If you own a car in Japan, shaken (“車検”) is one thing you cannot avoid. It is the country’s mandatory periodic vehicle inspection, and it comes up regularly in conversations with our maintenance and repair customers.
What Shaken Actually Checks
Shaken verifies that a vehicle meets Japan’s safety and emissions standards. Brakes, lights, exhaust, suspension, and structural condition are all inspected. It is not a full mechanical service on its own, but many of the same things a good maintenance schedule already covers, which is why staying on top of routine maintenance tends to make shaken far less stressful when it comes around.
How Often It Happens
New cars generally get their first shaken three years after initial registration, then every two years after that. It is easy to lose track of the date, especially if you are new to owning a car in Japan, so we are happy to help you check where your vehicle stands.
Preparing for Shaken
Cars that fail shaken need the flagged issues fixed before they can pass, so a pre-inspection check ahead of your due date can catch problems early and avoid a scramble later. This is especially worth doing on an older vehicle or one you have not had serviced recently.
Not sure when your car is due, or want a pre-shaken check before your date comes up? Contact our team and we will help you plan around it.