Importing a vehicle from Japan is a car buying thrill unlike anything else. However, for the past few years, an increasing number of states have decided that cars that are old enough to be legal to import on the federal level are not eligible to be registered on the state level. Texas joined a growing list of states refusing to register Japanese Kei trucks, leaving owners stuck without answers. Some Texans are already fighting back, and they’re doing so through a method some have found to be controversial, let’s check it out.
One of the most infamous pieces of car-related legislation in America is the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, known by enthusiasts as the “25 Year Rule.” Officially, the law was enacted to protect Americans from potentially unsafe vehicles that didn’t comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or had been sloppily converted to meet said standards. Before this law, many individuals and companies, even franchised dealerships, imported cars from other countries to sell for a lower price than their U.S. market counterparts.
When the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 became law, Americans suddenly had to wait 25 years to import the vehicles of their choice or go through the expensive process of converting a non-compliant car into a legal one. The Environmental Protection Agency has its own rule, blocking imports out of the country until they’re at least 21 years old. Once an imported vehicle becomes 25 years old, the federal government no longer cares that the imported vehicle was never built to American safety or emissions standards.
Most enthusiasts have accepted this reality and many can’t wait for the day when their dream car reaches that magical age of 25. However, an increasing number of states are putting the future of importation into question. Will your state be accepting of the car you want when it comes of age? For the residents of Maine, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, and now Texas, that answer is becoming unclear. Most of these states are targeting Japan’s smallest class of cars, Kei-jidōsha, and specifically Kei trucks. However, some of these states are canceling the registrations of any Kei vehicle and one of them will seemingly cancel the registration of any imported vehicle.
Messing With Texas
I spoke with David from the Texas Kei Truck Advocates, a group attempting to work with the state government of Texas to secure the future of imported vehicles in the state.
David and I spoke on a call where he revealed that the situation in Texas is a bit weird. Some Kei truck owners haven’t experienced any issues registering their vehicles while others have been getting turned away from the DMV. It would appear that some counties are better than others. This does mean that Texas Kei truck owners are currently in a better position than Kei truck owners in, say, Maine, but it’s still not a great place to be. If you don’t know if your Kei truck will be able to be registered, you may think twice about putting down your hard-earned cash on one.
Which is right? Are Kei trucks legal in Texas? According to the January 2024 edition of the Texas Vehicle Title Manual, the answer is no:
Mini-trucks
Vast numbers of used Japanese mini-trucks and vans (also known as Kei-class vehicles) are being imported into the US primarily as off-road vehicles. Some states allow mini-trucks to operate on roadways as low or slow speed vehicles. Mini-trucks are not eligible for title or registration due the vehicle’s lack of compliance with US environmental and safety standards.
In case you weren’t convinced, the Texas Vehicle Title Manual brings up Kei trucks again:
Now here’s where things get weird. David tells me that the Kei truck ban is a policy within the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
I’ve done some digging and found that Texas Kei truck owners have been dealing with registration issues in their state since at least 2007. However, many of these people owned newer mini trucks that were younger than 25 years old and imported as off-road vehicles. Owners banded together in an effort to change Texas’ policies, but the bill, HB4495, ended up going nowhere. For a while, those with Kei trucks older than 25 years were reporting success, then 2021 came around and it would appear that Texas also took a page from the AAMVA.
As of current, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles claims that Kei trucks cannot be titled because they do not meet the state’s definition of a motor vehicle. Alright, let’s check the laws. When one Kei truck owner pushed back, the state directed them to Texas Transportation Code Title 7. Vehicles And Traffic, Subtitle A. Certificates Of Title And Registration Of Vehicles. We’ll be digging into Chapter 501, the Certificate Of Title Act.
According to Section 501.002 (17), a “motor vehicle” is defined as:
(17) “Motor vehicle” means:
(A) any motor driven or propelled vehicle required to be registered under the laws of this state;
(B) a trailer or semitrailer, other than manufactured housing, that has a gross vehicle weight that exceeds 4,000 pounds;
(C) a travel trailer;
(D) an off-highway vehicle, as defined by Section 551A.001; or
(E) a motorcycle or moped that is not required to be registered under the laws of this state.
Well, that’s not much help. Chapter 541 gives us more definitions:
(11) “Motor vehicle” means a self-propelled vehicle or a vehicle that is propelled by electric power from overhead trolley wires. The term does not include an electric bicycle or an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined by Section 551.201.
(12) “Passenger car” means a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, used to transport persons and designed to accommodate 10 or fewer passengers, including the operator.
Alright, let’s head to Section 551A.001, which defines an off-highway vehicle as:
(1-d) “Off-highway vehicle” means:
(A) an all-terrain vehicle or recreational off-highway vehicle;
(B) a sand rail; or
(C) a utility vehicle.
