Start with expiry and safety.
If inspection has expired, do not drive on public roads; discuss transport or collection. If expiry is unknown, check the original certificate and current record. A booking request or “from 45 minutes” advertisement does not confirm acceptance or completion today.
Find the next step for your situation.
30 situations shown
My inspection expires today
Check the original expiry, then ask separately about arrival and completion. An advertised service duration does not establish a slot today.
My inspection has already expired
Do not drive on public roads. Discuss collection or transport, and separately check compulsory insurance and the required procedure.
When can I renew?
Since April 2025, the normal renewal window preserving the remaining validity starts two calendar months before expiry. That is not always 60 days.
I cannot find my current expiry
Use the official certificate viewer or current record. Do not assume an old PDF or reminder shows the latest expiry.
I can only visit at weekends
Confirm separate quote, arrival, inspection and collection dates. Garage opening hours do not necessarily establish inspection availability.
I want to prepare early
Prepare quotes and documents early, then distinguish preparation from the normal renewal window. An inquiry does not renew validity.
My quote is unexpectedly high
Ask for statutory charges, service fees, necessary repairs and optional work separately. Compare another written quote for the same scope.
The advertised price differs from the total
Check eligible vehicles, scope and exclusions. Compare a tax-inclusive total with weight tax, compulsory insurance and required work.
Can a quote visit have a fee?
Do not assume every estimate is free. Before visiting, ask about pre-check, diagnosis, cancellation charges and any credit if you proceed.
Can I pay by card?
Payment methods may differ for workshop charges and statutory costs. Confirm card eligibility, required cash and fees.
What will installments really cost?
Compare payment count, fees and total repayment, not just the monthly amount. Eligibility and approval must be confirmed.
How do I compare points and discounts?
Keep the payable bill separate from later points. Check entry, booking channel, completion timing and combination rules.
What should I bring?
Prepare the original certificate, compulsory-insurance and tax checks, and service records. Confirm requirements for your vehicle, procedure and garage.
I lost my inspection certificate
Do not treat a copy as the original. Check reissue with the responsible authority; distinguish the electronic record PDF from the certificate itself.
I cannot find my compulsory-insurance certificate
Ask the insurer or agent about validity and reissue. Confirm paper or electronic requirements rather than relying on a saved email.
Tax proof is missing or payment was recent
Check electronic eligibility and whether payment is reflected. Discuss evidence with the authority and garage after recent payment or an address change.
I moved just before inspection
Separate registration-address, mail, tax and inspection steps. Passing inspection alone does not establish that the address was updated.
The electronic certificate will not read
Check a supported device, official app and original certificate. Seek official or garage assistance; do not put security codes in public forms.
Does my car need an OBD inspection?
Check certificate records and official eligibility. Model name or year alone is insufficient; maintenance and the OBD inspection are different.
A warning light remains on
Check the warning and safety instructions, then seek assessment. Clearing a code alone does not establish a repair or an inspection pass.
My headlights failed a check
Request measurement findings, output, aim and fitted-part checks. Ask for a cause and post-repair verification before authorizing costly parts.
I need a retest after a failed inspection
Read returned findings and the applicable retest procedure. Treat a limited-certificate deadline separately from current inspection validity and lawful transport.
A recall may be outstanding
Check manufacturer applicability, completion and safety instructions. A repair appointment is different from completed recall work.
Do my tires need replacement?
Have tread, damage and aging assessed. A photograph alone cannot establish safety or a pass; discuss compatible size and replacement scope.
I need a loaner car
Confirm the inspection and loan-car slots separately. Record charges, insurance, excess, permitted drivers, fuel and return time.
I need to change or cancel a booking
Check the old booking, approved work or parts, charges, benefits and loaner. A new request does not automatically cancel an old booking.
I need collection or vehicle transport
Confirm transport scope, charges, timing and handover. Do not plan to drive an expired vehicle to the workshop yourself.
How do I compare platforms and chains?
Distinguish a search platform from the workshop doing the work. Compare the same vehicle’s total, booking confirmation, warranty and offer conditions.
Should I do user Shaken myself?
Consider weekday procedures, preparation, paperwork and failed-test contingencies. A test reservation does not provide maintenance or guarantee a pass.
Should I repair or replace the car?
Compare repair, running and replacement costs over the same period. An appraisal or future repair forecast is not a guaranteed value.
Keep your preparation together.
Documents, three quotes and a 90-day preparation plan. Use the free pack now. Choose an email copy only if useful; optional updates are a separate choice.
Open the free preparation packPrepare from your address areaFree pack · email early access
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Use it now without entering an email →Checks and primary sources
Prepared by the 車検.jp team. Official information checked October 4, 2026. This explains general renewal preparation; confirm vehicle-specific procedures, prices and acceptance with the responsible provider.
- MLIT: the two-calendar-month renewal window
- Rakuten Car: user guide
- Autobacs: estimate work
- Kobac: service menus
- Hayataro: service conditions
The linked practical guides contain their specific primary sources. This page is not a nationwide live price or availability feed, and references do not imply partnerships.
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