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State | Kei Truck Legality↓ | Kei Truck Speed Limit | Additional Details | |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | Colorado | Restricted | Kei trucks can only be used in off-road situations such as on the farm. | |
![]() | Michigan | Restricted | As of early 2024, Kei trucks were typically restricted to off-road or private property use. Limited exceptions may exist, but the states’ regulations generally discourage the use of these vehicles on public roads. Enthusiasts mounted a campaign to re-legalize Kei vehicles, but as of Nov. 2024, the vehicles remained restricted. | |
![]() | Minnesota | Restricted | Legal only in municipalities with local ordinances that permit it. | |
![]() | Montana | Restricted | Legal only in municipalities with local ordinances that permit it. | |
![]() | New York | Restricted | The DMV will not register or title any Kei-class vehicle unless the vehicle has been brought into compliance with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission requirements Regulations largely prevent Kei trucks from being used on public roads. These regulations cite safety and environmental concerns as the primary reasons for the restrictions. | |
![]() | Pennsylvania | Restricted | The state has tight controls and stringent inspection requirements, making it challenging for Kei trucks to pass the necessary tests for legal public use. As a result, Kei trucks are often restricted to off-road or private property use in these states. | |
![]() | Rhode Island | Restricted | Recent legislation has proposed to prevent the registration of additional Kei trucks while allowing currently registered ones to remain on the roads. This indicates a trend towards stricter regulations and limited road use for new Kei truck registrations. | |
![]() | Virginia | Restricted | Kei trucks can be registered as antique or special-use vehicles. However, their operation on public roads is heavily restricted, often relegating them to limited uses that do not include regular road driving. | |
![]() | West Virginia | Restricted | Kei trucks can only be used for farm purposes and within a distance of 20 miles. | |
![]() | Alaska | No recorded law | Alaska has no recorded state laws pertaining to the legality of kei trucks. Use of kei trucks is common, but may be prohibited by local laws. As such, owners are advised to check with local laws for guidelines on kei truck use. Alaska may allow non-residents to operate a vehicle registered in another state for 60 days. | |
![]() | Delaware | No recorded law | ||
![]() | District of Columbia | No recorded law | ||
![]() | Hawaii | No recorded law | You cannot use mini trucks on public roads in Hawaii as the state has no laws or regulations guiding their operation on State roads. | |
![]() | Alabama | Legal | 25 mph | Kei trucks are allowed on any road except for interstate highways. Additionally, trucks must be able to reach a minimum of 25 mph (which is also their maximum allowed speed). |
![]() | Arizona | Legal | The owner must complete and submit the Highway Use Certificate and make sure the vehicle complies with all extant safety and equipment requirements. | |
![]() | Arkansas | Legal | 55 mph | Kei trucks are allowed on roads where the speed limit does not exceed 55 mph. This excludes highways and controlled access highways. Also, all vehicles must be registered exclusively for farm and agricultural purposes. |
![]() | California | Legal | California poses significant hurdles for the registration and road use of Kei trucks. The state’s rigorous safety and emissions standards often make it difficult for these vehicles to be legally driven on public roads. Kei trucks are legal on streets but not on highways (prohibited on roads with speed limit above 55 mph). However, there are no limitations for off-road use. | |
![]() | Florida | Legal | 35 mph | Kei trucks are allowed on some roads. However, the speed limitations must be 35mph or less. Owners must register vehicles as a mini truck. County-level guidelines determine whether the kei truck needs to be registered as an off-road vehicle or as a recreational vehicle. |
![]() | Idaho | Legal | Kei trucks are allowed to use Idaho Transport Board roads and as a local option without speed restrictions. | |
![]() | Illinois | Legal | 35 mph | Kei trucks can be registered as antique or special-use vehicles. However, their operation on public roads is heavily restricted, often relegating them to limited uses that do not include regular road driving. |
![]() | Indiana | Legal | Indiana allows mini trucks on its public roads and highways without speed restrictions, but the driver must have a vehicle title and registration. | |
![]() | Kansas | Legal | Legal on public roads except state and federal highways and interstates. | |
![]() | Kentucky | Legal | Mini trucks are street legal in places where local ordinances allow but they can only be used to cross state roads. There are no speed restrictions. | |
![]() | Louisiana | Legal | 55 mph | Illegal on controlled access highways, multi-lined divided highways with partial or no control of access and interstate highways. |
![]() | Maine | Legal | 35 mph | |
![]() | Massachusetts | Legal | The Registry of Motor Vehicles assessed industry standards related to Kei trucks, cars and vans, and determined that owners of Kei vehicles would be able to register these vehicles effective September 18, 2024. Kei vehicles that were already registered could continue their existing registration and renewals, without interruption. | |
![]() | Mississippi | Legal | It is legal to use mini trucks on Mississippi public roads but owner must provide a bill of sale, $100 title bond and an application of ownership. | |
![]() | Missouri | Legal | 45 mph | Local ordinances dictate where kei trucks may be used. However, Missouri state ordinances limit the speed of the kei trucks to no more than 45mph. Missouri does not allow vehicles to be registered as miniature utility vehicles, which may limit the use of modern kei vehicles. Potential owners should check the overall hp output of any intended imports before purchase. |
