運転免許証(うんてんめんきょしょう)

The full formal term for a driver's license. In daily conversation, this is almost always shortened to 免許証(めんきょしょう) or just 免許(めんきょ).

Common collocations

• 運転免許証(うんてんめんきょしょう)を取(と)る: to get a driver's license
• 運転免許証(うんてんめんきょしょう)を更新(こうしん)する: to renew a driver's license
• 運転免許証(うんてんめんきょしょう)を返納(へんのう)する: to surrender a driver's license (voluntarily, e.g., by elderly drivers)
• 運転免許証(うんてんめんきょしょう)の有効期限(ゆうこうきげん): the expiration date of a driver's license

Cultural note

In Japan, driver's licenses are widely used as a primary form of photo ID since there is no national ID card system for everyday use. People who don't drive sometimes get a 運転経歴証明書(うんてんけいれきしょうめいしょ) (driving history certificate) or マイナンバーカード (My Number Card) instead.

Related words

• 免許(めんきょ): license (general term, also the casual abbreviation)
• 免許証(めんきょしょう): license certificate (common abbreviation)
• 教習所(きょうしゅうじょ): driving school