Second-Car Discount Eligibility Checker & Grade Simulator
Check whether a second car policy qualifies for Japan's second-car discount (grade 7 start) from the first car's grade, ownership, vehicle class, and policyholder relationship, and compare grade 6 vs. 7 premiums.
Second-car discount eligibility conditions
When all of the following conditions are met, a second (or later) new policy can start at grade 7 instead of the usual grade 6.
| First car's grade | The first (existing) car insurance policy has a no-fleet grade of 11 or higher. |
|---|---|
| Policyholder and vehicle owner | On both the first and second policy, the named policyholder and vehicle owner are individuals. Contracts where a company is the policyholder or owner do not qualify. |
| Vehicle use and class | Both vehicles belong to one of the "8 personal-use vehicle classes" (regular passenger car, compact passenger car, kei passenger car, light truck up to 2 tons, and similar classes intended for personal use). |
| Relationship between policyholders | The named policyholder on the second car is the first policyholder themselves, their spouse, or a relative living in the same household. |
The second-car discount is a discount rule that Japanese insurers commonly apply within the no-fleet grade system. Exact conditions are set by each insurer, so confirm the official eligibility with the insurer you plan to contract with.
Tips
- You can check the first car's grade on the policy certificate or the insurer's online account. Confirm the latest grade if the policy is several years old.
- The "8 personal-use vehicle classes" cover regular, compact, and kei passenger cars and light trucks used mainly for personal purposes; commercial and large vehicles may not qualify.
- If even one condition is not met, the new policy will not start at grade 7 and will instead start at the usual grade 6.
- Enter an estimated grade 6 annual premium to also see the estimated savings from a grade 7 start.
Frequently asked questions
Side Note — The second-car discount is an insurer rule, not an industry-wide system
The name "second-car discount" is industry shorthand, not an official term defined by law or a standard policy wording. The no-fleet grade rating system itself, set by the General Insurance Rating Organization of Japan, does not distinguish between a "first car" and a "second car" — each insurer builds this discount into its own product rules, which is why exact conditions and required documents can differ between companies.
The discount emerged as more households came to own multiple cars. A brand-new policy normally starts at grade 6 with no claim history, but if the same household already has a long claim-free record on its first car, the second car can reasonably be treated as a somewhat lower risk as well. Because the gap between grade 6 and grade 7 rates exceeds ten percentage points, it is a meaningful difference for multi-car households.
In practice, insurers commonly ask for a copy of the first car's policy certificate or other proof of contract details when applying. Switching insurers can also make it harder for the new insurer to verify the first car's history, sometimes slowing down the process. Households that keep all their vehicles with the same insurer tend to find the paperwork goes more smoothly.