Vehicle Tax and Car Registration

Hi,

I own a car in Japan that I do not use. I normally would have to pay vehicle tax every year as the car is registered. If I cancel my car registration would I be able to avoid paying this tax (legally). I intend to sell the car however have not found a buyer yet.

Thanks
Nick

You can but too late.
BC this is taxed only to the owner of the "April 1".
So you have to pay this years tax and no refund.

Ask(by call) to Department of Motor Vehicles office(*).
about "一時抹消登録(ichiji-massyou-touroku)" procedures(手続/tetuzuki).
一時 : temporary (not 永久/eikyuu = forever)
抹消 : erasure
登録 : regist

一時抹消 can re-regist in the future. (no limit as period)
永久抹消 cannot re-regist in the future. (by scrapped mainly)

*)
軽自動車(kei/under 660cc/yellow plate) ： 軽自動車(検査)協会/Kei-jidousya-(kensa)-kyokai
https://www.keikenkyo.or.jp/about/about_000074.html
普通自動車(Futuu/over 660cc/white plate) ： 陸運局(事務所)/rikuu-kyoku(jimusyo)
http://www.moon-cross.com/unyu/

Thanks for the amazing reply mate!