Well, a Kei truck doesn’t really fit any of those. Maybe it’s a utility vehicle? According to Texas, not really:
(6) “Utility vehicle” means a motor vehicle that is not a golf cart, as defined by Section 551.401, or lawn mower and is:
(A) equipped with side-by-side seating for the use of the operator and a passenger;
(B) designed to propel itself with at least four tires in contact with the ground;
(C) designed by the manufacturer for off-highway use only; and
(D) designed by the manufacturer primarily for utility work and not for recreational purposes.
In all of my digging of the Texas Transportation Code, I found no mention of “mini truck” and I didn’t even find the AAMVA wording that any vehicle not meeting FMVSS should be removed from Texas roads. So, it would appear that Kei trucks are being denied registration based only on a department policy rather than an existing law. Still, the states do reserve the right to do that.
So, what are Texans doing? As I said earlier, some people are still reporting successes in getting license plates for Kei trucks. For some, David told me, this means Texans shouldn’t rock the boat and try to operate under the radar for as long as possible. This would mean doing nothing until Texas potentially starts canceling registrations like Maine and Georgia are doing.
There have been different approaches to reversing imported car bans. Over in Maine, Rep. Shelley Rudnicki introduced a bill that would have amended the state’s definition of an off-road vehicle to not include vehicles legally imported into the country. That was over a year ago and as of now, the bill appears to be dead.
Individual owners in states banning imports have filed lawsuits or individual DMV appeals for their own vehicles, each with varying levels of success. However, it should be noted that individual DMV appeals, even if successful, will not change underlying laws or policies. Enthusiasts and dealers in Georgia have banded together to sue their state’s DMV for the right to register and drive their cars on Georgia’s roads.
Enthusiasts in Texas have decided to take a different approach. Instead of waiting for the state to really hammer down on imports, the Texas Kei Truck Advocates have decided to try to work with the government to change its laws and policies. Texas Kei Truck Advocates have made some admirable progress thus far as they have gotten the Texas DMV to agree to review its policies on Kei trucks. The Texas Kei Truck Advocates have also reached out to lawmakers all over the state, including Governor Greg Abbott.
I have also reached out to a lawmaker and will update if I get a statement from them.
David tells me the group of Texas Kei truck owners feels this is the better path forward instead of trying to sue after things go downhill. That said, he also realizes that the decision to be proactive is a controversial one. On one hand, the DMV review process can result in Kei trucks finally being fully legal to title and register in the state. On the other hand, the DMV review could reveal that some counties aren’t following the rules, and suddenly, Texas would become like Georgia practically overnight.
Because of this, David told me, some Kei vehicle owners in other states have strongly disapproved of the approach taken by the Texas Kei Truck Advocates. Some feel that by being proactive, the Texas Kei Truck Advocates is just notifying the government that there are loopholes that need to be closed.
David has provided me with a number of documents, including correspondence with congressional contacts. One of those documents contains the arguments being presented to the Texas DMV. The document is five pages long, so click here to read the full argument. I’ll pull some portions:
At present, a notable issue concerning Texas Kei truck owners revolves around the inconsistent recognition of crucial federal exemptions by some Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) offices. Specifically, some TxDMV offices are not honoring the federal 25-year exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and the 21-year exemption from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions requirements. This non-recognition has resulted in the denial of title and registration to Texas Kei truck owners, creating a challenging and unfair situation for these vehicle enthusiasts and small business owners. Addressing this issue is pivotal to ensure that Kei truck owners are granted their federal rights, promoting a consistent and equitable approach to their titling and registration across the state of Texas.
The TxDMV plays a crucial role in governing the titling and registration of vehicles within the state. Within its purview is the classification and approval of various vehicle types for road use. Among these vehicles, Kei Trucks, also known as Japanese mini trucks, hold a unique position.
This argument seeks to address the need for a policy change within TxDMV concerning the titling and registration of Kei trucks when they reach 25 years or older. The rationale for this adjustment is rooted in the federal exemption provided under the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, The Clean Air Act, as well as principles derived from the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. By revisiting and revising this policy, TxDMV has the opportunity to ensure that these well engineered and roadworthy vehicles, originally designed for on-road use, enjoy the same rights as other classic and antique vehicles on Texas roads, thus harmonizing state regulations with federal law.
The argument then goes on to note that these vehicles are legal on the federal level:
Under the 25-year exemption rule established by the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, these Kei trucks, when they reach the age of 25 years or older, should be considered eligible for use on public roads in the United States. This exemption recognizes them as classic or antique vehicles, exempt from the stringent Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) designed for newer vehicles. Once these vehicles are over 20 years old, they are provided an exemption from EPA emissions requirements per the Clean Air Act.
