The number of light motor vehicles used in Japan began to rise from the mid-1960s, followed by an increase in their accidents. In 1972 the Road Vehicles Act was amended to include light motor vehicles in the mandatory inspection list of in-use vehicles in order to ensure their safety and clean emission.
This amendment was accompanied by the establishment of the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization as a specialized inspection institute in August 1972, under approval of the Minister of Transport. Inspection centers of the Organization were created at 53 sites across Japan, and their inspection work was initiated on October 1, 1973.

The Organization's financial standing was steadily bolstered as a result of further increases in the number of light vehicles and through continuous management efforts. In October 1987 the Organization paid back all its governmental capital fund and became a private organization for attaining greater management independence and vitalization.

As of June 2002 light vehicles numbered 21 million units, accounting for roughly a quarter of Japan's total motor vehicle fleet. And the Organization has been striving to enhance user conveniences by increasing its inspection centers and by expanding the capacity of each center. Currently the Organization operates a total of 86 inspection centers and inspected about 11.3 million vehicles in the one fiscal year period ending March 31, 2007. There are however regions where the inspection center coverage remains sparse, requiring center expansions and new centers to eliminate the waiting lines at some of the existing centers. The Organization will continue to acquire state-of-the-art inspection equipment and technology and improve its counter services so as to offer reliable and high-quality inspections to the users.

As the public interest in automotive safety and environmental issues has never been stronger, the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization will pour greater efforts into enhancing the safety and environment-friendliness of light vehicles so that motorization will bring not only convenience but also comfort to our life.