Peernovo
Motor vehicle drivers

How to become a Taxi Driver

Also called: Taxi Crew Member, Shared Taxi Driver, Chauffeur (Hire Car Driver)

Drives passengers safely to where they want to go and collects the fare shown on the meter.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or experience is needed, but you need a standard Class 2 driving licence (the licence for carrying paying passengers). To work in some designated areas you must also pass the Taxi Center exam. Some companies hire people with a Class 1 licence and train them to get the Class 2 licence. As well as Hello Work (the public employment service), companies often advertise in newspapers and job magazines. People new to the job are trained before driving. For the first few days an experienced driver rides along and teaches customer service and other skills. After a certain number of years of experience, drivers who meet set conditions can get a licence from the regional transport bureau and start their own private taxi business. You must obey traffic laws and keep a good manner with customers. Car navigation systems are now often used, but knowing the area and road conditions well is still important for getting passengers to their destination quickly.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

Related jobs

Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz

Questions people ask

How do I become a Taxi Driver?

No particular education or experience is needed, but you need a standard Class 2 driving licence (the licence for carrying paying passengers). To work in some designated areas you must also pass the Taxi Center exam. Some companies hire people with a Class 1 licence and train them to get the Class 2 licence. As well as Hello Work (the public employment service), companies often advertise in newspapers and job magazines. People new to the job are trained before driving. For the first few days an experienced driver rides along and teaches customer service and other skills. After a certain number of years of experience, drivers who meet set conditions can get a licence from the regional transport bureau and start their own private taxi business. You must obey traffic laws and keep a good manner with customers. Car navigation systems are now often used, but knowing the area and road conditions well is still important for getting passengers to their destination quickly.

How much does a Taxi Driver earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,508,200 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Do you need a degree to become a Taxi Driver?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 11% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Taxi Driver?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026