The critical distinction here lies in their origin and purpose. Unlike off-road utility vehicles, like Tiger Truck, or certain Chinese models that are genuinely designed for off-road use only, Kei trucks come from reputable Japanese manufacturers with a history of producing vehicles intended for road use. These vehicles are not repurposed off-road machinery; they are road-ready from their inception.
Further down the document, the Texas Kei Truck Advocates point out why banning these vehicles under the guise of safety doesn’t make a ton of sense. The advocates point out how Texans can register motorcycles, mopeds, dune buggies, and vintage vehicles for on-road use, but many of these vehicles aren’t any safer than a Kei truck. To the Texas Kei Truck Advocates, as well as many impacted by Kei vehicle bans, it doesn’t make any sense that someone is allowed to drive an old Ford Model T or an air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle, but a kei truck is a step too far.
The document continues its arguments by pointing out that a 25-year-old Kei truck imported from Japan is not the same thing as a brand-new mini truck imported as an off-road vehicle. Those off-road mini trucks are governed to slow speeds while an old Japanese mini truck can reach and exceed speed limits and ride on street-legal tires.
Of course, the banning of Kei vehicles also impacts businesses, from the importers and dealers bringing these vehicles into Texas and selling them to consumers to the small businesses using Kei trucks as delivery vehicles, food stands, rolling billboards, and more.
If you haven’t been following this headache, I’ll explain.
The State Of Car Imports
Back in 2021, Maine was the first state that kicked off this debacle. The state changed its laws to state that any vehicle that does not meet FMVSS is not legal to drive on its roads. This change was made infamous when the owners of Mitsubishi Delica vans began reporting that the state revoked their registrations. JDM fans will note that the Delica is in a class much larger than Kei, but Maine doesn’t care. Officially, the Delica didn’t meet FMVSS, so it wasn’t legal in Maine. On June 15, 2021, the state amended its 29-A MRSA 354 statute to define an off-road vehicle thusly:
‘Off-road vehicle’ means a motor vehicle that, because of the vehicle’s design and, configuration, original manufacture or original intended use, does not meet the inspection standards of chapter 15, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s pollutant requirements or the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s crash testing standards and that is not a moped or motorcycle.
Since then, other states joined in, each imparting upon JDM vehicle owners varying levels of registration difficulties. New York, Georgia, Maine, and Rhode Island all started recalling the titles and registrations of JDM vehicles while Pennsylvania allowed some already registered vehicles to be grandfathered in. Pennsylvania also allows Kei car owners to register their vehicles as antiques, which at least allows the vehicles to be driven occasionally.
Wisconsin is another confusing one. Officially, the state has banned the registration of Kei-class vehicles since at least 2013. Meanwhile, imports in larger classes are allowed to be registered so long as they aren’t modified and you have another car as your primary vehicle. However, many have had luck getting their Kei vehicles registered as historic vehicles.
This has left many enthusiasts asking how can the states do this? If the federal government is okay with the importation of these vehicles, shouldn’t the states be okay with registering them? Logically, yes. However, as the state of Wisconsin points out, vehicle registration is not the job of the federal government, and the states can control what drives on their roads, emphasis mine:
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows for vehicles to be imported into the country once the vehicle has reached a certain age. However, NHTSA and EPA are not responsible for regulating the operation of motor vehicles on public roads in the U.S. or for titling or registering motor vehicles for such operation: that is the responsibility of the individual states.
The Organization Behind The Bans
As I’ve covered now many times in the past, all of this traces back to the Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). Here’s what I’ve reported before:
In November 2021, I located the source of this madness, and it was the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). This is a non-governmental non-profit lobbying organization composed of motor vehicle and law enforcement administrators and executives from all 50 states. Canada, Mexico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C. get representation in the AAMVA as well. Among other things, the organization seeks standardization of laws across the states regarding traffic safety, vehicle titling, and driver licensing. AAMVA does not have legislative power but it does urge all member states to follow its “best practices.”
Vehicles imported from Japan and China have been on AAMVA’s radar since the late 2000s. Back then, the organization noticed how tons of Kei trucks were flooding American shores and the states didn’t really know how to handle them. It should be noted that a lot of these trucks weren’t older vehicles imported under the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, but newer trucks with speed limiters meant for farm or utility work.
In February 2010, representatives from several states and Canadian provinces met in Orlando, Florida to develop best practices for handling the influx of mini trucks. It was just one of many AAMVA meetings on the subject of vehicle imports.
