1. Reasons for Amendment

This Amendment modifies regulations that are not suited to the current situation in relation to route buses and bus terminals, reduces inconveniences faced by transport employees, increases the age limit of non-commercial vehicles for commercial transport, expands areas where garage spaces for charter buses may be installed, and otherwise addresses and improves upon a number of weaknesses to ensure the smooth operation of passenger transport services.

2. Major Provisions

A. Streamline the calculation of mileage limits for wide-area buses (Article 8 (2))

Relax requirements for calculating the mileages of wide-area buses so that when a bus repeatedly enters and exits an administrative district other than the starting administrative district on a service route that uses a national expressway, etc., the boundary of the starting administrative district shall be the last boundary. 

B. Ease parcel size restrictions for intercity buses (Article 40-3 (1))

Expand parcel delivery services using intercity buses and enhance customer convenience by easing size restrictions on parcels transported by intercity buses.

C. Simplify certificate requirements in relation to driving qualification tests (Article 53 (1) 3)

Simplify requirements so that driving qualification test candidates (buses and taxis) shall submit their certificate of detailed inspection for driving aptitude before they actually begin providing driving service.

D. Reduce the number of photographs required when filing a registration or applying for the issuance/re-issuance of a driving qualification (Article 55 (2), Article 55-2 (1), Article 56 (2) 2)

Modify provisions that require two photographs to be attached when applying for a driver's license or the issuance or re-issuance of a driving qualification certificate to instead require only one photograph each.

E. Newly insert mobile driver’s licenses (Article 55 (3))

Improve convenience for transport employees by improving the system to allow the issuance of mobile driver’s licenses while also issuing physical driver’s licenses as per current provisions.

F. Ease the age limit of non-commercial motor vehicles for commercial transport (Article 103-2 (1) and (4))

Increase the maximum age limit of non-commercial motor vehicles for commercial transport from the current 11 years (9+2 years) to 13 years (11+2 years) on account of the fact that non-commercial motor vehicles for commercial transport have a shorter mileage than those for commercial use.

G. Increase the permission renewal period of non-commercial motor vehicles for commercial transport (Article 104 (2))

Simplify administrative procedures by increasing the permission renewal period of non-commercial motor vehicles for commercial transport from 30 days before the expiration of the initial permission to within 60 days of the expiration date of the permission.

H. Expand areas where garage spaces for charter buses may be installed (attached Table 3 remarks)

Expand areas where garage spaces for charter buses may be installed, currently limited to the area of registration (administrative district of the principal office or place of business, to include administrative districts immediately adjacent to the area of registration.

I. Clarify the service evaluation system for wide-area bus transport business entities (attached Table 4)

Introduce a service evaluation system for wide-area buses licensed by the Committee on Intercity Transport in Metropolitan Areas by newly inserting provisions requiring wide-area bus transport business entities to agree to service evaluations and to make efforts to avoid being rated as inadequate.

J. Modify the processing deadline for declarations of minor changes to business (attached Form 15)

Change the processing period for declarations of minor changes to business plans by transport business entities to five days, as the current short processing period adds to the administrative burden of the competent authorities.