Emergency & driving guide

If you have an accident

1. Make yourself and others safe first: stop the car safely and turn on the hazard lights. On an expressway, put out the warning triangle and wait behind the guardrail — do not stay on the road to move the car or take photos.
2. Anyone injured, or a fire? Call 119.
3. Call the police on 110 — always, even for a scratch or if only your car is damaged. Without a police report, insurance cannot pay.
4. Call us: +81 80-7619-5098. We will guide you and talk to the police or the other driver in Japanese if needed.
5. Do not agree to pay or settle anything on the spot. Do not sign anything you cannot read.
6. When it is safe: take photos (cars, plates, road, damage), note the other driver’s name, phone, plate number and insurance, and send them on the “Car photos & accident report” page — you can add your location there.
7. Ask the police officer for his or her name and police station. We need it for the accident certificate.

Breakdown, flat tyre, battery, keys

1. Move to a safe place if you can, hazard lights on. On an expressway, do not try to fix the car or take photos on the road — wait behind the guardrail.
2. Contact us first: +81 80-7619-5098. If you cannot reach us (for example at night), call JAF directly.
3. We tell you which roadside service to use for your rental.
4. JAF Road Service: 0570-00-8139 (short number #8139), 24 hours, 365 days. Say “English” (or your language) — a free interpreter joins the call. Say it is a rental car and where you are. The road service may cost money: keep the receipt — we refund costs caused by a fault of the car.
5. Warning light on the dashboard? Stop in a safe place and send us a photo of it.

Stopped on the expressway

1. Hazard lights on, move to the shoulder, put the warning triangle about 50 m behind the car.
2. Everyone gets out on the guardrail side and waits behind the guardrail — never on the road.
3. Use the emergency phone (every 1 km, green sign SOS) or call 110, then call us.

Earthquake or tsunami warning

1. Slow down gradually, do not brake hard, and stop on the left side of the road.
2. Turn off the engine and listen to the radio or your phone for information.
3. If you must leave the car: leave the key inside, doors unlocked, take your passport and valuables, and go on foot.
4. Near the coast with a tsunami warning: go to high ground immediately — on foot, not by car.

Refuelling

• Your car uses: Premium unleaded (high-octane). The type is also written inside the fuel lid.
• Self-service pumps use colours: red = regular, yellow = high-octane (ハイオク), green = diesel (軽油). Never put diesel in a petrol car.
• At a full-service station say: “Hai-oku, mantan” (high-octane, full) or “Regyurā, mantan” (regular, full).
• Return the car with a full tank and keep the receipt.

Japanese road rules in 1 minute

• Drive on the LEFT. Take extra care when turning right across traffic.
• 止まれ (red triangle) means STOP completely.
• Stop before every railway crossing, look and listen, then go.
• No turning on red unless there is a green arrow.
• Speed limits: 40–60 km/h in towns (60 if no sign), 80–120 km/h on expressways.
• Zero alcohol. Using a phone while driving is illegal.
• Children under 6 must use a child seat. Everyone wears a seat belt, front and back.
• Parking on the street is often illegal. Use coin parking. Fines and towing are paid by the driver.

Late, extension and return

• Running late? Tell us before your return time: +81 80-7619-5098.
• Want more days? Reply to your booking email. We confirm if the car is free.
• Late returns cost ¥2,000 per started hour.
• Return with a full tank, all your belongings, the ETC card and cables.