Making matters worse was the fact that the AAMVA had ammunition courtesy of an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety opinion published in 2010. The IIHS crash-tested Kei trucks against vehicles such as the Ford Ranger and concluded that low-speed vehicles and mini trucks are unsafe and should be removed from the road.
The opinion noted that starting in 2007, there was a trend of states allowing mini trucks on regular roads. That IIHS opinion focused on mini trucks with a governed 25 mph top speed, not trucks older than 25 years old imported without a limiter.
A year later, the AAMVA handed out its own opinion to member jurisdictions. Best Practice Regarding Registration and Titling of Mini-Trucks makes it clear that the AAMVA sought to remove these vehicles from the road:
By allowing on-road operation of used mini-trucks, Canada and the U.S. are accepting another nation‘s cast-offs—vehicles that no longer meet the exporting country‘s vehicle safety or emissions standards. Increasing the supply of older model vehicles in North America undermines government and industry efforts to improve vehicle safety and reduce vehicle emissions, as these efforts are largely dependent on fleet turnover. This risk can be reduced by placing restrictions on the use of these non-conforming vehicles in Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions.
As evidenced by the law passed in Wisconsin, it would appear that some states followed AAMVA’s recommendation. Otherwise, the recommendations were largely ignored until 2021, when Maine’s BMV, with the help of the DMVs of Georgia, Colorado, and South Dakota published Regulation of Off-Road Vehicles: Best Practices.
My previous article continues:
This document clamps down on imported vehicles in a way that doesn’t seem all that logical. You can read it for yourself, but the important parts are that the AAMVA’s definition of an off-road vehicle is broader than the NHTSA’s, and the organization specifically calls out Kei trucks that are 25 years and older.
Perhaps the most shocking part is that the AAMVA admits in the documentation that its recommendations may clash with existing laws. In that case, the organization recommends that a state just changes its laws until the recommendations are legal. That’s what Maine, Rhode Island, and the rest of these states have done.
If you want the full scoop on what’s going on, I recommend reading my explainer at the old lighting site.
If you take the AAMVA’s definition of an off-road vehicle literally, it should mean that any vehicle built before the passage of FMVSS should also be illegal to drive. That would mean no Ford Model Ts, no Chevy Corvette C1s, or perhaps half of the classic cars I find on Mercedes’ Marketplace Madness. Yet, the recommendation is currently being used only against imported vehicles, largely Kei vehicles. I also wrote about the history of the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, which can be read by clicking here.
As of now, it’s unclear where the Texas DMV will land on this issue. The Texas Kei Truck Advocates were supposed to hear something from the state by the end of February, but as of right now, they have nothing. Allegedly, there may be a decision coming soon, but it’s unclear when.
Hopefully, enthusiasts in Texas succeed. If they do, their success can be used as an example of how to beat imported car bans before a state gets to the point of revoking titles. This would also be far cheaper than a lawsuit that could stretch out for years. If Texas fails, enthusiasts may see it as an example of what not to do. So, for any American wanting to enjoy some old forbidden fruit, let’s hope the Texas Kei Truck Advocates secure a future for JDM enthusiasts in the state.
The Supremacy Clause? You mean that thing Texas is currently ignoring with SB 4? They might want to bark up a different tree.
Also small government deregulation etc.
Come to Oklahoma, where there are no vehicle inspections of any kind, and the DMV will put plates on any pile of parts, kei trucks and side-by-sides included!
As a bonus, an estimated 30% of vehicles on the roads are uninsured!
But tornadoes!
Lost in the outrage of these increasing state bans on these kei trucks is the technicality that when these were new, versions of these were available for sale as off-road vehicles in the U.S. and commonly used on government installations and college campuses. For example, back in the day, the Mitsubishi Minicab was built under license somewhere in southeast Asia and sold in the U.S. as the Cushman Model G for offroad use only. In the state’s eyes, if that vehicle can’t be registered after a 25 year waiting period, why should an essentially identical – but imported – kei truck be road legal?
wasn’t that Cushman limited to 25 mph?
The actual Mitsubishi is not. It is capable of 87 mph.
I don’t know that specifically the Model G was speed limited like other Cushman vehicles presumably were, and I don’t know if that matters within the context of this. They weren’t legal for use on public road, and surprise-surprise more than one bureaucrat is probably not seeing that distinction if it exists.
Good question.
The trucks that you are referring to were imported specifically as off-road vehicles. Import law has an exemption for vehicles built or modified specifically for off-road use. That Cushman was was one of those vehicles and was required to have a 25 mph governor installed. Due to the way it was imported, it will always be a farm vehicle or toy.
This is why you can buy a brand new 2024 mini truck in America. It’s going to have a limiter, no title, and may never be registered for road use.
