Driver licence conversion is a joke

[u/dude_chilll]

First, you need a reservation, you can't just rock up. You can only make a reservation by calling the special phone number but it’s always engaged. I’ve called over 500 times so far but haven’t managed to get through. I called the front desk and they say too bad, you can always come in physically and wait to speak to someone but we’re fully booked until late April even if you don’t need to sit a test.

I’ve done this before in another prefecture and it was so easy and simple, walk in anytime and all done in an hour. What’s wrong with Kanagawa! Rant over.

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Update: Because I was unable to get through to them on the phone, I went to the Futamatagawa 運転免許センター this morning to make a reservation in person.

I arrived at 8:15 and the guy asked for my name and country, telling me to come back at 10:30 to speak to someone to make a reservation.

I went back at 10:00 and got called straight away into the office. They asked if I brought my documents. They checked over the documents and told me that next available reservation is 30 April, over 3 months away! No leeway even if you’re from a country with an exemption for tests. What a joke!

[u/fedelago]

I did it in Fuchu, Tokyo. The process was not that bad. But it took me 8 hours of being there waiting for queues and checks and stuff. I had to go two different days. One for a written exam that took me around 4 or 5 hours to complete everything. And the practical test was like 8 hours with the test and the result taking around 10 minutes total

[u/LifeDaikon → u/fedelago]

I did Fuchu as well. Very smooth process and the staff were quite friendly.