ペーパードライバー

ぺーぱーどらいばー
noun
licensed driver who never drives
transportationperson
1. a person who holds a driver's license but does not drive
A Japanese coinage from 'paper' and 'driver': someone whose license exists only on paper because they never get behind the wheel, typically a city dweller who relies on trains. Driving schools offer ペーパードライバー講習(こうしゅう), refresher lessons for them.
免許(めんきょ)はあるけど、ペーパードライバーだ。
I have a license, but I never drive.
東京(とうきょう)に住(す)んでいると、ペーパードライバーになる人(ひと)が多(おお)い。
Many people who live in Tokyo end up as license holders who never drive.
十年(じゅうねん)ぶりに運転(うんてん)するので、ペーパードライバー講習(こうしゅう)を受(う)けることにした。
Since I'll be driving for the first time in ten years, I decided to take a refresher course for out-of-practice drivers.

A 和製英語(わせいえいご) (Japanese-made English) compound. English speakers would not understand 'paper driver'; the nearest description is 'someone with a license who never drives.'

Common collocations

  • ペーパードライバー講習(こうしゅう): a refresher course for inactive drivers
  • ペーパードライバー歴(れき)十年(じゅうねん): ten years without driving
  • ペーパードライバーを卒業(そつぎょう)する: to start driving at last

Related words

Related Words

Related: 和製英語(わせいえいご) (Japanese-coined English)
Related: マイカー (one's own car)
Related: 免許(めんきょ) (license)
Related: 運転(うんてん) (driving)
general
Added 2026.9.10 0:49 · Revised 2026.9.10 0:54
30500/30836_peepaadoraibaa