Buying a Car in Saitama? Why a 10-Minute Test Drive Is a Gamble — and What to Do Instead

“Could you turn left at the next light, please?”
“Sure… (I still can’t get a feel for these brakes…)”
“Nice and quiet, isn’t it? Great ride quality!”
“Yeah… I guess… (I can’t exactly turn to my wife and say ‘Honey, isn’t this car a bit cramped?’ with the salesperson sitting right here…)”

— Sound familiar? This is the classic “awkward 10-minute test drive” at pretty much any car dealership.

A car is often called the second biggest purchase you’ll ever make. Spending millions of yen based on a 10-minute lap around the dealership parking lot is, when you think about it, a pretty serious gamble.

What a 10-minute test drive can never tell you

A slow 10-minute cruise on straight roads tells you almost nothing about what you actually need to know. For example:

• After a big Costco run in Shin-Misato, will all the groceries and the stroller actually fit?
• Can you park in one shot at the notoriously tight multi-story garage at Koshigaya LakeTown?
• Can you navigate the narrow residential streets of Soka and Yashio and pull smoothly into your own driveway?
• After an hour on the Gaikan Expressway or Joban Expressway, do the kids in the back seat get carsick?
• For everyday errands — grocery runs, school drop-offs, commuting — is this car actually practical?

These are things you can only figure out by spending a full day using the car the way you normally would, with just your family.

Why most dealerships can’t offer this

“So why not just borrow one for a day?” you might wonder. Turns out, there’s a legal reason most dealers can’t do this.

Under Japan’s Road Transportation Act, a business that doesn’t hold a rental car license (“wa-number” registration) is not legally permitted to rent out its inventory to customers for a fee. In other words, a typical used car dealer simply cannot offer a “borrow it for a day before you buy” service under Japanese law. That’s part of why test drives have always been limited to “10 minutes around the block.”

Introducing “Rent Before You Buy”

SOUKYO MOTORS is a full-service motor dealer headquartered in Yashio City, Saitama. In addition to vehicle sales and our own in-house service center, we hold an officially licensed rental car operation.

Because we have both a sales division and a rental division, we can offer something most dealers can’t: “Rent Before You Buy.”

Here’s how it works

1. See a car you like? Rent the same model (or an equivalent) from our rental division — for a day, a weekend, whatever you need
2. No salesperson rides along. It’s your family’s private space — test the car however you want
3. Costco hauls, LakeTown parking, your own garage, the expressway — try every scenario that matters to you
4. Decide to buy? Your rental fee is deducted from the purchase price

If you buy, the test drive was essentially free. If you don’t? You just pay the standard rental fee — no penalties, no pressure. You’re left with nothing but a nice day out.

Why this works so well — three reasons

1. A test drive without a salesperson is a completely different experience

Let’s be honest — it’s hard to say “this car is kind of disappointing” with a sales rep sitting next to you. Couples need privacy to have real conversations: “Isn’t the back seat a bit cramped?” “Is the engine noise bothering you?” With a rental test drive, the car is your private space. No pressure whatsoever.

2. The real “spouse test”

In many Japanese households, it’s the husband who compares spec sheets — but it’s often the wife who actually drives the car day-to-day for groceries and school runs. A rental test drive lets her drive her actual daily routes and answer the questions no brochure can: Is the parking spot at home easy enough? Will I clip the car next to me at the supermarket? Is the visibility good enough?

3. The relationship doesn’t end at the sale

SOUKYO MOTORS’ Yashio headquarters houses an in-house service center staffed by nationally certified mechanics. After you drive your car home, we handle inspections, mandatory vehicle checks (shaken), repairs, and bodywork — all under one roof. The peace of mind of being able to go back to where you bought the car is something online auctions and big-box dealers in distant cities simply can’t match.

That’s exactly why we want our customers to have zero regrets. A purchase with no second-guessing is the first step in a long relationship.

Why not start with a cup of coffee?

Our Yashio showroom features MOTORS CAFE, where you can enjoy freshly roasted specialty coffee.

“I’m not ready to buy — I just want to see what’s available.” That’s perfectly fine. Come in, grab a coffee, and let’s chat about your ideal car. If there’s a specific model you’re curious about, just ask: “Can I rent a ○○ to try it out?” That’s all it takes.