On the other hand, the 25 year old trucks being discussed here are unrestricted and are being imported as road vehicles, which is different in the eyes of the federal government. They have the proper documentation for titling and registration as well.
Of course, the states have the right to dictate what cars can and cannot be driven on their roads. Which is what this comes down to.
I think the thing that’s the most frustrating is not the fact that the bans exist, but how the states seemingly randomly target some vehicles but not others. A Suzuki Cappuccino is unacceptable for these states, but nobody would care if I imported a 1999 Smart from Europe. Doesn’t matter that the Smart has a smaller, weaker engine because it’s not considered to be a kei car. That’s the wild part.
Yeah, and I don’t have any good answers beyond putting one and one together and possibly coming up with three. The fact that the state is rejecting these title applications because they are in the state’s eyes “mini trucks”, which is the designation given to the cohort off-road vehicles tells me that I’m probably on the right track. From there it is the Bureaucracy not wanting to deal with something they don’t consider to be a serious enough issue to deal with.
This is so asinine and makes me mad.
This being under the guise of safety is just absurd. I live in PA which is a state where there are no helmet laws for motorcycle riders. How is THAT a thing in places but a small truck a teeny, tiny number of people have has to be stopped?
Yep, as long as ANY 2-wheeled (or 3-wheeled, see CanAms) vehicle can be legally driven on the street, the “kei cars are unsafe” argument is beyond idiotic.
How do they feel about Subaru 360 trucks, vans, and cars that were imported new? Or Honda 600s? If those can be registered, then they all should be registerable.
That’s a good question. It is my understanding that Malcolm Bricklin did not have the Subaru 360 modified to U.S. safety standards. I wonder if they too would get caught up in this, or somehow not just because they were sold here.
Sadly, the only state willing to talk about the ban is Maine. Every other state official hasn’t responded to calls or emails. Maine’s stance is simply that if the vehicle doesn’t meet FMVSS, it’s not allowed on Maine’s roads.
We’re hoping to have a friendly contact in Texas, but repeated poking isn’t producing anything.
We’re hoping to have a friendly contact in Texas, but repeated poking isn’t producing anything.
How about a less than friendly letter from a lawyer? Those usually get some action.
Not to mention all the U.S. market microcars like Isettas and Messerschmitts.
The story with the 360s I’ve always heard is that they were exempt from any standards because they weighed under 1,000 pounds.
For the Maine thing, is it that if it doesn’t meet FMVSS for its respective year of manufacture they won’t register it? That’s kind of what California has gone to for importing cars newer than 1968. That should mean no non-U.S. market car can be registered Maine, not just Japanese cars, but they seem to only target JDM cars which is, frankly, un-American.
Ugh, everything’s dumber in Texas. Honestly, every time I hear about this it makes me wonder how so many people in so many important positions, in so many different places sound like they have a family tree that’s a bit narrow about the waist — and, potentially, comorbid issues with dental care and with near-pathological obsessions involving stock car racing…
Regardless… I’ve already said it once, and I’ll say it again. A vehicle like this is inherently the opposite of “less safe than a GY6 scooter”; the issue here is perception.
I’m pretty sure the best remedy for this is what the medical community would likely describe as an anal craniectomy operation, to correct apparent severe proctological pre-anal cranial positioning presenting in the patients at hand…
“everything’s dumber in Texas”
Amen.
The Lone Star State is a generous Yelp ranking.
Actually I was riffing on the old “everything’s bigger in Texas” quip.
Oh, I’m well aware.
I’ll never pass up an opportunity to shit on Texass, though.
Thank you for your service to this country, sir and/or ma’am. /salutes
Everything’s dumber in Texas, except for the things that are dumber in Maine and several other states I guess.
Oh, believe me, Texas doesn’t have the corner market on stupid.
If a state allows any pre-80’s vehicle for road use than Kei Trucks should also be allowed. Claims of safety are almost embarrassing in their level of hypocrisy given what else is legal for road use.
Not sure we should go there: sort of sounds like the fun police want nothing but new autonomous safety-bubbles on the road
IMO, the issue is that versions of these were offered for sale in the U.S. from new for offroad use only. If my 25 year-old Cushman truck isn’t road legal, why should the identical Mitsubishi Minicab be road legal just because it was imported?
because when the cushman was built in the China Motor Corporation factory, it was a copy of a mitsubishi minicab, but they didn’t build it to any particular safety or emission standard, and cushman also put speed limiters on them.
a legit mitsubishi one is capable of highway speeds, and actually has crash safety and emissions control equipment, albeit stuff that hasn’t been verified with US standards.
