Auto Insurance

The Japanese Landscape Requires Two Types of Auto Insurance

Buying a car in Japan from a dealer almost always comes with an auto insurance policy as part of the package. However, Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance (or CALI) only covers bodily injury liability without paying attention to third party liability coverage (bodily injury and property damage) along with self caused personal accident, uninsured auto, and protection against uninsured vehicle coverage. In other words, CALI is virtually worthless.

Many expatriates and even Japanese drivers misfire come insurance time. Along with compulsory insurance, a voluntary automobile insurance policy (known to the Japanese as nini hoken) must be purchased. Although not required by law, this type of insurance is comprehensive and provides coverage against the items listed above. Navigating the roads in Japan without voluntary automobile insurance is an extream risk as automobile liability laws set forth that transfer the burden of proof of negligence from the victim to the driver. Don't become a casualty!

Legend Travelers Offers Three Voluntary Auto Insurance Plans to Choose From

Unlike CALI, all our auto policies offer comprehensive coverage. They are:

Special Automobile Policy
This policy offers coverage for third-party liability (bodily injury and property damage), self-incurred personal accident (non car-to-car), uninsured motorist protection, own damage, and passenger's personal accident coverage. This is the policy of choice for those driving a new or recent-model car.

Package Automobile Policy
Similar to the special automobile policy, the only difference is the absence of damage to one's own vehicle coverage. This is an excellent choice for someone driving an older car with modest resale value.

Basic Automobile Policy
This policy is fully customized and allows you to choose the coverage you want. You can choose from bodily injury liability, self-incurred personal accident, property damage liability, coverage for vehicle's own damage, and passenger's personal accident.

Note: bodily injury liability cannot be ordered without self-incurred personal accident.