insurance
Japan Rental Car Insurance and Excess Waivers
What basic cover includes, what the excess and NOC are, and whether to buy the waiver.
holioo.com Japan Drive Editorial TeamLast updated：2026.09.01
What the rental price already covers
Japanese rental rates normally include compulsory insurance plus basic collision and third-party cover, all with an excess. You still pay part of any claim.
- Personal injury liability, usually unlimited
- Property damage liability, usually unlimited with an excess
- Vehicle damage, excess about JPY 50,000–100,000
The excess waiver and NOC
Adding the waiver reduces the excess to zero. Most companies also sell a higher tier that covers the NOC as well. For longer trips or winter and mountain driving, take the top tier.
- Excess waiver: roughly JPY 1,100–2,200 per day
- NOC waiver: a further JPY 550–1,100 per day
- Tyres, wheels and underbody scrapes are often excluded from basic cover
Can a credit card policy replace it?
Some credit card policies apply strictly in Japan and rarely cover the NOC. If you plan to rely on one, confirm with your issuer that Japan and your car class are included, and keep every document.
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Full background on this topic: Japan Car Rental: The Complete Guide、What to Do If You Have an Accident in Japan
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We keep updating this collection of driving, rental, road, parking and itinerary information for Japan. When rules, facilities or spot details change, we revise the page.