The Expert Podcast

The little Kei Japanese mini trucks are still in the crosshairs of many states. Some states may be making it a little easier, while others are making it harder. But in the long run, there are still a lot of headwinds against these trucks.

What is a Kei Japanese mini truck? Well, this is a truck that kind of looks like this—it's basically designed and created on the chassis of a motorcycle. It has a small two-cycle or maybe two- or three-cylinder engine with less than 100 horsepower, usually around 50 or 60.

These mini trucks can probably barely get up to highway speeds, but for around-town commuting, they are great. Many people like them because they’re cheap, can haul stuff, and are kind of like having a big wheelbarrow you can take to Home Depot. However, many states don’t allow them to be registered or titled because they are considered not safe. There is a big controversy and dispute about this, with differing opinions. The problem is that they were never designed for U.S. roads.

There was a loophole in the import laws, which stated that if a car was more than 25 years old, it didn’t have to go through the same type of emissions and inspections as other imported cars. However, that only exempted it from import requirements, not state registration requirements. You still have to import it and go through the process.

Now back to your video. Even though these vehicles didn’t have to conform to the same physical characteristics as modern cars, when you go to register them in your state, your state could still deny the title or registration. In fact, many states were revoking titles that had already been issued.

So what do you do about it? You need to check if your state allows them, but more importantly, look at the future. Even though some states are starting to let them on the road, there are some federal guidelines that might be kicking in as part of the new administration. Some of the import duties and tariffs may prohibit these cars from going on the road.

Automakers, including Japanese import automakers, don’t want these cars on U.S. roads because they take market share away from other vehicles. It’s also more difficult to get parts for them. So, if you have one of these and you want it as a second vehicle for local use, just know that even if you are able to get a registration or title, it may be revoked at some point. And if you try to register it in another state, you might still not be able to drive it in yours.

These Kei Japanese mini trucks are controversial. If you want more information, you can click the link below. We also have title consultants who can discuss this issue with you in more detail. Having a unique, non-standard vehicle might seem appealing, as long as you understand the potential future challenges.

Thank you for watching another video at ActualHuman.com and Describe.TV. If you have questions or comments about our videos, put them in the link below.

Also, remember that you have access to live, one-on-one consultation with a licensed expert in various fields—investigations, insurance, civil court mediation, and even real estate records research, real estate brokers, and mortgage lenders. In addition, experts are available in business segments such as business development, marketing, and advertising, all of whom are certified and licensed professionals.

If you find this content valuable and want to delve more deeply into a subject, remember that you can’t ask YouTube a question. But if you want to talk to a live, actual human, use the link below.

Thanks for watching!