When you buy or are given a motor vehicle with a number or license plate on it, a change of ownership registration must be done, in person, within 15 days. You will need:
A Certificate of Change (e.g. Certificate on Registered Matters) is necessary when the car owner's addresses or names are different between the Certificate of Automobile Inspection and the Stamp or Seal Certificate. In the case of move-in from other Inspection and Registration Office areas, the car is necessary in order to change the license or number plate (1,520 yen). You should notify the Automobile Liability Insurance Company of the changes after you register with Tsuchiura Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Office.
Please inquire in other cases than buying and selling or if you have not reached the age of majority.
When your address or name changes, you are required to register within 15 days of the change. You will need:
In the case of moving from other Inspection and Registration Office areas, you will need to replace the plates. This will require bringing the car to the office and paying the fee (1,520yen). You should notify the Automobile Liability Insurance Company of the changes after you register with the Tsuchiura Motor Vehicle Inspection and Registration Office.
When your motor vehicle is to be disposed of, you must register within 15 days of disposal. You will need:
The Certificate of Auto Deregistration is necessary for you to use the car again.
Procedures for regular cars are dealt with by the prefectural government. Procedures for light vehicles (including motorcycles and scooters) are handled by the city. Here are the documents and materials you will need to complete various procedures for light vehicles. Make sure to register and deregister your car properly, so your bills and notices go to the correct person.
| Action | Seal or Signature | Other's Seal or Signature | Selling Certificate | Transfer Deed | De-registration Certificate | License Plate Certificate | License Plate | Notes |
| Buy new or used | yes | yes |
| Buy/Sell between Tsukuba residents | yes | (+) | yes | (-) | (+) | if deregistered, bring (-), if not bring (+) |
| Buy from non-Tsukuba resident | yes | (+) | yes | (-) | (+) | (+) | if deregistered, bring (-), if not bring (+) |
| Sell to non-Tsukuba resident | yes | yes | yes |
| Moving to Tsukuba | yes | (-) | (+) | (+) | if deregistered, bring (-), if not bring (+) |
| Moving from Tsukuba | yes | yes | yes |
| Dispose | yes | yes | yes |
| Change of address in Tsukuba | yes | yes |
| Name Change | yes | yes |
| Damaged license plate | yes | yes | yes | bring license plate if you have it |
| Lost or stolen car or license plate | yes | yes | yes | bring license plate if you have it , bring police report receipt number |
Complete these procedures at the following places:
In Ibaraki, there are two place names that show up on license plates: Mito and Tsuchiura. Until November of last year, the licensing center was the only place that could decide whether to put new place names on license plates. However, the rules have changed and now it is possible to get a new name added if enough of a demand can be shown. Tsukuba and 19 other communities in the southern part of Ibaraki have succeeded in getting the name "Tsukuba" to be used. Right now, there are 1,668,000 cars registered in Ibaraki and 515,000 of them are registered to people who live in Tsukuba.
The new "Tsukuba Number" system was originally supposed to be adopted in 2006. However, the introduction has been pushed back to February 13, 2007 to take place simultaneously with changes to National, Prefectural, and Municipal Tax Laws.
Ibaraki Prefecture enacted the new Prefectural Tax laws in 2005), with built-in amendments towards the automobile tax which will be implemented at different times in each municipality. In Tsukuba, these amendments will take effect in February of next year at the earliest. When the implementation becomes effective, a new license plate bearing the Tsukuba Number will be issued for all New Vehicle Registrations, Transfer Registrations, and Change of Registrations. Those who currently have Tsuchiura License Plates and live in one of the areas listed below will be allowed to switchover to the Tsukuba License Plate if they desire to do so. The areas included under the Tsukuba License Plate Designation are Tsukuba, Koga, Yuki, Shimotsuma, Jousou, Moriya, Chikusei, Sakuragawa, Bando, Tsukuba Mirai, Yachiyo, Goka, and Sakai.
Contact: Policy Office
Topics: Transportation
Relevant for: Newcomers, Residents
Please note: While all efforts have been made to offer accurate and up-to-date information on this site, the information is presented as a guideline and is subject to change without notification. Phone numbers, addresses, and/or policies may have changed since this page was created. Please contact the appropriate section of the City Hall for confirmation of information and city policies.