I’d argue that speed limiter aside, the Mitsubishi isn’t any safer than the Cushman of the same vintage. Or at least that is the state’s interpretation of things.
Classic cars in the US that don’t meet safety standards are self-limited by rust, age, parts availability, etc. Not many people are resurrecting Plymouth Volares from scrap yards. The numbers are shrinking – not growing.
As sympathetic as I am to the Kei car enthusiasts, they knew what they were getting into. You have to go out of your way to park one of these in the driveway, and their questionable legality will definitely come up in the course of your search.
I used to own an SR20DET-swapped S13. I knew what it was. I knew there would be issues trying to keep it on the road in a CA-emissions state with annual inspections. When it got to be too annoying to me, I sold it…and then the state cancelled emissions testing on OBDI cars a year later.
I find it kind of charming that anyone expects sanity to prevail within the Texas legislature or any executive department. Best of luck with that.
Can’t wait to see more Kei cars with Montana plates registered to an LLC 🙂
And yet I can register a two cylinder classic Fiat 500 imported from Italy using the 25 year rule.
The answer is simple – money. Insurance carriers don’t want the payouts. Automakers join in as they don’t want good ol’ ‘Merrikans buying affordable foreign trucks instead of theirs.They’re just getting started with the Keis. Once somebody starts making lists, they tend to keep adding on.
Texas: The Freedom State
It’s a misunderstanding. Your freedoms in the great state of Texas are limited to a) fracking and b) jacking around with heavy weaponry. Frack and jack, baby! Yee haw, dadgummit!
Texas and Florida have been in a competition for years for the title of Biggest Asshole State.
Alabama and Mississippi, and Florida are becoming jealous.
As noted in this article, there is no Monopoly on which states are vying for the The Biggest Asshole trophy.
A lot of politicians like to shout about how other countries are out to destroy the USA.
I would submit the thought that we are already doing a great job on that front without any help.
Fuck them, and fuck Texas as well.
I live in Mass. A guy down the road drives a van, and truck regularly to work on our rural highway. Has been for about two years now. I want one of these bad, another neighbor has a one with a dump, that also side dumps. He is fighting letting me get it, because while his wife likes the new polaris ranger they got to replace it, you just can’t beat the kei trucks and she isn’t ready to let it go!
Luckily there doesn’t seem to be much interest in banning them here.
Until there is. I’m in NE MA in a ruralish area and I’ve seen a couple of Kei trucks running around as well as an R32 and a jacked-up Delica camper. I enjoy seeing them, but goddamn I’d feel bad if I were ever in a collision with them.
I think you are right, a couple high profile crashes and things will go sour towards them. Fingers crossed people stay safe out there.
There is – weirdly enough – a European car repair shop with a lot full of Kei vehicles about 5 minutes from my house here in Connecticut, and I’m aware of at least two more in other parts of the state.
AAMVA legislates by proxy, thanks to the political and organizational aspirations of its members, many of whom are also DMV directors and administrators, plus donations from the insurance industry and other organizations with a stake in states’ DMV policies.
While they can and have provided useful guidance for safety standards and some semblance of uniformity in driver licensing, at this point they’ve likely outlived their usefulness.
DMV directors and administrators can be replaced by county commissioners. Vote accordingly.
Can indolent DMV also be replaced? The bs my randomly assigned DMV employee put me through just because he could and dgaf made me want to throttle him.
Wait, Mexico is part of the AAMVA Terrorist Organization? That country doesn’t have any standards at all! However, they do accept both US and ECE-certified cars.
Many of those kei trucks were also sold in Europe and LHD. They have standard 17-character VIN numbers. People should buy and register those instead. They will probably not get caught.
If the states still want to ban kei shit, they should at least grandfather such trucks already registered. For example, Oregon doesn’t allow new kei trucks to be registered, but they didn’t cancel the ones already registered.
buyjapanesecarsfromeurope.com
Good tips though.
LOL that’s not a real site 😛
at least it’s not a rickroll tho
Also, kei cars are capable of 87 mph, which is just over the 85 mph which is the highest speed limit in Texas.
not a real site….yet!
“buyjapanesecarsfromeurope.com”
On that note, the Triumph Acclaim (a.k.a. Honda Ballade) that I bought in January is scheduled to arrive in Tacoma from the UK this Saturday. If all goes well I should be able to collect it next week. The start of its journey:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53528300502_d8de7556f7_c.jpg
was a bit more deluxe than what I have in mind for getting it home:
https://live.staticflickr.com/4452/37059200994_cab88ba0a0_c.jpg
but I imagine my pickup will appreciate the fact that the Triumph is less than half the weight of that ’65 Thunderbird.
