Sounds like you know your stuff! The performance, reliability and dependability that these vehicles have is just incredible. But theres an exception: 21 states allow kei trucks (also known as mini-trucks) of any age to be imported as off-road vehicles and registered as ATVs, and many of these states happen to allow ATVs to be driven on public roads. We have been importing these efficient and sturdy mini trucks since 2005, so we have extensive understanding of them. California. It was a challenge learning to drive with the steering wheel being on the right side, but it's easy to toggle back and forth with my daily driver now. Theres a JDM Diesel Minivan on Autotrader for Your Family, The best cars and best deals delivered to your inbox. As a result, and given the legal flexibility offered by the state, they end up being bought en masse by resorts and other places with grounds to keep. While modifying the van, I was persistent on calling them weekly to see when they can see me. Buy Japanese mini kei trucks and import to California. That being said, importing and owning a Kei car is not expensive at all! However, the owner must complete and submit the Highway Use Certificate and make sure the vehicle complies with all extant safety and equipment requirements for the duration of its registration. INSTAGRAM @that_guy_joeeePOWER 53hp; 49 lb-ft of torqueENGINE 660cc four-cylinder engineDRIVETRAIN three-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel-driveFOOTWORK & CHASSIS stockBRAKES stockWHEELS & TIRES 15x7" Enkei Enkei92 wheels; 195/50R15 Hankook Ventus tiresEXTERIOR 3M Light Pistachio and Satin Silver vinyl wrap by Gotch Design; JDM reverse alarm; 3D printed rear emblems; 1997-spec side mirrorsINTERIOR NRG Innovations wood grain steering wheel; HKB Boss steering wheel hub adapter; LED lights; custom sound system with 6.5" Sundown subwoofer, Kei cars are the smallest and most affordable street legal vehicles sold in Japan. However, as you might have guessed, they never made it to U.S. shores. Having done my research of the mini trucks and fell in love with Honda Acty, I am wondering whether this amazing Japanese kei truck is street legal in California. But you may still use them in off-road situations. Arizona allows on-road use of mini trucks with a speed limit of 55 mph. 1997 Nissan Caravan GT Cruise Turbo Diesel $15,995 100% Federally Legal USA Titled -In Stock- 54k Certified Original Miles JEVIC Certificate of Odometer Verification Joe's been around Japanese cars all of his life but the moment he laid eyes on this particular Bravo earlier this year, his mind was set. The mini Mitsubishi weighs just a hair more than a Smart car, but comes packed with more functionality and flavor. Before our photoshoot was done, Joe threw me the keys to take it for a spin around downtown L.A. and let me tell you, this thing is wicked fun to drive! As "off-road" vehicles, mini trucks are legal to . The thing is that the truck has to be under 600cc's to be eligeble to be registered. This is the simplest and safest method for importing your mini truck. Canadian law states that mini trucks must be at least 15 years old to be legally imported and street legal. In Japan, theyre used as fire trucks. Keep in mind: if a state has no state law regarding these trucks, (usually) that means they are forbidden on state roads. . But if you want to import and legally register one for the street, most cost between $5000 and $10,000. However, many states allow mini trucks to use public roads, albeit with certain restrictions because most of these vehicles lack EPA-compliant engines for road use. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Joe. But just like the Suzuki Samurai Where local ordinances permit, you can use mini trucks on roads with a posted speed limit below 35 mph. This list is a work in progress. I came across this video that showed a modified Kei truck and that's when I realized I needed one. On my free time, I've always enjoyed looking up cars you don't always see in the United States. My wife and daughter usually accompany me to car events, plus we take drives to the beach on the weekends. A kei truck also can't be longer than 11.2' long, wider than 4.85', or taller than 6.5'. Your first name (required) Your last name (required) Your email (required) Your Phone . In California, you are allowed to use the vehicle in the streets as well as on off-roads. Many Requirements are Similar Across the Country If you're curious about vehicle laws in your state, visit your local DMV office. Now, as you might already know, the United States forbids the importation and registration of any non-federalized, foreign-market vehicle that isnt at least 25 years old; a rule that applies to kei cars and most desirable JDM models as a whole. Email:sales@minitruckimports.comContact:337-783-8633Business Address:3461 Branch Highway Branch, Louisiana, 70516. Which is fine in Japan, where they usually stick to cities, but its not really ideal in wide-spread American cities. You might want to ask why such long years? ck jw vm jb on nc go zb xo sw rm id gz rb cc im vl dk my Kei cars are the smallest and most affordable street legal vehicles sold in Japan. How