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Automobile inspection workers

How to become a Vehicle Inspector

Carries out final inspections at designated repair workshops, checking that vehicles serviced by mechanics meet national safety standards and deciding whether they are safe to drive.

How to become one

The final inspection carried out by vehicle inspectors is work the government would otherwise do, so inspectors are treated as deemed public servants and must complete the vehicle inspector course on the knowledge and skills needed for inspections, run by the director of the regional transport bureau (the vehicle inspector qualification). You also cannot work as a vehicle inspector unless your employer, a designated repair workshop, appoints you to the role. Many people in the job say that as deemed public servants they take pride and responsibility in work that affects people's lives. To take the vehicle inspector course, you need at least 1 year of practical experience as a chief mechanic if you are a second-grade automotive mechanic, or at least 6 months if you are a first-grade automotive mechanic (a second-grade or first-grade automotive mechanic qualification is needed to become a chief mechanic). You must also have completed the most recent chief mechanic training, and your employer must be a designated repair workshop, among other conditions. After being appointed, you must take the vehicle inspector training run by the director of the regional transport bureau, and always keep up to date on vehicle structure and equipment, relevant laws and key official notices. A common career path is to graduate from an automotive course at a senmon gakko (vocational college), gain the second-grade automotive mechanic qualification, join a designated workshop, gain the experience needed to sit the vehicle inspector course, for example by being appointed chief mechanic, take the course and, after passing the final exam, be appointed vehicle inspector. Many people go on, with experience as an inspector, to manage a workshop or become workshop manager. Some use their skills and experience of training others to become teachers at automotive vocational colleges. Once gained, the vehicle inspector qualification in principle does not expire, but you must take regular training to keep working as an inspector.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Vehicle Inspector?

The final inspection carried out by vehicle inspectors is work the government would otherwise do, so inspectors are treated as deemed public servants and must complete the vehicle inspector course on the knowledge and skills needed for inspections, run by the director of the regional transport bureau (the vehicle inspector qualification). You also cannot work as a vehicle inspector unless your employer, a designated repair workshop, appoints you to the role. Many people in the job say that as deemed public servants they take pride and responsibility in work that affects people's lives. To take the vehicle inspector course, you need at least 1 year of practical experience as a chief mechanic if you are a second-grade automotive mechanic, or at least 6 months if you are a first-grade automotive mechanic (a second-grade or first-grade automotive mechanic qualification is needed to become a chief mechanic). You must also have completed the most recent chief mechanic training, and your employer must be a designated repair workshop, among other conditions. After being appointed, you must take the vehicle inspector training run by the director of the regional transport bureau, and always keep up to date on vehicle structure and equipment, relevant laws and key official notices. A common career path is to graduate from an automotive course at a senmon gakko (vocational college), gain the second-grade automotive mechanic qualification, join a designated workshop, gain the experience needed to sit the vehicle inspector course, for example by being appointed chief mechanic, take the course and, after passing the final exam, be appointed vehicle inspector. Many people go on, with experience as an inspector, to manage a workshop or become workshop manager. Some use their skills and experience of training others to become teachers at automotive vocational colleges. Once gained, the vehicle inspector qualification in principle does not expire, but you must take regular training to keep working as an inspector.

How much does a Vehicle Inspector earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,227,800 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Do you need a degree to become a Vehicle Inspector?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 18% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Vocational college (専門学校) course: Automotive maintenance.

Will AI change the work of a Vehicle Inspector?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, 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