Motor-vehicle inspection (Japan)

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the Japanese Wikipedia.

Shaken (車検^?), a contraction of Jidōsha Kensa Tōrokuseido (自動車検査登録制度^?, "automobile inspection registration system"), is the name of the vehicle inspection program in Japan for motor vehicles over 250 cc in engine displacement.

Reason for existence

The inspection system is in place to ensure that vehicles on Japanese roads are properly maintained and are safe to be on the road. Another reason is to determine if a vehicle has been illegally modified. Illegally modified vehicles and vehicles deemed unsafe by police will have a red sticker with the following: fuseikaizousha (不正改造車^?) (Illegal Vehicle) in yellow and the date the vehicle was declared not fit to be on the street.

Registration and Cost

Before a test can be administered on a vehicle the owner of the vehicle must call up a shaken center and make an appointment by phone after which the owner must fill out paper work at the center. The cost for the shaken is broken up as follows:

• ¥1,400 for paperwork and processing,
• ¥25,200 for the testing,
• ¥29,780 for 24 months of validity and
• ¥8,090 for the "Recycling Department" with fees being added depending on the vehicle and its intended use (business, personal, commercial, etc.).

A typical shaken costs between ¥100,000 and ¥200,000.^[1]

If the vehicle is in good condition with no mechanical problems, the shaken costs about ¥60,000 for kei cars and includes 2 years of compulsory auto insurance. The higher costs quoted above are for regular automobiles, and the prices increases when the car requires repair or when extra fees are paid to third party companies to take the car in for the inspection.^{[citation needed]}

Renewal periods

An initial inspection occurs at the vehicle's first registration and renewal inspections must then take place at prescribed intervals thereafter.^[2]

• Personal cars and 2 wheeled motorcycles have the first shaken last 3 years with every 2 years requiring a new shaken.
• Personal light trucks they must have a shaken done every 2 years.
• Personal trucks have the first shaken last 2 years with every year requiring a new shaken.
• Business cars require a shaken every year.
• Special vehicles require a shaken every 2 years.

Vehicles with engine displacement under 250 cc (15 cu in) are exempt and therefore not required to undergo an inspection.^{[citation needed]} Vehicles are classified by both displacement and the vehicle size class.

Testing process

The process of the shaken involves these steps:

1. An exterior inspection to ensure the vehicle meets Japanese exterior regulations and does not have illegal exterior modifications such as extreme^[vague] body kits.
2. A wheel alignment inspection to ensure the vehicle has its wheels in-line and can turn correctly.
3. A speedometer inspection to ensure the vehicle's speedometer is accurate.
4. A headlamp inspection to ensure that the vehicle's headlights are correctly placed and aligned.
5. A brake inspection to ensure the brakes work correctly.
6. An exhaust gas/muffler inspection which includes testing carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions along with exhaust noise levels.
7. An undercarriage inspection which includes looking at suspension parts.

Should a car not meet any of the tests it will have to be repaired and retested before passing.

Requirements

Exterior

• Tailpipes: Tailpipes are not allowed to protrude past the car's body however tailpipes that are built into the side of the vehicle are allowed.
• Body kits/Aero parts: Aerodynamic mirrors, windage trays under the tail section of the car and body kits using front bumper scoops are allowed. However all aerodynamic parts must fit and be molded correctly so they are flush with the car's body.
• Fenders and Overfenders: All fenders and overfenders (including widebody style-kits) must not inhibit the turning of the car's wheels (which must be able to turn 30 degrees inward and 50 degrees outward).
• Spoilers: All spoilers (aftermarket or OEM) must not be wider than the car's rear and must be bolted to the car's trunk.
• Lamps and reflectors: Front, side, and rear turn signals; brake lights, front and rear position lights, hazard warning lights, rear reflectors, low and high beam headlamps are all required. Sidemarker reflectors and lights and fog and driving lamps are permitted. All devices must function correctly and emit or reflect the required colours of light.
• Windows: No tint can be present on driver and passenger side windows however commercial UV window blocker is allowed. Lexan windows are not allowed unless they are approved via a case by case basis. Stickers/banners on the front windshield and rear glass are not allowed. etching on the windows, with the exception of VIN information, is not allowed.

Speedometer

The speedometer of the car is tested by driving up on to a dynamometer. The vehicle will be accelerated to 40 km/h twice and the vehicle's speedometer reading will be recorded; should the reading be different, it will not pass.^{[citation needed]}

Headlamps

All headlamps must be an approved type, designed for left-hand traffic, emit white or yellow light, and be aimed correctly.^{[citation needed]}

Exhaust and Emissions

Cars under 10 years old may emit not more than 1% carbon monoxide, and not more than 300ppm unburned hydrocarbons.^{[dubious – discuss]} Cars older than 10 years may emit up to 4.5% carbon monoxide and up to 1200ppm unburned hydrocarbons.^{[dubious – discuss]} This emission standard is laid out in the Japanese Emission Standard legislation.^{[citation needed]} High flow catalytic converters are allowed.^{[citation needed]} All oxygen sensors must be in working order along with any oil catch tanks.^{[citation needed]} Exhaust noise is tested at a 45-degree angle, 50 centimetres (20 inches) from the tailpipe outlet^{[citation needed]}. Vehicles up to 10 years old may emit not more than 96 decibels; older vehicles are allowed 103 dB.^{[citation needed]}

Suspension

All bushings must not be broken or in bad condition. All control arms must be in working order. There can be no rust/corrosion on springs, struts or other suspension components. If the car has 4 wheel steering it must be working. The vehicle must also meet minimum height requirements which will be checked by referencing the lowest part of the vehicle (not including the suspension components). For vehicles with 200–249 cm wheelbase they must be 8 cm off the ground and vehicles with 250–299 cm wheelbase they must be 9 cm off the ground. For all other vehicles for every 50 cm over 299 cm in wheelbase add .5 cm to the minimum height and for vehicles under 200 cm in wheelbase subtract .5 cm to the minimum height.

Interior

General interior equipment must be still intact (i.e.: dash). Roll cages (must have padding around bars) and carpet removal are allowed. Bucket seats must measure 420 mm from left to right bank but can not be over 450 mm from left exterior side to right exterior side (total width of seat). Aftermarket seats made of fiber-reinforced plastic are not allowed. Any holes or rips in seats must either be taped up or repaired.

Older vehicles

As vehicles get older, maintaining them to the required standards can become expensive. Most Japanese do not get involved in mechanical repairs, and as a result, mechanics can charge high prices.^{[citation needed]} Vehicles which cannot pass inspection are not permitted on public roads. Unwanted vehicles must be exported or destroyed and recycled. Many Japanese used vehicles are exported once it is no longer cost-effective to keep them in service in Japan.

See also

• Vehicle inspection
• MOT test (UK)
• National Car Test (Republic of Ireland)
• Warrant of Fitness (New Zealand)

References

1. ^ "Driving in Japan". Japan-guide.com. 2010-04-30. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2022.html. Retrieved 2011-09-05. 
2. ^ "National Agency of Vehicle Inspection, Japan:Category of Vehicle Inspection". Navi.go.jp. http://www.navi.go.jp/english/inspection/category.html. Retrieved 2011-09-05. 

External links

• Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization
• National Agency of Vehicle Inspection (Japanese & English)
• Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Guide (Japanese)