10-Seater Van Rental in Tokyo: What Foreign Drivers Need to Know
We rent a 10-seat Toyota HiAce Wagon for groups and large families. Check your International Driving Permit first: a 10-seat vehicle needs Category D, and most visitors' permits show Category B only. Here is what to check, and what groups of 6 to 10 people rent with Category B.
Note: a licence class called "D" on your home licence (for example Malaysia's Class D, an ordinary car licence) is not the same as Category D on the IDP; it usually appears as Category B. Check that box D on the IDP itself is stamped. A Taiwanese licence with a Japanese translation cannot be used for the 10-seater.
Why Category B is not enough
Japanese licence holders can drive a 10-seat van on an ordinary car licence, but drivers using an International Driving Permit may only drive the vehicle categories stamped on their permit. Under the 1949 Geneva Convention, Category B covers cars with at most 8 seats in addition to the driver; anything larger is Category D, which in most countries corresponds to a bus licence. Driving a 10-seater on a Category B permit counts as driving without a valid licence, and insurance would not pay out. Details in our IDP guide.
Our 10-seat van
Toyota HiAce Wagon GL (standard body) · 10 seats · 2WD · Gasoline · Limited with 10 people; more with 6-7
tax incl. · + CDW/NOC ¥2,750/day (required) · details
- Model: Toyota HiAce Wagon GL, standard body (not the wider Grand Cabin). 10 seats including the driver.
- Luggage: limited behind the last row when all 10 seats are used. With 6 or 7 people the last row can be used for suitcases.
- Snow: 2WD (rear-wheel drive) with winter tyres from December to March. For mountain roads and ski areas we recommend adding snow chains (an option when you book).
- Height: about 2.1 m, too high for many multi-storey and mechanical car parks. Please check your hotel's parking.
- Licence: every driver needs an IDP with Category D (1949 Geneva Convention) and their original licence. A Taiwanese licence with a Japanese translation cannot be used for this vehicle.
With Category B only: what groups rent instead
Stepwgn / Serena or similar · 7-8 seats · Gasoline · 4-6 suitcases
tax incl. · + CDW/NOC ¥2,200/day (required)
Serena Hybrid or similar · 7-8 seats · Hybrid · 4-6 suitcases
tax incl. · + CDW/NOC ¥2,200/day (required)
Toyota Hiace Van 4WD · 5 seats · 4WD · Diesel · Skis, boards & gear
tax incl. · + CDW/NOC ¥2,750/day (required) · details
- Up to 8 people: an 8-seat minivan. Category B is enough. With every seat taken, luggage space is limited, so tell us how many suitcases you have.
- 9 or 10 people, or 8 with a lot of luggage: rent two cars, for example a minivan and a compact car. Additional drivers are free; every driver needs their own licence and IDP.
- Ski and outdoor groups: pair a minivan with our 5-seat 4WD Van, which carries skis, boards and gear.
Message us on WhatsApp with your group size, luggage and dates and we will suggest a combination and quote it.
Related questions
Two days (48 hours). Online requests must be submitted at least 24 hours before pick-up. For pick-up within 24 hours, message us on WhatsApp and we will check what is possible.
Yes, in a car with 8 seats. Every person, including children, needs their own seat with a seat belt, and children under 6 must use a child seat (¥550 per seat per day, up to 3 per booking). Our minivan class includes 7- and 8-seat models, so please write in the booking notes that you need 8 seats: we will then always provide an 8-seat car. You may also tell us which model you would like and we will do our best, but we guarantee the class and seat count, not a specific model: in special cases, for example if the requested car breaks down, we provide an 8-seat car of the same class from another brand. With 8 people luggage space is limited, so please also tell us how many suitcases you have.
Yes, additional drivers are free. Every driver must be registered and approved before pick-up: upload all drivers' documents in the one pre-check-in for your booking. If a driver is added later (for example their IDP is not ready yet), send their passport, licence (front and back) and IDP photos on WhatsApp by the day before pick-up at the latest, and we register them. Unregistered drivers are not covered by insurance and may not drive the car.
Only if box D is stamped on your International Driving Permit. "Class D" on a Malaysian licence is an ordinary car licence and usually appears as Category B on the IDP, which covers vehicles with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver. A 10-seat van needs Category D on the IDP itself, so please send us a photo of your IDP category page before booking. With Category B only, an 8-seat minivan is the right choice.
Only if your International Driving Permit shows Category D. Under the 1949 Geneva Convention, Category B covers vehicles with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver, so a 10-seat vehicle (driver + 9) requires Category D. Japanese police only recognise the categories stamped on the permit, and most visitors hold Category B only. We rent our 10-seat Toyota HiAce Wagon to drivers whose IDP shows Category D; please send us a photo of the category page before booking. A licence class called "D" on a home licence (for example Malaysia's Class D) is not IDP Category D, and a Taiwanese licence with a Japanese translation cannot be used for the 10-seater. With Category B only, groups of up to 8 can take an 8-seat minivan, and larger groups can rent two cars.
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NOVA Car Rental, Hachioji, Tokyo. Email info@novacarjapan.com. All prices include tax; final approval is subject to document verification and vehicle availability.