Part 3. Rent-a-car

To rent a car in Japanese, the following items are required.
* Driver’s license valid in Japan
* Passport
* Credit card

When a customer rents a car:
1.        Making reservation
Though you can reserve a car by calling a reservation center
of leasing company or by visiting a branch location directly,
it will be easier and convenient for you to reserve a car through a
reservation center because you can talk to a person who can speak
English. There is few company’s staff to speak English at branch offices.

The following information should be given to the company’ staff
of a reservation center.

- Your name
- Phone number for contact
- Departure or arrival date and time
- Location for departure and for arrival
- Desired options (4WD vehicle, or other features)
- Number of passengers riding on the car
   If there is a child under 6 years of age, a child seat will be provided.

2.       When coming to a location:
- Tell that the clerk that you have a reservation.
- A contract will be prepared, which you should check
  and sign.
- Prepay an estimated amount
- Check the car for scratches and dents, etc. and cleanliness.

3.  When returning a car:
- Fill the tank with fuel at a nearby gas station or pay at the
  return location for the gas used as determined by the
  calculation formula based on the mileage.
- Check if any personal effects are left inside the car and
  return the car to the scheduled rental location.
- Together with a rental location staff member, check the car
  for scratches, dents, etc.
  If you used the car longer than originally scheduled,
  then pay the additional amount.

4.  Reservation changes and cancellation
Inform the company’s staff in advance of reservation change
and cancellation. Cancellation charges will be required if you
cancel your reservation after the deadline before a date for departure.
Moreover, if you do not contact the rental location even after one hour
has passed form predetermined time, the reservation shall be regarded
as cancelled.

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Part 2. Leasing

What is a car lease?
It is a system to lease a car in accordance by a contract between
the leasing company and the user at a certain price for a certain period.
The concept of the lease is a separation of ownership and use.
It is a system covering financing, taxes, insurance and
maintenance in a package.

You could obtain the following merits by arranging a car by leasing.
1)       By setting the residual value at the end of the lease contract,
      your monthly payment will be mitigated and become easier
      to switch to a higher-ranking car.
2)       Depending on leasing company, you can lease your desired
      car model from various carmakers, including imported
      foreign cars. So you will be able to have your option to
      choose your favorite new car.  When you want to lease a
      second-hand car, you may ask a person in charge if
      the company is able to provide such a service.
3)       You can take advantage of the vehicle discount deriving from
      the large car fleet of leasing company.
4)       Without a down payment, you can lease a car,
      depending on the car price. You may pay only a monthly
      leasing fee. You can also use a monthly payment method
      jointly with payments at the time of salary bonuses payment.
      Calculation of monthly leasing fee
      (Car cost + Miscellaneous expenses
       + Interest – Residual value) / Leasing period.
5)       You can include car insurance into the leasing fee.

Your option after the contract termination. 
You can have the following options after the end of the contract
in case of the open-end contract.
1)       Switch to a new car.
      A car under the current lease will be allotted as a trade-in car.
      The residual value (the expected sales price) and the actual
      trade-in price will be offset, easing your financial burden in
      the next contact of new car.
2)       Extension (Renewal)
      You can extend the contract at the leasing price calculated on
      the basis of the residual value.
3)       Return
      The leasing company collects the car and the balance of
       the residual value and assessed value will be settled.
4)       Purchase
      You can purchase the car at the price agreed at the outset.
      Expenses for name change, automobile tax, income tax, etc
      will be borne by you separately.

Open-end contract
It is a contract to settle the balance between the assessed value
and the purchasing price (the residual value)

Closed-end contract
It is a contract not to settle the balance between the assessed value
and purchasing price (the residual value)
Lease contracts with companies are usually made based on this contract.

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.