🚗 Japan Automobile Tax Calculator

Automobile tax (自動車税, jidōshazei) is an annual prefectural tax on ordinary (more than 660cc) cars registered in Japan. The amount depends mainly on engine displacement and how old the car is — newer vehicles pay less because of the eco-car green tax (環境性能割 and green special treatment). It is billed every May for the ownership period April 1 to March 31, paid in one lump sum to your prefecture.

Rates are set by each prefecture but are standardised nationwide in practice. A 2.0L family car typically costs about 39,500 yen a year, while a 1.5L compact is around 34,500 yen. The green tax (環境性能割 — a separate one-time acquisition tax, renamed and merged into automobile tax in 2021) reduced the bill for low-emission vehicles, and the annual green special treatment (グリーン化特例) lowers the first-year levy for hybrids and EVs by up to 75%. Kei-car owners compare this with the flat light-vehicle tax.

The base table below is the standard prefectural rate for ordinary passenger cars. The calculator applies the table by engine displacement, then applies the green-tax discount for the first three years if you select an eco vehicle — roughly 75% off for the cleanest hybrids/EVs in year one, tapering in later years. Kei cars (up to 660cc) are charged a flat rate under the separate 軽自動車税 rather than this engine scale.

Old-car surcharge. The automobile tax (jidousha zei) adds a 15% surcharge once a vehicle has been registered beyond a set number of years.

Old cars (13+ or 18+ years, depending on class) face a higher tax — a 13-year-old 2.0L jumps to about 45,400 yen as a pollution-control penalty. If you drive a kei car instead, the flat 10,800-yen 軽自動車税 is usually cheaper; compare it with our light-vehicle tax calculator. And don’t forget the separate one-time acquisition levy when you buy — budget it with a car loan calculator to see the true monthly cost.

1. Enter the engine displacement in cc (or pick a common size from the presets).
2. Choose the fuel type (petrol/hybrid/EV/diesel) to apply the green-tax treatment.
3. Select the vehicle age to apply old-car penalty where relevant.
4. Click Calculate to see the standard annual tax and the green-adjusted amount.
5. Compare with the kei-car flat rate using the light-vehicle calculator link.

Is automobile tax the same in every prefecture?

Almost — the rates are standardised nationwide, but a few prefectures add a small eco surcharge or discount. The differences are minor; the table here reflects the common nationwide scale.

How is the green tax discount calculated?

The グリーン化特例 reduces the annual tax for the first three years on cars meeting fuel-economy standards — roughly 75% off for the top EV/hybrid tier in year one, 50% for the next tier. From year four the full rate applies.

What happens with a 13-year-old car?

A petrol car 13 years or older pays about 15% more — a 2.0L goes from 39,500 to roughly 45,400 yen. The surcharge is a policy to push old, more polluting cars off the road; some prefectures exempt historic vehicles.

Do I pay automobile tax on a kei car?

No — kei cars (up to 660cc) are billed under 軽自動車税 instead, a flat 10,800 yen a year for private use (13,200 from 2026 in many prefectures) plus green-tax treatment for new eco keis.

I bought my car in September — what do I pay this year?

Automobile tax is pro-rated from the month of registration: buying in September means you owe roughly 6/12 of the annual amount for that first year, billed when the car is registered, then the full amount every May.

What is 環境性能割?

A one-time tax charged at purchase based on the vehicle’s environmental performance — up to 3% of the price for high-pollution cars, 0% for the cleanest EVs and hybrids. It replaced the old automobile acquisition tax in 2021.

This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional for advice specific to your situation.

The green-tax discount rewards the cleanest cars: a qualifying EV or hybrid can pay roughly 25-30% of the standard rate in the first year. The old-car penalty kicks in at 13 years (for most petrol cars) and again at 18 — classic-car lovers with a 20-year-old sports car pay over 60,000 yen a year for the privilege. Tax is charged per registration, not per owner: if you buy a used car mid-year you pay a pro-rated portion, and the notice arrives in May with payment due at the end of that month. Before you fall in love with a big-engined import, run it here — a 4.0L+ import is 66,500 yen a year before insurance and fuel. Use the fuel cost calculator to add running costs on top of the tax.