case, you will need to have the store issue a "sales certificate" for the license plate application, so don't forget to get it before going to the government office.

How to get a license plate if the moped was transferred to you by another person

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If a moped is transferred to you by another person (including gifts or transactions via auctions, etc.), the procedure will vary depending on whether the moped has been deregistered or not.

In the case of a deregistered (no license plate) motorcycle

If the motorcycle has been deregistered (no license plate), you can register it by going to the government office with a transfer certificate, a seal (Shachihata seals are not accepted), and identification (driver's license, passport, etc.).

A transfer certificate is a document that proves that the motorcycle was indeed transferred from the previous owner to the new owner. You can find free templates online, so it's a good idea to use one.

Precautions when receiving a deregistered motorcycle

Deregistration means that the registration of a moped that had a license plate and was being ridden has been cancelled. In the case of a transferred motorcycle, it is common for the "temporary deregistration" procedure to have been completed, allowing it to be ridden again after re-registration.

If it's a temporary deregistration, you can ride it by re-registering it. However, if it's a "permanent deregistration," you won't be able to re-register it and ride it. Therefore, if the motorcycle has been deregistered, confirm that it's not a permanent deregistration before the transfer.

In the case of a motorcycle that has not been deregistered (with a license plate)

If you receive a motorcycle that has not been deregistered and still has a license plate, you will need to change the ownership.

Changing the ownership is a procedure to change the named owner of the motorcycle. You can complete the procedure at the city, town, or village office where you are registered as a resident by bringing the current license plate, the license plate issuance certificate, a transfer certificate, your seal, and your identification.

As a precaution, if you ride the motorcycle without changing the ownership, it can cause problems, such as the light vehicle tax payment notice being sent to the previous owner. Therefore, if you receive a motorcycle, be sure to properly change the ownership.

What if I continue to use my moped after moving?

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If you move across prefectures and continue to ride your motorcycle, you will need to complete deregistration and registration procedures.

The process is to first deregister the motorcycle at the city, town, or village office where you previously resided (temporary deregistration procedure), and then register it at the city, town, or village office of your new address. The documents required for deregistration and registration are as follows:

Required documents for deregistration (at the government office before moving)

The documents required for deregistration before moving are:

• License plate
• License Plate Issuance Certificate (a document similar to a moped's vehicle inspection certificate, stating the owner's name and the moped's specifications)
• Seal (Shachihata seals are not accepted)
• Identification (driver's license, passport, etc.)

After the deregistration procedure is complete, a "Deregistration Certificate" will be issued, which will be required for the registration procedure at the new government office. Keep it safe until the registration procedure is complete.

There are also "temporary deregistration" and "permanent deregistration." If you plan to ride the motorcycle again, you need to go through the "temporary deregistration" procedure.

If you perform a permanent deregistration, you will not be able to obtain a license plate again, and you will not be allowed to ride on public roads, so be careful not to make a mistake in the procedure.

Required documents for registration (at the government office of your new residence)

The documents required for registration at your new residence are:

• Deregistration Certificate
• License Plate Issuance Certificate
• Seal
• Identification

Once the procedure is complete, the license plate will be issued on the spot. You can then attach the license plate to your motorcycle and ride it immediately, but don't forget to get compulsory automobile liability insurance and voluntary insurance.

When you move, you need to submit a change of address notification at the government office. If you also complete the motorcycle registration procedure at the same time, you won't have to visit the government office multiple times, making it easier.

Exceptional cases not covered above

Source: https://www.pakutaso.com/20210416095post-34062.html

Since your local city, town, or village office handles the procedures from moped license plate registration to deregistration, if you have any questions about license plates, it's a good idea to contact the office by phone.

If you don't have a transfer certificate or the owner is unknown, registration can be difficult, but in some cases, relief procedures may be possible. They can also tell you what procedures are necessary in such cases, so it's recommended to consult with them once.

Summary

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Getting a moped license plate is surprisingly simple. You can complete the procedure for free by going to your local city, town, or village office with the necessary documents, identification, and a seal, and the license plate will be issued on the same day.

If the moped was transferred to you by another person or if you moved across prefectures, you will need to complete deregistration and registration procedures, but these are also simple.

If you are not confident with the procedures or don't have time to go to the government office, you can ask a motorcycle shop to obtain the license plate for you, but this will cost several thousand yen to about 10,000 yen. Therefore, you can save money by registering the license plate yourself.