Most states lack Kei-specific regulation entirely, and so far, only 19 states allow Kei trucks on public roads. In New York, where laws are stricter, they can’t be registered or titled.

A kei truck boss has provided insight on the vehicle type’s growing domestic presence, what owners can expect, and how Trump’s tariffs change Japan exports.

If this whet your appetite for ambitious kei truck builds, then you're in luck as we have a boat load of them. To find out how good a six-wheel kei truck is at off-roading, head here.

Kei trucks are small but mighty Japanese vehicles that are gaining popularity in the United States. Texas and Colorado recently legalized Kei trucks, and the Oregon Senate is looking to follow suit.

You can bring Japanese kei trucks into the U.S. if they're at least 25 years old, which is normally the cutoff to be considered classics. Does that apply here?

As trucks in the U.S. get bigger and more expensive, demand has surged for a cheaper, smaller alternative from across the Pacific Ocean: Japan’s Kei trucks.

Most states lack Kei-specific regulation entirely, and so far, only 19 states allow Kei trucks on public roads. In New York, where laws are stricter, they can’t be registered or titled.

Gov. Jared Polis recently signed a bill set to go into effect in 2027 to allow kei cars and trucks on Colorado roads — just not on interstates.