If You Do Not Have CALI (Mutual Insurance)
Penalties For Driving Without Automobile
Liability Insurance
All motor vehicles (including motorized bicycles and electric scooters / kickboards, etc.) must have CALI (mutual insurance) in accordance with the Act on Securing Compensation for Automobile Accidents.
If you cause a personal injury accident without having CALI (mutual insurance), you will be responsible for all compensation that would normally be paid by CALI (mutual insurance). Even if you have voluntary insurance, you will only be paid for the amount that exceeds the compensation limits of CALI (mutual insurance).
For example, if the victim dies, if you are covered by CALI (mutual insurance), the insurance will pay up to 30 million yen, and the voluntary insurance will pay the amount exceeding the limit. But if you are not covered, you will have to compensate the 30 million yen yourself.
Even if you do not cause an accident, you may be imprisoned for up to one year or fined up to 500,000 yen if you operate a vehicle without CALI (mutual insurance coverage (that is, if you are "uninsured"). If you do not have a certificate of CALI (mutual insurance) coverage, you may be fined up to 300,000 yen. In addition, driving without insurance is a traffic violation. You will get 6 penalty points, and your license will be suspended immediately.
In the event of an accident,
the government (MLIT) etc. will seek compensation.
In cases where the at-fault party does not have CALI (mutual insurance), MLIT compensates the victim for damages on behalf of the party responsible for damages (such as the at-fault party or the owner of the vehicle). In these cases, MLIT takes over the victim's right to claim damages against the party originally responsible for the damages, and will make a claim for compensation against this party.
In addition, if the victim uses various types of social insurance such as National Health Insurance or Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance, government agencies other than MLIT will claim such expenses from the at-fault party.
If the party responsible for damages does not reimburse the government, the government will file a lawsuit for damages against that party.
Thereafter, in accordance with the court judgment, the vehicles, lands or buildings, salary, etc. in the possession of the party responsible for damages will be seized and collected at the time of trial.
MLIT is implementing measures against
uninsured vehicles
Measures Against Uninsured Vehicles by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
MLIT is taking the following measures against vehicles that do not have CALI (mutual insurance). The aim is to keep these vehicles off the roads. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
Street Crackdowns
In cooperation with the police, officials from the District Transport Bureau of MLIT, ask drivers to present their CALI certificates on major roads, etc. If the vehicle in question is uninsured, they instruct the driver to immediately enroll in CALI (mutual insurance) coverage.
Surveillance Activities
An insurance inspector may check vehicles at a parking lot near a train station, for example. If they find a motorized bicycle, light motorcycle, or other vehicle without an insurance sticker attached to the license plate, the vehicle may be uninsured. So, the inspector will attach a warning notice to the handlebars or other parts of the vehicle to alert drivers to the possibility that the vehicle is uninsured. The driver is required to check the status of their CALI (mutual insurance) coverage.
Subscription Status Management Services
If it cannot be confirmed the CALI or mutual insurance for a vehicle has been renewed approximately six months after a contract has expired, the vehicle in question may be uninsured. In that case, we will send a warning notice (postcard) to the policyholder, and ask them to check their insurance.
In addition, warning letters (postcards) are sent to owners of vehicles whose CALI (mutual insurance) policies cannot be confirmed through surveillance activities, and alerts are issued as well as notices.
Contact for Reporting Uninspected and Uninsured Vehicles
MLIT has set up a contact point on its website where members of the public can report any uninsured vehicles they find. Based on the reports received, MLIT issues warnings to the users of these vehicles, asking them to check the status of their CALI and mutual aid insurance.
Click here for the contact information for reporting uninspected and uninsured vehicles.
PR Activities for the CALI System
Around September each year, in cooperation with related ministries, agencies and companies, we conduct a PR campaign to promote understanding of the importance and role of the CALI (mutual insurance) system. We also publicize the illegality and harmfulness of operating uninsured vehicles operations, in order to encourage people to enroll in CALI (mutual insurance).
Please use this information to ease your
concerns and for support.
If You Are Involved in a Traffic Accident
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has prepared a pamphlet titled "If You Are Involved in a Traffic Accident." This pamphlet informs and guides people who have been involved in a traffic accident about various systems and procedures. The challenges you face due to a sudden traffic accident will change over time. Please use the information in this pamphlet according to your situation at the time.
Traffic Accident Victim's Notebook
MLIT has created the “Traffic Accident Victim's Notebook” with the hope of providing support to automobile accident victims. The notebook allows victims and their families to record accident details and provides information about support systems available through police, local governments, and private victim support organizations. We also hope that it will provide support to all accident victims, and help to ease their concerns.