FAQ
What is the difference between Tcab and Explorer?
Tcab is the service name; Explorer is the booking app (Web / iOS / Android). Bookings, inventory, pricing, payment, and guides all use the same public canonical host: www.tcab.com.
Can I book without the mobile app?
Yes — start on Explorer web. You can also book from the official iOS / Android apps.
Do you support bookings via AI agents?
Yes. Conversational AI and agents such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Cursor can guide bookings using the public llms.txt (this does not imply an official partnership with those products). Bookings run in Explorer on www; use the same llms.txt for field contracts and preconditions. Account sign-in, driving credential checks, and payment setup follow the same rules as a human booking.
Where do I see prices and availability?
Rates change — always check the live booking screen. You can also review stock in the availability matrix (do not invent counts; trust the display).
My card statement shows two TCAB EXPLORER charges. Was I billed twice?
This is not a double charge. A temporary authorization appears on your card statement when you book and again when you extend. Those amounts may not match the price on the booking screen.
After you return the car, only the actual usage fee is captured as the final charge. The temporary authorization is refunded by your card issuer 7–10 days after the final charge. The date it appears can vary by issuer.
If the final charge matches the confirmed amount on your booking screen, no further action is needed.
Which areas are available?
Stations (Tᵣspot) are available in Fukuoka and Okinawa. See areas and stations.
What vehicles can I rent?
We specialize in popular hybrid cars: Compact HV / Middle HV / Long HV (see vehicle classes). Gasoline, diesel, and kei cars are not offered.
Is there a counter? Can I rent 24 hours?
Mostly paperless: booking, identity checks, payment, and handover usually complete online. Branch counters are at Hakata and Naha Makishi, and in-store cash payment is available. Hours are 24/7: if stock exists you can pick up and return anytime. In-app chat support is also available 24 hours.
Can I pick up at a hotel or airport?
On-demand delivery is available to hotels, ferry terminals, and similar locations. Airport on-demand delivery is not allowed under airport rules. Return locations can also be chosen freely. The car is delivered to your reserved station by the reserved time.
Is gasoline included in the usage fee?
Yes. The base rate includes fuel for normal driving during your rental. You do not need to return the car with a full tank. Vehicles carry a fuel card; fuel purchased with it is also included in the base rate (except in cases such as misuse). The fuel card is in the glove box on the front passenger side.
What driver’s license do I need to drive in Japan?
You need a Japanese standard driver’s license, an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format plus your passport, or a foreign license from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, or Taiwan with an official Japanese translation. Vienna Convention permits and international licenses from non-Geneva countries such as mainland China, Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia are not valid in Japan. Driving eligibility is checked in real time by AI (image recognition, OCR, authenticity checks) for about 249 countries and regions. See the driving eligibility checker. Counts are defined on the country and region counts page.
Can I travel with a pet?
Yes for dogs, cats, and common small pets that fit a carrier (e.g. rabbits, hamsters, small birds; about 10 kg or less each). Add the Pet riding option when you book. Up to 4 pets per vehicle (fitting a cage within 70×90×75 cm). ¥500 excl. tax per pet per day (first day ¥500, then hourly after 24 hours). A waterproof pet sheet is lent; keep pets in your own cage or bag on the sheet—do not let them roam. For medium or large animals over 10 kg, contact us in advance via chat. If soiling or residual odor needs repair or deodorizing, ¥20,000 excl. tax is charged. See traveling with pets.
Are child seats available?
Yes. Baby, child, and junior seats are available as accessories for travel with children. Select the seat you need when booking.
Where can I read the cancellation policy?
Cancellation fees, change rules, and driver verification are defined in the cancellation policy. Paid bookings are not auto-cancelled by the system. If documents stay unsubmitted past the deadline the booking remains; customer or store cancellation uses the published fee schedule (with a store waiver when credentials are deficient).
Can companies use Tcab for Business?
Yes. Start from Tcab for Business, create an organization, and pay with a business card.
Who is charged cancellation fees?
For Business bookings made by authorized members, cancellation fees are billed to the organization payment profile.
Who is the qualified invoice issuer?
Issuer: TANAAKK EVGRID Inc. (registration T3180301037480, corporate number 3180301037480). This is separate from your company tax IDs.
When is a corporate number required?
Not at signup. Before the first paid capture you must provide corporate number, formal address, and invoice name.
Before departure
Where can I read the pre-departure guide without the app?
You do not need to install the app. departure guide
What should I check before departure?
Carry your license, finish identity checks, and confirm the time, pickup place, and vehicle class. departure guide
When and where do I start the rental?
Confirmed bookings only, from 30 minutes before departure, in booking history. departure guide
I don't know how to start the rental at departure
For a confirmed booking only, open booking history from 30 minutes before departure and tap Start. departure guide
How do I get the key?
After you start the rental, open the key box on the driver’s door handle with the PIN on the screen and take out the key. departure guide
When can I see the PIN?
For a confirmed reservation, start the rental from Reservation history from 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. The PIN then appears on the screen. departure guide
Who pays the exit fee at a paid parking station?
If an exit fee applies, you pay it before leaving the lot. Entry fees are paid by the store. If there is a parking ticket when you return the car, leave it inside the vehicle. Parking fees for Tᵣspot departure and return, and for Tᵢspot and MyTᵢspot return, are included in the reservation price. Pay the Tᵢspot departure exit fee on site. departure guide
What is prohibited in the car, and what about parking?
No smoking in the car. Turn off the interior lights and headlights when you park. departure guide
How do I extend the rental?
Use booking history at least 2 hours before the scheduled return. departure guide
What if there is an accident, a breakdown, or the key box will not open?
Move to a safe place, call 119 or 110, and use the emergency contacts in the departure guide. Coverage may not apply without a police report. departure guide
Return
Where do I return the car?
Return it to the return station on your reservation. Changing the location may add a fee. If you will be late or need to change the place, contact us in chat beforehand. return guide
What if the return station is full?
Park at a nearby station, then send your location in chat, or a photo of the sign at the lot where you stopped. return guide
What do I do with the key after returning?
Put the key in the same key box used at delivery, close the lid, and hang the box on the car’s door handle. return guide
What do I need to do when I return the car?
Open Return from Reservation history, check that nothing is left in the car and there is no trash, then finish the steps. If you leave something behind, pick it up at the office or we can mail it cash on delivery. A handling fee of ¥1,500 applies, plus shipping if it is mailed. return guide