- You live in Japan and occasionally need a car, but don’t want to own one
- You want to understand the latest Times Car pricing changes
- You’re looking for the best way to sign up (with bonus!)
- You want to learn how to get the monthly fee waived forever
Times Car is Japan’s largest car sharing service. Simply put, you can rent a car parked nearby in 15-minute increments. No need to visit a rental shop—book via app 24/7, and the price includes gas and insurance.
The catch foreigners miss: car sharing requires a Japanese driver’s license. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is NOT accepted for Times Car Share membership — that only works for car rental. To become eligible you must convert your foreign license (外免切替) to a Japanese one first.
You’ll also need a credit card, a Japanese phone number, and a residence card. Times Car is the only car-share with an English sign-up site, though the app is Japanese. See the foreigners section below.
4 Membership Plans
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | ¥880 | Fee converts to usage credit |
| Family | ¥880/household | One fee covers entire family |
| Student | Free for 4 years | Japanese school enrollment required |
| Corporate | Free forever | Business registration required |
The ¥880 monthly fee you pay is automatically converted into ¥880 worth of usage credit. If you use the car for more than 1 hour per month, your monthly fee is effectively ¥0.
⭐ For foreigners in Japan: the driver’s license gate
Car sharing needs a Japanese license — an IDP won’t do
This is the single thing foreigners get wrong. For car sharing (Times Car Share, Orix, Careco, Toyota Share), membership registration requires a Japanese driver’s license. An International Driving Permit is not accepted, and neither is a bare foreign license. (Car rental is different — Times Car Rental does accept a passport + IDP.)
How to become eligible
- If you hold a foreign license, convert it to a Japanese one via 外免切替 (gaimen kirikae) — then you can register for car share.
- An IDP lets you drive for up to 12 months after arrival, but cannot be used to register for car sharing — so for short stays, use a rental car instead.
- Drivers from a few countries (Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Taiwan, Monaco) can drive on an official Japanese translation of their license for the first year — again, for rental, not share registration.
A Japanese driver’s license, a credit card, a Japanese smartphone number, and a residence card for identity/residency verification. Times Car offers an English-language sign-up website (the only car-share service that does), but the booking app itself is Japanese-only.
Pricing Structure: Latest Version
Costs consist of Time + Distance + Pack fees. Note: significant rule changes in recent years.
Time-Based Rates
| Class | Per 15 min | 6-Hour Cap | 24-Hour Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic N-BOX, Aqua, etc. |
¥220 | ¥4,290 | ¥6,600 |
| Middle Prius, Sienta, etc. |
¥330 | ¥6,490 | ¥8,800 |
| Premium Alphard, Serena, etc. |
¥440 | ¥8,690 | ¥12,100 |
Note: Maximum cap automatically applies for longer rentals
Distance Fees (⚠️ Major Change)
New Rule: Regardless of rental duration, distance exceeding 20km is charged at ¥20/km.
Example: 1-hour rental, 50km driven → Distance fee = (50-20)×20 = ¥600
The old rule was “no distance fee under 6 hours.” Now even short rentals with long drives incur extra charges.
Night Pack
Fixed-rate package from 18:00 to 9:00 next day (up to 15 hours). Basic class is only ¥2,640. Perfect for overnight parking scenarios.
⚠️ During Night Pack, all distance is charged at ¥20/km
⚡ Sign-Up Bonus: Official + Referral Double Rewards
🎁 Sign Up Now & Get
Until Feb 28, 2026
👇 Enter this referral code when signing up
Tap the code above to copy
Sign Up Now →View Official Campaign Details
🎯 Pro Tip: How to Get Free Monthly Fee Forever
Times Car has a loyalty program called “TCP (Times Car Program).” Once you reach Stage 2, your monthly fee becomes free permanently!
Maintain 100 Car Share Points (cp) or more, and your ¥880/month fee becomes ¥0 forever!
⚡ Fastest Route for New Members
Points are calculated on a rolling 12-month basis. If you don’t use the service for a long time, old points expire and you may drop below 100cp, reactivating the monthly fee. Use the car or refuel/wash every few months to maintain your status.
😰 History of Price Increases
In recent years, Times Car has made several pricing changes. Many users consider these “downgrades.”
Safety compensation: ¥330 → ¥550 (+67%)
Stage 3/4 vehicle rate benefits discontinued
💡 Money-Saving Tips
Fill 20L+ with the in-car card and get a 30-min e-Ticket + 10cp. Gas is on Times.
Pay with the in-car card at designated stations for 30-min ticket + 10cp.
Choose vehicles with low fuel indicator to easily qualify for refuel bonus.
You’re charged for actual return time. Book longer just in case—no downside.
📊 Summary: Is Times Car Right for You?
- You live in an urban area with nearby stations
- Your trips are typically short (under 6 hours)
- You drive short distances (under 20km)
- You occasionally need a car but don’t want to own one
- You frequently drive long distances
- You need a car daily (commuting)
- You need one-way rentals
- You live in suburbs with few stations