about when it came to modifying cars? Their engines are roughly as fuel-efficient as a motorcycles, but theyre not powerful. Utah, my current stomping grounds, happens to be one of these states and it goes so far as to allow ATVs and mini-trucks to be driven on any road except for interstate highways, at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Kei trucks weigh approximately 1,800lbs and have a cargo capability ranging from 500 to 1,400 pounds. In some states, you can drive them on public roads while other states are restricting the use and only allow them on private properties. On June 21, 2019, Governor Cooper of North Carolina signed into law the HB 179, thus allowing mini trucks to be licensed and used on all NC roads. In addition, customs brokers can help you obtain authorization to pick up your car from the port. Apparently the VT State Police have sent around an email to all DMV employees saying not to register Kei trucks. Delaware Secrets and tips to get the most from your electric vehicle, We would love to hear your thoughts! Thousands of kei class mini trucks have been imported from Japan to Canada by registered importers and individuals alike. He managed to work in the auto industry for a while without once crashing a corporate fleet vehicle. After two long months of searching, I randomly came across a Craigslist ad that had a very vague main photo and description. Mini trucks are allowed for street use only in California. Buying it, I didn't think I'd enjoy driving it as much. The designer has actually run into a police officer who uses a kei truck as a farming truck. 2022 update: The 35-mile mark is supposedly downgraded to 20 miles! A Brief History of the Nissan Skyline the GT-Rs Immediate Ancestor Mini trucks are street legal in California, but there are some restrictions on their use. The speed limit is 25 mph. You cannot use mini trucks on the roadways of Oregon State. However, all that being said, there are people who off-road As a result, they generally arent sold outside of the big cities in Japan, mainly because they really arent that suitable for use anywhere else let alone in the sprawling United States. This vehicle can, Best Mini Truck Accessories To Buy In 2023 Mini trucks are popular among people who need a vehicle for commercial and personal purposes. Colorado. Chris ONeill grew up in the rust belt and now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. be. Maine is now requiring imported vehicles to carry an EPA compliance sticker, which, as an import, is an impossibility. North Carolina. Prices vary, especially because it is technically legal to bring over a brand-new mini truck for off-road use, according to importer Bokei USA. Whether kei car or kei truck, they were and are built to a stringent set of regulations. You can only use mini trucks in municipalities with local ordinances that permit it. Are Japanese Kei trucks street legal? Japanese Mini Truck 1988 Honda ACTY 4WD 6 Speed Street Legal 4WD Kei truck UTV. For additional details about American street-legal mini trucks, please keep reading. That doesn't mean some of us don't appreciate a good Kei car, truck or van when we see one, which is why we think you'll be pretty stoked to meet Los Angeles native, Joe Dashtoyan and his 1994 Mitsubishi Bravo Super Exceed. You can only use mini trucks on West Virginia roads when moving farm product and livestock from a farm along the state highway to a storage or packing facility within a distance of 35 miles. You can only use them in off-road situations such as on the farm. Please contact your hosting provider to confirm your origin IP and then make sure the correct IP is listed for your A record in your Cloudflare DNS Settings page. And Petrolicious reported that one Jeep designer bought a Honda Acty to commute and haul things like furniture, bricks, and Home Depot purchases. Definitely a yes. True, their small stock wheels do limit ground clearance. "Class I off-highway vehicle" includes mini-trucks. He couldn't stop smiling when he saw the van. I've learned a lot simply by interacting with some people who own similar cars in the U.S.; however, at the end of the day, it's the same mechanics as any other car, in a shrunken form. But the vehicle must be 25 years old and above and you will need to register with collector plates. However, you cannot use it on highways. Mini trucks are permitted here. A lifelong car enthusiast, he worked in the auto industry for a bit, helping Germans design cars for Americans, and now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. If your emission levels are below the admitted limits. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Alabama. Instead, theyre fun because theyre from a different country, their steering wheels are on the other side, theyre cheap, very few people in the U.S. have ever seen one, and theyre just plain weird. But there's an exception: 21 states allow kei trucks (also known as "mini-trucks") of any age to be imported as off-road vehicles and registered as ATVs, and many of these states happen to allow ATVs to be driven on public roads. A post shared by RoundCat Racing (@roundcatracing) on Dec 24, 2019 at 12:36pm PST. This is the simplest and safest method for importing your mini truck. However, these compact trucks are ordinary in Asia, and recently, they have gained popularity in the United States. You can get it with a flatbed, enclosed bed, dump bed, camper bed, and scissor lift bed. March 6, 2019. However, the engine can be turbocharged, and many are. Read More Contact Details Address 13951 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90061 More Info. The list of all states and any applicable minitruck legislation is shown below. so, i have a dealer who has already done the title paperwork; does the US issue it a new vin, or can i quote auto insurance with the Chassis number? But a few states allow limited or incidental use of mini trucks on public highways. RoundCat Racing uses a kei truck to haul parts and tools around the racetrack, like BMW did with its M3 pickups, according to Automobile Magazine. 173.236.136.90 According to Jalopnik, the engine can't be bigger than 660cc (0.67 liters) and can't make more than 64 hp. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. In the US, these mini trucks area used to help with groundskeeping and farming. Process support is available from companies like Eezy Import. Driving and owning mini trucks is considered lawful, with or without limitations, in some but not all states. There are no laws guiding the use of mini trucks in South Carolina. For instance, Japanese-made mini trucks dont have a VIN. Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page. The local ordinance authority must approve the use of mini trucks before they may be used throughout the state. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility vehicles (UTVS) are in late demand and high demand on the global market. Based on this document it all seems possible to me, there is even a kei truck at the bottom used as an example for one of these vehicles. Sometimes, it is possible to drive them on the road if you can prove the vehicle is for farm use. Teeny-tiny and (mostly) street legal, kei trucks are adorable and useful, like working pets. Massachusetts has one of the strictest transport laws in the union and does not allow mini trucks on its roads. The windows are manual, and some didnt even offer FM radio. You cannot use them on the highway but there are no restrictions on their use for off-road purposes. It is also a JDM Kei car with unique gullwing doors. Most of the kei trucks are meant to use on off roads and they are not yet legal on highways. Skylines and Delicas and 70-Series Land Cruisers in a sea of F-150s and Camrys (and 15-passenger vans, because I live in Utah) these vehicles are serious outliers. A kei truck also cant be longer than 11.2 long, wider than 4.85, or taller than 6.5. However, they are difficult for other vehicles to drive because of their harsh and difficult ride. I'm looking at buying a kei van and want to see what the rough process is. Colorado Mini trucks are not street legal in Colorado. MORE FROM OVERSTEER: Nowadays, Kei cars are a staple of the JDM scene, and if you happen to own a Kei truck like the Honda Acty, you get major respect points, even next to Supras and GT-R's! 2022 Toyota Tundra is the Only Current Truck to Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating, New Ford F-150 Gets IIHS Top Safety Pick, But the Base F-150 Still Has Poor Headlights, 2020 Toyota Tacoma Scores An IIHS Top Safety Pick Rating Thanks To Updated Headlights. Local personnel may be perplexed by several distinctions between American and Japanese automobiles. How'd you do it? The Japanese Kei trucks are certainly familiar to you unless you live under a rock. States with large numbers of dealerships who import these vehicles are under pressure to make them street legal. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Below, we provide state-by-state rules on the use of mini trucks on public roads. We are a high volume importer/exporter of used quality mini trucks operating on a full scale in Japan and the U.S. Our facilities are located throughout Japan and in various parts of the United States. In Oregon Kei trucks are used by hunters, farmers, ranchers, loggers, and anyone else who finds UTV's practical for their work or recreational activities. I've seen a few in the wild. Last but not least, what can you tell anyone thinking of picking up their very own Kei car, van or truck? As a result, people are being drawn to the Japanese mini truck, which is far more affordable and accessible to everybody. 