Love the truck. I am not a pickup guy, but is that an international harverster / scout?
Thanks! It’s a 1970 International 1200D. It’s easier to identify with the tailgate in place:
https://live.staticflickr.com/1715/24819593354_97c4b84541_c.jpg
beautiful! I hope they are trouble free and you get lots of life out of them.
Thanks! The ’65 was only temporarily in my possession, though.
That is a beautiful little car!
it’s like a stray waif finding the perfect home
Wait, Mexico is part of the AAMVA Terrorist Organization? That country doesn’t have any standards at all!
Certainly not in architecture. I saw things in Baja that would give OSHA inspectors a lifetime of PTSD. Not in driving either or if there are they are ignored. Drivers in Mexico make US BMW drivers look like by the book safety ubernerds.
I find it odd that South Dakota was involved in the definition of Off-Road vehicles because even though things such as dirt bikes, ATVs, SxS etc. may be classified as off-road vehicles, South Dakota will still happily issue you a license plate for one. There are some requirements to meet such as lighting, mirrors, and a horn, but the only restriction on plated off-road vehicles is that they can’t travel on the interstate system. As far as I’m aware, this also applies to Kei trucks and cars.
I can see someone making the case that legally children shouldn’t be allowed to ride in or drive Kei Truck due to safety concerns, but as you pointed out this could easily apply to an obscene amount of classic cars in the US, and why should we care if consenting adults want to ride in a car that crumples like a beer can in a crash?
Personally I’m all for a new category of single seat automobiles with lax crash standards and such. Personally all I really need automobile wise is basically a stretched Daihatsu Midget II with a 6ft bed.
Here’s something that will blow your mind: children are apparently allowed to ride bicycles on the road! by themselves!!
I’m sure that activity is a lot safer than being driven around in an enclosed kei car with the seatbelt on 😉
In a dedicated lane or on the sidewalk though, at least in CA.
Oh god the disease is spreading
Surprised I can still register one in Alberta
This makes me curious about the Kei trucks that Texas A&M had plated for street use when I was there a few decades ago? I wonder if they will get some kind of exemption being a state school?
Also, I know someone who has a tube-frame sand rail registered, plated, and street legal and it doesn’t have even a fraction of safety features one of these Kei trucks have.
I don’t see the answer to the question here:
According to Section 501.002 (17), a “motor vehicle” is defined as:
The vehicle is “motor driven or propelled”; the question is “is it required to be registered under the laws of this state”.
So what does Texas law say are vehicles that are “required to be registered under the laws of this state”?
I added a couple of more lines. So far as I can tell, Texas law itself does not prohibit the operation of kei vehicles on its roads, so this is just a departmental policy.
The big issue is going to be what are the vehicles that Texas requires to be registered. There’s got to be a statute. If this was in Michigan, and I faced this question, and there was no definition of what are vehicles that are required to be registered, I would file suit for something called a “writ of mandamus“, which basically is asking the court to force a state institution to do its job.
A motor vehicle is a vehicle required to be registered.
A vehicle must be registered if it’s a motor vehicle.
Uhhhh
“Mini-trucks are not eligible for title or registration due the vehicle’s lack of compliance with US environmental and safety standards.”
Bullshit, they do comply with US environmental and safety standards, because US standards are that there are no standards once a vehicle is 25 years old. They’re trying to hide behind a federal rule that doesn’t exist. Now, if somebody is trying to register a kei truck that’s less than 25 years old, fine, yes, that’s fair, but that’s not what’s happening here.
If they want to ban mini trucks because of the mini part, then they should cite some regulation regarding a required minimum engine size or required minimum vehicle curb weight or length, as I understand it, no such things have ever existed, anywhere
For what it’s worth, as the owner of a 1985 Jeep CJ in Texas, which is now 39 years old, I can tell you that it does not require an emissions check in my county because it’s older than 25 years. It requires a safety inspection yearly, and its emissions equipment must be as it originally was. I’ve never had it fail the yearly inspection.
I think the thing is that the US may be ready to accept the general automotive safety standards from a foreign nation on cars 25 years or older. But Kei cars didn’t have to meet regular passenger vehicle safety standards even in their home country. Just lose a wheel and call it a motorcycle. All safety rules go out the window then.
Yeah, that’s not it, the 25 year exemption is a 25 year exemption, and keis do have to meet standards in Japan, the standards for kei class vehicles, and this rule doesn’t seem to be going after all kei vehicles, specifically kei trucks (unless anyone is aware of anyone with a recent issue registering an Alto Works)
“the 25 year exemption is a 25 year exemption”
Apparently not, or we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
The 25 year rule was enacted more than a decade before the weakest hints of a public internet and simple international car shopping. They did not anticipate that one day it would be easy to import a cheap used up less-than-base-model vehicle from Japan with slightly less effort than finding an eager milf in your area.
