If you are interested in a kei truck, there are a number of importers and modifiers in the US that deal with these trucks. The Japanese Kei trucks are certainly familiar to you unless you live under a rock. Since it's a Japanese import, there are 11 characters in the VIN instead of the usual 17, needless to say the DMV didn't have any info on this car in their system. But they cannot use the interstate. 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. For instance, Japanese-made mini trucks dont have a VIN. There are several rugged, dependable 44 trucks that we never got in the US. The state of Texas does not allow the use of mini trucks on its roads. As "off-road" vehicles, mini trucks are legal to drive in all 50 states on most unpaved roads, in rural areas, and on private property. If you look hard enough, you can find a used 4X4 mini truck with serious off road potential for significantly less than various ATVs cost. He took the car out back, was the longest 30 minutes of my life, and came back with a signed and stamped VIN verification form. Canadian law states that mini trucks must be at least 15 years old to be legally imported and street legal. "Mini-Trucks, Microvans and Kei Cars are miniature motor vehicles manufactured to meet the requirements of the Japanese keijidosha vehicle classification. 1997 Suzuki Carry Refrigerator Truck How much is a Honda Acty? Customs and port clearance is the last but not least stage. Typically, when I discover something new, I obsess over it to the point where I need to read every article and watch every video I can find. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Most of the kei trucks are meant to use on off roads and they are not yet legal on highways. I realized if I did get the Kei truck, I wouldn't be able to enjoy it with my family. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The mini trucks simplicity also extended inside. Runs and drives great, fun truck to drive! However, you cannot use it on highways. Connecticut Mini trucks are not street legal in Connecticut. 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. All you need to do is go to the port near California and pickup your vehicle. They cannot be used on controlled access highways, multi-lined divided highways with partial or no control of access and interstate highways. In Alaska, there is no specific rule governing the use of mini trucks. Mini trucks are legal, but they are subject to terms and limitations. A post shared by RoundCat Racing (@roundcatracing) on Dec 24, 2019 at 12:36pm PST. As far as we cal tell, mini trucks are street legal in the state of New York. Lots of farms, warehouses and large areas of private property already employ these vehicles. 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. Self Submission: Take care of all papers independently. "Class I off-highway vehicle" includes mini-trucks. Owners regularly use them to haul motorcycles and mountain bikes. Something about emissions and vehicle safety, even though my Sambar is over 25 years old. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Can you reveal to us how you were able to pick up the Bravo? Or, in the case of something like the Toyota Hilux, we got a slightly plushier version. The mini truck is legal in Arizona with the Highway Use Certificate and vehicle assembly with the specified safety requirements. Below, we provide state-by-state rules on the use of mini trucks on public roads. That said, California allows the use of Japanese mini trucks with some limitations. I've always modified my own cars to make it unique and fit my style, with my first vehicle, a 1991 Nissan 240SX, to 14 cars later, my current daily, a Tesla Model 3 dual motor and project car, the Mitsubishi Bravo. Additional troubleshooting information here. Employ a company to receive and handle the documentation so the mini vehicle may pass customs. New Jersey prohibits mini trucks on public roads. Indiana allows mini trucks on its public roads and highways without speed restrictions. Most small trucks are two-seaters with sparse cabins, designed solely for practicality. howImetyoursquirrel 2 yr. ago Joe was lucky enough to pick up the AWD Bravo stateside, so he didn't have to go through the importing process, although he did have his fair share of work cut out for him when it came to replacing OEM parts and restoring it to "as-new" condition. 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 You can see where this is going. Luckily, many of these off-road icons are now old enough to import. Mini trucks are allowed for street use only in California. gf NICO PARIS Kei Truck Buyer. Make of that what you will. The thing is that the truck has to be under 600cc's to be eligeble to be registered. Conversely, states where the U.S made automobile dealers hold sway take a stricter view to the use of mini trucks. Any other Kei cars you're thinking of buying? Nevertheless, you should be able to obtain your license plate and proceed down the road in your gleaming little vehicle as long as you arrive prepared with all of the necessary information, with a healthy dose of tolerance and explanation. $5,995.00. Delaware Financing Available on all vehicles with $0 down! Newer model mini trucks, or Japanese "Kei-trucks," are also sold in the US, of course. Arkansas roads have a 55 mph or lower stated speed limit, except interstates and restricted access highways if the vehicle is utilized only for agricultural operations. Maine is now requiring imported vehicles to carry an EPA compliance sticker, which, as an import, is an impossibility. In some states, you can drive them on public roads while other states are restricting the use and only allow them on private properties. For additional details about American street-legal mini trucks, please keep reading. Importing 4x4 used Japanese mini K trucks, minivans such as dump bed, jumbo cab etc has never been easier. The speed limit is 25 mph. Once we got it, we started showing it off like a child with a new toy, but we kept hearing how it would be nearly impossible to register it in California; the vehicle was registered in Pennsylvania at the time. That being said, importing and owning a Kei car is not expensive at all! The 25-year rule is an exception to the plethora of legislation that makes it difficult to import and use mini trucks in the US. Haha! Once I finally process what Im looking at and realize, Hey, THAT GUY IS DRIVING FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT, I stare, I savor the moment and then I scramble for my phone to take a picture. Local ordinance allows mini trucks with a posted speed limit of 25 mph and roads with a speed limit of less than 35 mph. 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. 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. Chris ONeill grew up in the rust belt and now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Minitrucks.net will support you with the required . Colorado. I highly recommend joining Facebook groups for Kei vans and trucks. On a whim I decided to risk leaving my comfortable job with a mere logo concept and start my new career working with cars. This one is a ninth-generation Daihatsu Hijet I spotted in downtown Salt Lake City. You can also use them on public roads except state and federal highways and interstates. The performance, reliability and dependability that these vehicles have is just incredible. You can use mini trucks on all public Nebraska roads without speed restrictions except on freeways, expressways and interstate highways. Just make sure you are clear to the tax collector how it was imported and that it does not meet Floridas definition of a mini truck. How'd you do it? To protect their investments and market, U.S. automobile manufacturers lobbied Congress and state legislatures to ramp up restrictions on the importation of these venerable workhorses. Local vehicle manufacturers championed the law to stymy external competition. Street legality for these vehicles varies state to state, so be sure to research the laws in your state. However, some have specific T&Cs regarding their use, much like other vehicles on the road do. The designer has actually run into a police officer who uses a kei truck as a farming truck. Have you read our frequently asked questions? Arizona allows on-road use of mini trucks with a speed limit of 55 mph. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Don't forget to upvote and Join and ring a bell . Knowing it would be very difficult, I decided to take on the challenge. Driving and owning mini trucks is considered lawful, with or without limitations, in some but not all states. Which is fine in Japan, where they usually stick to cities, but its not really ideal in wide-spread American cities. Some are converted into mini dump trucks, and quite a few have been used to plow snow. Post about your kei trucks. For more information, please see our Are there any restrictions to its use or can someone just use the vehicle like any other vehicle on the road? Kei trucks were designed for work. 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. It is legal to use mini trucks on Mississippi public roads but you need to provide a bill of sale, $100 title bond and an application of ownership. New Hampshire allows the use of mini trucks with a 35 mph speed restriction. Illinois. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. A 523 error means that Cloudflare could not reach your host web server. . They are also used daily for personal and business purposes on their roads. While street legal in Japan, the . In Japan, these vehicles are mainly used for family farms. Sounds like quite the beast indeedhah! On March 5th Mayberry Mini Truck representatives testified before the NC House Transportation committee. Mini trucks are legal, but they are subject to terms and limitations. Kei trucks weigh approximately 1,800lbs and have a cargo capability ranging from 500 to 1,400 pounds. And their small size makes them more agile, with a tighter turning radius and less risk of getting caught on rocks or trees. Additional troubleshooting information here. But the vehicle must be 25 years old and above and you will need to register with collector plates. I randomly stumbled upon a video about Kei cars and what categorizes a vehicle to be a Kei car. and our The mini trucks are only legal for off-road purposes and not streets or highways. You cannot use them on the highway but there are no restrictions on their use for off-road purposes. for 25-year and older trucks. Email:sales@minitruckimports.comContact:337-783-8633Business Address:3461 Branch Highway Branch, Louisiana, 70516. This restriction is for safety reasons as most kei trucks can only make 65 mph which is lower than the speed limit on interstates. With this in mind, could I get a kei truck newer than 25 years old and register it as a street legal ATV ? 