Title & Registration

• Our Japanese Kei Truck has been imported into the USA from Japan under the EPA 25 year exemption.
• Some states have specific laws that allow off-road-utility vehicles to be driven on the street. If your state has such laws, then it may be possible to register an under 25 year old mini truck for street use.
• Some states：Kansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Maine, and New Hampshire, require mini trucks to be classified as Low Speed Vehicles (LSV) and may require further modification or certification for street use.
• California will not without completing CARB compliance testing first.
• You can still purchase this vehicle for OHV or private land use without having to complete any CARB testing.
• For buyers outside the state of California, these are street legal and can be driven as a regular vehicle on most roads.
• We’ll provide you with all the paperwork in English you may need to get it registered. But we recommend to check with your local DMV for registration.
• The documents which will be provided include the Export Certificate/Japanese title as well as the English translation, NHTSA HS-7 Form, EPA Form 3520-1 and CBP Form 7501.
• We will also send you an invoice and upon full payment, a Bill of Sale.
• Please don’t hesitate to contact us directly if you have any questions regarding the paperwork provided

Mini trucks are street legal in many states. In some states, you can drive them on public roads while other states are restricting the use and only allow them on private properties.

Whether you are considering buying a mini truck for farming, landscaping, or delivery purposes, read on to learn more about the legal status of these vehicles in your state.
Local vehicle manufacturers championed the law to stymy external competition.B40
You can drive mini trucks legally as off-road vehicles in all 50 states of the US. They are widely used on farms, unpaved roads, and private properties such as resorts and golf courses.
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.
States with no mini-truck laws often prohibit their use on public roads. But you may still use them in off-road situations.

Alabama

Alabama residents can use mini trucks on any public roads except interstate highways. The speed limit is 25 mph.

Alaska

Alaska has no state laws regarding mini truck use. But based on the reciprocity of state motor vehicle registration, Alaska may allow non-residents to operate a vehicle registered in another state for 60 days.

Arizona

As of 17 July 2009, the Arizona Department of Transportation declared mini trucks legal for use on public roads.
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.

California

Mini trucks are allowed for street use only in California. You cannot use them on the highway but there are no restrictions on their use for off-road purposes.

Colorado

Mini trucks are not street legal in Colorado. You can only use them in off-road situations such as on the farm.

Connecticut

Mini trucks are not street legal in Connecticut.

Delaware

The state of Delaware has no laws regarding the use of mini trucks on its streets and highways.

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia has no laws regarding the legality of using mini trucks on the street or highways.

Florida

Florida allows registered mini trucks to operate only on streets with posted speed limit of 35 mph or less.

Georgia

You cannot drive mini trucks on the road and highways in Georgia. Sometimes, it is possible to drive them on the road if you can prove the vehicle is for farm use.

Hawaii

You cannot use mini trucks on public roads in Hawaii as the state has no laws or regulations guiding their operation on State roads.

Idaho

Mini trucks are allowed to use Idaho Transport Board roads and as a local option without speed restrictions.
Note that these vehicles are classified as UTVs in the stat

Illinois

Local ordinance allows mini trucks with a posted speed limit of 25 mph and roads with a speed limit of less than 35 mph.

Indiana

Indiana allows mini trucks on its public roads and highways without speed restrictions.
But the driver must have a vehicle title and registration.

Iowa

Iowa does not allow the use of mini trucks on its public roads.

Kansas

Mini trucks can be used in cities if a local ordinance permit. You can also use them on public roads except state and federal highways and interstates.

Kentucky

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

You can use mini trucks freely in Louisiana with a speed limit under 55 mph.
They cannot be used on controlled access highways, multi-lined divided highways with partial or no control of access and interstate highways.

Maine

The state of Maine allows mini trucks on roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph.

Maryland

Maryland does not allow the use of mini trucks on public roads.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has one of the strictest transport laws in the union and does not allow mini trucks on its roads.

Michigan

The state of Michigan does not allow the use of mini trucks on its roads.

Minnesota

You can only use mini trucks in municipalities with local ordinances that permit it.

Mississippi

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.

Missouri

Mini trucks can be used in Missouri by local ordinance and they are restricted to a 45 mph speed limit.

New York

As far as we cal tell, mini trucks are street legal in the state of New York. That said, there have been several instances of people being pulled over and getting in trouble.
However, the law should be clear that you can drive your mini truck outside your private property.

Montana

You may use a mini truck in Montana if the local ordinance allows it.

Nebraska

You can use mini trucks on all public Nebraska roads without speed restrictions except on freeways, expressways and interstate highways.

Nevada

It is unlawful to use mini trucks on public roads in Nevada.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire allows the use of mini trucks with a 35 mph speed restriction. However, the vehicle must be used within 25 miles of the driver’s residence or place of business.

New Jersey

New Jersey prohibits mini trucks on public roads.

New Mexico

Mini trucks are not allowed on public roads in New Mexico.

North Carolina

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.

North Dakota

Mini trucks can be used on roads with a posted speed limit of 55 mph. They are restricted from roads with speed limits over 65 mph.

Ohio

Where local ordinances permit, you can use mini trucks on roads with a posted speed limit below 35 mph.

Oklahoma

Mini trucks are allowed on Oklahoma roads with no speed limitations. But they cannot use the interstate.

Ohio

Where local ordinances permit, you can use mini trucks on roads with a posted speed limit below 35 mph.

Oklahoma

Mini trucks are allowed on Oklahoma roads with no speed limitations. But they cannot use the interstate.

South Dakota

Mini trucks are not allowed on state roads in South Dakota.

Tennessee

Tennessee allows mini trucks on roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. However, this is subject to local ordinances.

Texas

The state of Texas does not allow the use of mini trucks on its roads.

Utah

You can use mini trucks on Utah roads with a 50 mph speed restriction or less except on the interstate.

Vermont

Mini trucks are not street legal in Vermont and even registering them can be a hassle.

Virginia

You cannot use kei trucks on Virginia highways. But you can use them for farm purposes.

Washington

Mini trucks are street legal in Washington. You will see them all over Seattle, as a reader told us.

West Virginia

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.
2022 update: The 35-mile mark is supposedly downgraded to 20 miles!

Wisconsin

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

Drivers in Wyoming can drive their mini trucks on any roads except for interstate highways. While there are no speed restrictions, the vehicle must use the extreme right-hand edge of the highway if it’s unable to achieve the maximum speed allowed on a specific roadway.

None of the 50 states allow mini trucks on interstate highways.

This restriction is for safety reasons as most kei trucks can only make 65 mph which is lower than the speed limit on interstates.
Also, mini trucks don’t meet U.S road safety requirements and the older models use non-EPA engines that cannot pass emission tests for public roads.

The 25 Year Rule Is Important

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.
Under this rule, mini trucks over 25 years old or more are exempted from DOT regulations.