We’re having the discussion because a bunch of bureaucrats in state DOTs subscribe to the same mailing list or attended the same conference where someone declared OMG, mini trucks bad, use your authority to stop people registering them. From a federal level, it is absolutely against the intent of the regulation, at the state level, they’re not really enacting new regulations, they’re just choosing to misinterpret federal ones and claim they’re enforcing that.
I guess we just need Bill Gates to want a Kei car, so he can change these rules again.
Did Porsche make a Kei 959?
Either that, or a very sympathetic and media-friendly small business owner who’s livelihood is being destroyed by the kei truck crackdown, find them and weaponize them with a good PR firm
I don’t know how sympathetic a small businessman fighting not to buy American would be.
I’m not saying that’s my perspective, but it would be a perspective.
These are antique cars, a quarter century old or more, they’re not taking sales away from anybody. Nobody’s defecting from a 2024 Ford Maverick because they got a better deal on a 1999 Honda Acty
Again, it’s not my personal perspective.
I get the idea that most local business communities are just a room full of realtors and used car lot owners shoving business cards in each others’ hands.
The internets would have me believe that it is the work of an instant to locate an eager milf in my area, but so far all of my efforts have come to naught. Have you found success at locating an eager milf in your area? If yes, please tell me your secrets. My lonely state persists and i fear that my chances of locating an eager milf with which to share my remaining days grows more remote with each passing year.
This entire milf side quest is amazing
The internet never delivers milfs, but it can sometimes deliver Kei trucks. It shouldn’t work this way. They’re right in my area for crying out loud.
Yes, Kei cars are getting denied in Texas as well. If you say “Kei” at DMV, you get denied.
Don’t say kei then?
I love how mini trucks are bad, terrible, and unsafe, but side by sides? Totally fine. These policies are bad and those creating them should feel bad. They’re nothing more than protectionism for truck and side by side dealers. Anyone who’s watched the TFLoffroad YouTube channel would know that mini trucks are damn capable and only a fraction of the price of any truck produced by domestic manufacturers.
not only that, sxs go 500mph these days with 200hp. These trucks top out at like 50-60 realistically and don’t give drivers the false confidence of the sxs. But, who is paying your politician to keep the kei cars on the road? Answer no one. Who is paying to stop them? Maybe those same sxs companies who want you spending 30k on a toy with little use, vs a 5k super useful truck.
I truly believe Big SXS is a real thing.
100%
Does Texas allow SxS on freeways? I don’t think I’ve ever seen anywhere that does.
I’ve seen SXS’s on state highways in ME. But I think it’s up to a certain state to decide what it allows on its own roads. When it comes to allowing them on the interstate you may run afoul of the feds (maybe?).
But if a state issues a full regular passenger car registration plate to these things, it’s the equivalent of giving them a ticket to ride on the interstate.
Maybe they could be registered as local vehicles. Neighborhood vehicles? I know there is a term for the things you can run on golf cart paths where they have them, I just can’t think of the term. But if there was a restricted plate that let them operate locally (maybe roads with a speed limit under 40mph), it may be a middle ground where the two sides could agree. Not sure where that would leave the things in the eyes of insurance companies.
I agree, and that’s kind of what I was getting at.
Every jurisdiction I’ve been in that has allowed SxS, golf carts, etc on roads, it’s been at limited speeds. It does seem like something along those lines makes the most sense for mini trucks too.
Ah yes. Pile one yet another reason why I will never move to Texas. Or basically almost all of the other southern states. Which is a shame as I grew up there. But its just getting more and more ass-backwards by the day… which is insane given how many east and west coasters are moving there. Their state governments seem to be in a pissing contest on who can be the bigger asshole.
In this particular case, Texas is only the second southern state after Georgia to do this, the rest so far have all been in the Northeast or Midwest
Like there needs to be yet another added to the enormous list of reasons that Texas fucking sucks.
I think it’s bizarre how much Texas hate there is in the comments when the news story is about “Texas is doing a bad thing, much less onerously than a number of other states are.” Like yes it’s bad, but it’s weird that y’all are singling out Texas as a bad state. If you wanna pick bad states, Maine is by far the worst offender on this topic.
Texas hates far more than just kei cars, on a reach & scale that Maine can never hope to achieve. The toxic influence of Texass on the country is truly abominable.
I really don’t know what you’re talking about, or why you’re talking about it on this website.
Texas has more than 20x the population of Maine and an environment more suited to owning multiple / interesting cars. The Maine rules impact far fewer owners.