![]() | Nebraska | Legal | ||
![]() | New Hampshire | Legal | 35 mph | Kei trucks in New Hampshire are confined to roads with a speed limit of 35mph or less and must stay within 25 miles of the owner’s residence. Business use is permitted, but again the vehicle must stay within a radius of 25 miles from the place of business. There are no permitted low-speed utility vehicles in New Hampshire. |
![]() | North Carolina | Legal | ||
![]() | North Dakota | Legal | 55 mph | Kei trucks are permitted on most paved roads in North Dakota, but may not exceed 55 mph and are disallowed on highways and roadways with a speed limit in excess of 65mph. Kei trucks must register as an off-highway vehicle, meaning that it is primarily used for off-road or agricultural use. |
![]() | Ohio | Legal | 35 mph | Kei trucks are permitted on roads with speed limits of 35mph or less. However, the local ordinances may override this permission. Throughout the state, Kei vehicles cannot travel at a speed in excess of 35mph. Owners are advised to check with local laws for guidelines on kei truck use. |
![]() | Oklahoma | Legal | Kei trucks are permitted on all roads in Oklahoma with the exception of highways and interstates. | |
![]() | South Carolina | Legal | 55 mph | |
![]() | South Dakota | Legal | Kei trucks can be used on public roads in South Dakota if they meet the necessary requirements and comply with general vehicle standards for safety and emissions | |
![]() | Tennessee | Legal | 35 mph | |
![]() | Texas | Legal | In April 2024, the Texas DMV declared that Kei trucks 25 years old or older that meet all applicable federal safety standards (and title requirements imposed on other vehicles) may be titled and registered in Texas. | |
![]() | Utah | Legal | 50 mph | Kei trucks are permitted on all Utah roads apart from highways, interstates, and byways. Local ordinances may add to these limitations. |
![]() | Washington | Legal | Kei trucks generally face limitations on public road usage. Washington’s regulations are designed to ensure that these vehicles are not driven on high-speed roads or highways. | |
![]() | Wisconsin | Legal | Mini trucks are street legal in Wisconsin. But the vehicle must be 25 years old and above and you will need to register with collector plates. | |
![]() | Wyoming | Legal | Wyoming regulations state that kei vehicles may use any road other than interstate highways, so long as the vehicle is able to reach the speed limit of said road. Kei trucks must also keep to the right hand lane and on the edge of the roadway. Additionally, local ordinances may limit access. Kei trucks must be listed as a multipurpose vehicle. | |
![]() | Connecticut | Illegal | ||
![]() | Georgia | Illegal | Kei trucks are legal in Georgia for agricultural and farm purposes only. Vehicles more than 25 years old can be registered as a classic vehicle and used on-road. Additionally, limitations based upon speed regulations may exist. Check with local zoning for requirements and restrictions. | |
![]() | Iowa | Illegal | ||
![]() | Maryland | Illegal | ||
![]() | Nevada | Illegal | ||
![]() | New Jersey | Illegal | ||
![]() | New Mexico | Illegal | ||
![]() | Oregon | Illegal | ||
![]() | Vermont | Illegal |
Kei trucks, also known as Kei-class trucks, have surged in popularity in the United States due to their compact size, cost-effectiveness, and versatility. Originating in Japan, these small, lightweight vehicles are prized for their ability to navigate narrow streets and crowded spaces with ease, making them ideal for urban transportation, agriculture, construction, and delivery services. However, the Kei truck’s smaller size and limited speed capabilities raise safety concerns, particularly when sharing the road with larger vehicles at highway speeds. Moreover, Kei trucks are not manufactured in compliance with the 1988 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). As a result, the import of Kei trucks is heavily restricted by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and many states impose additional regulations and restrictions. The details of these Kei truck restrictions vary by state, with some states imposing speed limitations or restricting them to certain non-highway roads and other states prohibiting the use of Kei trucks altogether.
While the import of new Kei trucks is effectively banned by the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, once a Kei truck reaches the age of 25, it is reclassified as a classic vehicle in the US. This renders the vehicle exempt from many regulations imposed by organizations such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), making the truck much easier to successfully import and register. They must still comply with existing safety standards, however, which may require new owners to modify features such as mirrors, seat belts, and headlights/vehicle lights. They must also comply with state registration and insurance requirements, which typically mirror those of full-sized vehicles.
In states like Alabama and Alaska, Kei trucks are prohibited, citing concerns over safety and road compatibility. Similarly, states such as Arkansas and California impose restrictions, including speed limitations and road-type prohibitions. On the other hand, states like Delaware and Florida permit Kei truck ownership with the appropriate permits, recognizing their utility in specific contexts.
Despite the evolving acceptance of kei trucks, discrepancies persist among states. Local ordinances further complicate matters, underscoring the need for potential owners to conduct thorough research and adhere to both state and local regulations. As Kei trucks continue to gain traction, understanding the legal landscape becomes increasingly crucial for those considering their use in various industries.