Aichi License Centers Updated Their Hours in April 2026 — Here Is What Changed
· GaimenGo Team
Aichi's driver's license offices expanded Sunday services from April 1, 2026, but cut some weekday operations in return. Here is the full picture so you do not make a wasted trip.
The Trade-Off in Plain Terms
From April 1, 2026, Aichi Prefecture made a practical adjustment to how it runs driving license services. The goal was to give more people — particularly those who cannot take weekdays off work — access to license services on Sundays. To balance capacity, some weekday services were quietly scaled back at the same time.
If you are planning a visit to either the 愛知県運転免許試験場 (Aichi Driver's License Test Center) or the 東三河運転免許センター (Higashi Mikawa License Center), it is worth knowing exactly which services moved and which days they are no longer available.
What Is Now Available on Sundays
At the Aichi Driver's License Test Center:
- Foreign driving license conversion issuance (外国運転免許証の交付業務)
- License reissuance (運転免許証の再交付業務)
At the Higashi Mikawa License Center:
- License renewal for general drivers (一般運転者の免許更新)
- License renewal for traffic violators (違反運転者の免許更新)
These additions are specifically designed for people who work standard weekday hours and have struggled to find time to handle license paperwork.
What Was Cut on Weekdays
Expanding Sunday services required the centers to reduce some weekday capacity. Here is what is no longer available on certain days:
Aichi Driver's License Test Center — Fridays are now reduced:
- License renewal
- Foreign license application and issuance
- License reissuance
- Record amendments
- Voluntary license surrender
- License history certificate applications
- Expired license procedures
- License status changes
Higashi Mikawa License Center — Thursdays are now reduced:
- License renewal
- Expired license procedures
- Safe driving consultations
- License status changes
What This Means If You Are Planning a Visit
The most common trap here is turning up on a Friday at the main Test Center or a Thursday at Higashi Mikawa expecting to renew your license — and finding that service is no longer running on that day.
Before any visit, check the current service schedule on the Aichi Prefectural Police website to confirm what is available on the specific day you plan to go. This is especially important for foreign residents handling conversions, as the multilingual knowledge test schedule and the issuance schedule now operate on different days.
A Quick Reference
| Task | Where | Best Days |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign license conversion test | Test Center | Mon–Thu (check language schedule) |
| Foreign license issuance | Test Center | Mon–Sat + Sun |
| General license renewal | Higashi Mikawa | Mon–Wed, Fri–Sun |
| License reissuance | Test Center | Mon–Sat + Sun |
Times and details can change, so always confirm directly with the Aichi Prefectural Police before your visit.