REFORM OF THE JAPANESE CAR INSPECTION SYSTEM
FROM JULY 1995

1. Abolition of the mandatory six-monthly check-up.
   Up to now it has been mandatory to have your car checked-up at intervals of 6, 12 and 24 months. As a result of the reform however the mandatory six-monthly check-up has been abolished, thus making clear that responsibility for the care and maintenance of the car now falls more on the individual owner.

2. Halving of the number of items liable for inspection.
   As the quality and durability of autoparts has improved breakdown and wear has become less common. In addition there are a number of autoparts whose condition can be judged by the owners themselves. Both of these factors have led to the halving of the number of items liable to inspection in the 12 and 24 monthly check-ups. For the 12 monthly check-up the number has been reduced from 60 to 26 items, in the case of the 24 monthly check-up from 102 to 60 items.

3. Greater freedom of choice within the shaken system.
   Up to now it was obligatory to have the 24 monthly check-up before submitting you car to the shaken inspection, but from now on it is possible to regard these two procedures as separate entities altogether. As it is now possible to have the 24 monthly check-up after the shaken inspection, it will be easier to make use of the " user shaken " system. The fixed price for shaken inspection, including inspection fee, tax, and automobile damage liability insurance, comes to 70,400 yen. In addition repair and maintenance charges on average amount to about 59,000 yen, making a grand total of 129,400 yen. In the event that you can repair any defective parts yourself you will at least be able to save about 59,000 yen.

4. Extension of the 2 year shaken validity period to cars which are over 11 years old.
   From now on cars which are over 11 years old will be subject to the same 2 year shaken validity period as more recent models, not 1 year as before. As aresult of this reform many much loved cars which would have been scrapped on reaching their tenth birthday will now be able to live out their natural life-span. For the general public this is probably the most welcome reform.

　今までの車検制度を大幅に簡素化する目的で、1995 年 7 月より日本の車検制度 が改正された。
　大きな改正項目は以下の4つ。

◆6カ月点検整備義務が廃止

　従来は、6カ月点検整備、12カ月点検整備、24カ月点検整備が義務づけられていたが、改正後は6カ月点検整備義務が廃止された。これにより自動車の保守管理責任が使用者にあることが、明記された。

◆点検項目が半減

　車の部品の品質、耐久力の向上により、劣化・摩耗が起こりにくくなった項目や、使用者が具合が悪いかどうか判断できる項目などが削除された結果、点検項目は、12カ月点検で60項目→26項目、24カ月点検で102項目→60項目に半減した。

◆車検の選択肢が広がった

　従来は、まず24カ月点検整備を行った上、車体検査を行わなければならなかったが、今後この2つは、切り離して考えられる。先に検査を受け、次に定期点検整備を行うことができるため、「ユーザー車検」が受けやすくなった。
　車検にかかる法定費用は、検査手数料・税金・自動車損害賠償保険料金(法定保険料)を合わせた 70,400 円。それに平均的な点検整備料 59,000 円程度が加算され、約129,400円程度になる見込み。自分で整備ができる場合など、このうち点検整備料59,000円を少しでも安くすることができる。

◆車検11年を超える車の車検も2年に延長

　車齢(車の年齢)が11年を超える乗用車等も「自動車検査証(車検証)」の有効期間が1年から2年に延長される。このため従来は11年で廃車(車 を捨てる)になることが多かった愛車も、さらに寿命の限り走れることになった。これが庶民にとって最も嬉しい改正だろうか。