As the market for western-style pickup trucks explodes into a new luxury marketplace, more people are turning to our friends in Japan for the undeniably practical package that is Kei trucks. These minitrucks are popping up more and more, but as they do, state regulations continue to fluctuate, tying up people who are just trying to drive tiny trucks.
Owners of imported Japanese minitrucks have been caught in a bureaucratic nightmare for years. These teeny workhorses—legally imported under federal law once they hit 25-years-old—have faced a tangle of state regulations ranging from lenient to outright hostile. But in Texas, the tide is turning thanks to new proposed legislation. It’s tough to ignore this new focus on import law, which is happening in a very red state amid the Trump tariffs.
Texas Takes a Stand for Japanese Mini Trucks
Of all the states to fight for the little trucks, it’s funny that the state most known for going big is set on letting people go small. Enter SB 1816, a bill State Senator Kelly Hancock introduced on March 3. This legislation does what minitruck advocates have been pushing for: it cements protections for these vehicles in state law. Texas banned the registration of imported minitrucks until activists successfully pressured the DMV to change its policy. But policies can be reversed—laws, not so easily.
What Is A Minitruck, According To The Law?
SB 1816 officially defines a minitruck as a Japan-built car, truck, van, or bus with a 1.2-liter or smaller engine and a top speed of at least 50 mph. It can be titled and driven on Texas highways if it has all the necessary road-going equipment—headlights, taillights, turn signals, a speedometer, windshield wipers, and a rearview mirror. Amen.
David McChristian, founder of Lone Star Kei, has been at the forefront of this fight. After contacting 180 state representatives last year to expose inconsistencies in the DMV’s enforcement, he sees this bill as the next big win:
“A huge win for owners, small businesses, and rural communities that rely on them. This bill takes it a step further by locking that policy into state law so there’s no question in the future about whether these vehicles belong on the road.” – David McChristian, founder of Lone Star Kei
Now that Texas has defined an already defined term let’s look at how the creators of the Kei class defined the little workers. A kei truck, also known as a keitora, is a compact pickup truck built to comply with Japan’s road/tax regulations. It falls under the kei-jidousha category, commonly called kei cars or trucks.
The term “kei” translates to “light” or “compact” but can also mean “mini” or “miniature” when describing vehicles. Kei-class models—including cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks—are among the smallest highway-legal vehicles in Japan. They are efficient, compact, and unbelievably rugged 4x4s when so equipped.
A Big Win For Minitrucks In The U.S.
Minitrucks are popular because they are economical and efficient. Despite so much of America’s car love orbiting size and power, the Kei class touches on something so practical and friendly that it is nearly impossible to resist.
Source: Texas Capitol
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