Safety of cars that have been in water, damage certificates, tax reductions and refunds, and scrapping procedures. This page was last checked on: 2026-08-18
Do not start the engine of a car that has been in water. It can cause breakdown or fire. Please do not start it even just to check whether it still runs.
Stay away from electric vehicles (EV), hybrids (HV) and PHEVs. There is a risk of electric shock. Do not touch the body, the charging port or the orange cables, and do not try to remove the battery yourself.
If the car must be moved, do not drive it. Ask a towing company or another professional. If possible, keep it outdoors and away from buildings.
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Beware of fire and electric shock from a flooded car
A car that has been in water can catch fire later, even if it looks fine. Do not start the engine. Please do not start it even just to check whether it still runs.
In electric vehicles (EV), hybrids (HV) and PHEVs, water that gets into the lithium-ion battery can cause an internal short circuit and start a fire. Do not touch the body, the charging port or the orange cables, and do not try to remove the battery yourself.
If the car must be moved, do not drive it — arrange a tow truck. If possible, keep it outdoors and away from buildings.
The source cited concerns the risk of fire when lithium-ion batteries get wet. We will confirm a primary source for “do not start the engine” (from the automobile industry association, JAF, or the Fire and Disaster Management Agency) at the next update.
If your car was damaged, you can apply for a hisai shomeisho
The risai shomeisho (り災証明書) certifies damage to your home, but if something other than your home was damaged — such as a car — you can apply for a hisai shomeisho (被災証明書). You can apply for it together with the risai shomeisho. It may be needed for tax reductions and other procedures.
You will need the application form, a copy of your identification, and photographs of the damage (the whole item and the damaged parts). For non-residential property you will also need something showing ownership, such as a copy of the registry.
You may be able to have your automobile tax reduced for a car that can no longer be used because of the disaster. There are conditions and an application deadline, and once the deadline passes you cannot get the reduction.
Please confirm the conditions, the amount and the deadline that apply to this disaster with the Chiba Prefecture Automobile Tax Office.
We have not been able to confirm the amount of the reduction or the deadline, so we do not state them here. Please confirm at the counter.
Refund of automobile weight tax (if you scrap the car)
If you carry out a permanent deregistration on the grounds of dismantling, or file a dismantling notification, for a car that has reached the end of its use, you can receive a refund of automobile weight tax in proportion to the remaining validity of the vehicle inspection certificate.
The refund application form is part of the same form as the permanent deregistration application and the dismantling notification, so you apply for it at the same time as those procedures.
If you have not yet deregistered or filed the dismantling notification, do those procedures and the refund application together at the Transport Branch Office covering your number plate. You can also ask a dealer or dismantling company to handle it. If you still have a loan on the car, contact the loan company first.
The Transport Branch Office that covers your number plate
What follows is information about the paid services of Strive Trading Co., Ltd. It is not public support. You can use all of the support schemes above without using our services.
Sell a car We ask several partner buyers for valuations. Consultation and estimates are free.
Find a car You can tell us your requirements first, even before the insurance amount is decided.
About this information
The details, eligibility, deadlines and counters can change. Please always check the official announcements of each organisation for the latest information. Every item shows its source and the date it was last checked.
The Japanese version is the authoritative one. Please check the Japanese pages and the official sources for the latest information.