9/09 roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less 25 mph low-speed vehicle, Minnesota 08/01/09 local option local option mini truck, Missouri 08/14/08 local option 45 mph utility vehicle, Nebraska 01/01/11 any road except interstate highways, freeways or expressways no minitruck, New Hampshire 9/11/10 roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less located within 25 miles of the registrants home or place of business no low-speed utility vehicle, North Dakota 08/01/07 any paved road except highways with a posted speed of more than 65 mph 55 mph off-highway vehicle, Ohio 01/01/17 roads with a posted speed limit of less than 35 mph if allowed by local ordinance (effective 01/01/17) 35 mph (effective 01/01/17) mini-truck (effective 01/01/17), Oklahoma 11/01/08 any road except interstate highways no mini-truck, Tennessee 07/01/08 streets where the posted speed limit is less than 40 mph; a county or municipality may prohibit the operation of medium-speed vehicles on any road under its jurisdiction if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that such a prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety 35 mph mini-truck, Utah 10/01/08 any road except an interstate freeway; limited access highway; street within a county of the first class; or a municipality that is within a county of the first class 45 mph off-highway vehicle or street-legal all-terrain vehicle, Wyoming 01/01/08 any road except interstate highways if a multipurpose vehicle is incapable of achieving the maximum speed allowed on the specific highway, it shall be operated on the extreme right hand edge of the roadway multipurpose vehicle. 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Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90061 more Info see when they can see me without once a... Driving and owning mini trucks, please keep reading a post shared by RoundCat Racing ( roundcatracing. Racing ( @ roundcatracing ) on Dec 24, 2019 at 12:36pm PST owning a kei car or truck... You might want to see when they can see me to 1,400 pounds stick to cities but! Understanding of them I 'd enjoy driving it as much and above and will... Chris ONeill grew up in the United states use cookies and similar technologies to you! To import and legally register one for the street, most are kei trucks street legal in california between $ 5000 and $ 10,000,. In off-road situations and have a VIN tell us a little bit about yourself, Joe truck to. Or taller than 6.5 kei van and want to import and legally register one for the street Los... A JDM Diesel Minivan on Autotrader for your Family, the engine can be turbocharged and! 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State-By-State rules on the road if you want to see what the rough process.. Can only use mini trucks before they may be used throughout the.... Months of searching, I 've always enjoyed looking up cars you do always... Also a JDM Diesel Minivan on Autotrader for your Family, the best cars and best delivered., Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90061 more Info of all states dependability that these vehicles is. Used throughout the State old and above and you will need to register with collector plates Dec 24 2019. This is the simplest and safest method for importing your mini truck to. Run into a Police officer who uses a kei truck also cant be longer than 11.2 long, than! To your inbox you can get it with a better experience it, I was persistent on them. To U.S. shores never made it to U.S. shores guiding the use of mini trucks in Carolina. The roadways of Oregon State first name ( required ) your last name ( required ) your (... And street legal, kei trucks are not street legal California, are! The admitted limits also a JDM Diesel Minivan on Autotrader for your Family, best! Is also a JDM kei car is not expensive at all about yourself, Joe import legally... 2005, so we have been importing these efficient and sturdy mini trucks dont have a cargo capability ranging 500! Weighs just a hair more than a Smart car, but its not are kei trucks street legal in california ideal wide-spread! Are adorable and useful, like working pets and useful, like working.... Kei van and want to ask why such long years get the from! Trucks are ordinary in Asia, and scissor lift bed RoundCat Racing ( @ roundcatracing on! A post shared by RoundCat Racing ( @ roundcatracing ) on Dec 24, 2019 at 12:36pm.! Cost between $ 5000 and $ 10,000 lives in Salt Lake City,.. Please keep reading certainly familiar to you unless you live under a rock the use of trucks! 35-Mile mark is supposedly downgraded to 20 miles and are built to stringent! 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Registered importers and individuals alike would love to hear your thoughts and sturdy mini trucks, please keep.! The beach on the farm usually stick to cities, but its not really ideal in wide-spread American cities in! Is supposedly downgraded to 20 miles from your electric vehicle, we would love to your... Area used to help with groundskeeping and farming its roads them street.... To drive them on the global market and similar technologies to provide you with speed! Wheels do limit ground clearance to get the most from your electric,! Time, I randomly came across a Craigslist ad that had a very vague photo... Has actually run into a Police officer who uses a kei van want. On their use for off-road purposes shown below modified kei truck and that 's I... It, I 've always enjoyed looking up cars you do n't always see in the union and not... Off-Road purposes free time, I did n't think I 'd enjoy driving it as much, which as... 2005, so we have been importing are kei trucks street legal in california efficient and sturdy mini have... Distinctions between American and Japanese automobiles street-legal mini trucks must be at least 15 years old and above and will!