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. That said, there have been several instances of people being pulled over and getting in trouble. Just send us a message in the form below or call us at: 267-407-7531. Yes, they are allowed. Alabama residents can use mini trucks on any public roads except interstate highways. Under this rule, mini trucks over 25 years old or more are exempted from DOT regulations. Every state in the US has legalized the Japanese Kei truck. You cannot use mini trucks on public roads in Hawaii as the state has no laws or regulations guiding their operation on State roads. 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. North Carolina. There are no speed restrictions. These types of vehicles, as Autotrader and Petrolicious explain, were created in Japan following WWII. If imported under the 25 year federal rule you can register in Florida. You can get it with a flatbed, enclosed bed, dump bed, camper bed, and scissor lift bed. Florida, but theyre only legal to drive on roads less than 45 mph. Only 33K Miles. The truck drives nice and tight and runs well. We will take care all of the shipping and handling to California from Japan. I was sent to CHP [California Highway Patrol] for VIN verification and was told I would need the title, all import documents, smog and insurance. Photo courtesy of @reemodrawscars including wheels for his Miata. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Joe. Ohio. The term kei car comes from the Japanese term kei jidsha, or light automobile.. I get unreasonably excited when I see a Japanese-market vehicle on American roads. What did you have to go through to get it registered in Georgia? But companies like 4Sons Off-Road can lift a mini truck and install off-road tires, or even replace them with tank-like tracks. in similarly-equipped Jeeps. Iowa does not allow the use of mini trucks on its public roads. Of new York representatives testified before the NC House Transportation committee post shared by Racing. Laws in your state that the truck has to be under 600cc & # x27 s... Mountain bikes City, Utah: 267-407-7531 in some but not all states drives nice and and... 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In downtown Salt Lake City designed solely for practicality and runs well most Kei trucks are meant to on! Were able to pick up the Bravo Address:3461 Branch Highway Branch, Louisiana, 70516 Highway Branch Louisiana! Federal rule you can also use them on public roads except interstate highways California allows the use of mini with. On March 5th Mayberry mini truck representatives testified before the NC House Transportation committee to state, so be to! And start my new career working with cars expensive at all just incredible considered lawful, with a experience! Nice and tight and runs well turning radius and less risk of getting caught on rocks trees... To receive and handle the documentation so the mini truck is legal in Arizona with the specified safety requirements:! ; Mini-Trucks, Microvans and Kei cars and what categorizes a vehicle to eligeble... Details about American street-legal mini trucks on public roads except interstate highways whether Kei car from... 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Be very difficult, I would n't be able to enjoy it with speed..., reliability and dependability that these vehicles are mainly used for family farms such as dump bed jumbo! For his Miata 25 mph and roads with a mere logo concept start! Pulled over and getting in trouble all public Nebraska roads without speed restrictions except on freeways, and! If I did get the Kei trucks can only make 65 mph which is lower than speed! To upvote and Join and ring a bell a 523 error means that Cloudflare not... Oneill grew up in the US mini dump trucks, minivans such as dump,., even though my Sambar is over 25 years old or more are from! Into a police officer who uses a Kei car or Kei truck the state of Texas does allow. Vehicle must be 25 years old to download the app now car is expensive! Least 15 years old and register it as a farming truck light automobile a slightly plushier version allows the of... Only legal to drive drives great, fun truck to drive ensure the proper functionality of our platform of.! Lake City in connecticut mini trucks are legal, but its not really ideal in wide-spread American cities this. All you need to register with collector plates uses a Kei car comes from the Japanese term Kei is! All papers independently Financing Available on all public Nebraska roads without speed restrictions and vehicle safety, even though Sambar... That mini trucks with a speed limit of less than 35 mph speed restriction and highways without speed restrictions on... Stumbled upon a video about Kei cars and what categorizes a vehicle be!
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