Last updated: October 8, 2026. Loan details below come from LightStream's website on that date and can change at any time; LightStream sets all rates and terms. This is general information, not financial advice.
We're an importer, not a bank, so we don't finance vehicles ourselves. Most of our buyers who finance use LightStream, the online lending division of Truist Bank, and it's the lender nearly every kei truck dealer in the country points customers to. The reason is simple: a LightStream loan is an unsecured personal loan. The money goes into your bank account, you pay us like a cash buyer, and the truck is never collateral. That matters for an imported kei truck, which is sold with its Japanese export paperwork rather than a U.S. title, so a traditional auto loan that needs a lien on a title often can't be written for it.
LightStream at a glance
- Loan type: unsecured, fixed-rate personal loan. No lien, no title paperwork, no appraisal, and no restriction on the vehicle's age, mileage, make or model.
- Amount: $5,000 to $100,000. You can borrow the full price or just part of it. A vehicle priced under $5,000 can still be financed at the $5,000 minimum.
- Term: 24 to 84 months for vehicle loans.
- Rate: fixed for the life of the loan and set by LightStream from your credit profile, loan amount and term. Paying by AutoPay gets a 0.50 percentage point discount.
- Fees: none. No origination fee, no late fee and no penalty for paying the loan off early.
- Speed: decisions usually come during business hours, and funds can arrive in your bank account as soon as the same day if you finish the steps by 2:30 p.m. Eastern on a banking business day.
- Who qualifies: good-to-excellent credit, which LightStream describes as several years of credit history, stable income and a strong payment record. Applying triggers a hard credit inquiry.
- How to apply: online at LightStream, from your own device. We can't fill in or submit an application for you.
Opens lightstream.com in a new tab. All loans are subject to credit approval by LightStream.
Why an unsecured loan is the right fit for a kei truck
Banks and credit unions usually write auto loans against the vehicle: they put a lien on the title and hold it until you've paid. A kei truck fresh off the boat has no U.S. title yet, carries a Japanese chassis number instead of a 17-digit VIN, and is at least 25 years old. Any one of those is enough for many lenders to decline a standard auto loan, and even the ones that will consider it can't place a lien until after you've titled the truck in Texas.
An unsecured loan sidesteps all of it. Approval depends on you, not the truck. You hold the import paperwork and, once you register it, the title, free and clear from day one. LightStream also doesn't require a down payment, and because the funds are paid to you rather than to us, you can request an amount that covers the truck plus shipping, Texas sales tax and title fees if you want to.
How it works
If the vehicle is In Houston
- Apply at LightStream. The online application takes a few minutes. Choose the auto loan option that matches your purchase (a used vehicle from a dealer or private seller) and enter the amount you need.
- Get a decision. LightStream replies during its business hours. If you're approved, you sign the loan documents online and pick a funding date within 5 days.
- Receive the money. It's deposited into your bank account, as soon as the same day you apply.
- Buy the vehicle. Complete checkout on the vehicle's page (choose pickup at our lot), or call or text us to pay another way. Then pick it up at 6100 Harvey Wilson Dr or have your carrier collect it.
If the vehicle is In Transit from Japan
- Reserve it with the $1,000 deposit. The deposit is paid by card at checkout and credited in full toward the price. It takes the vehicle off the market.
- Follow the ship. The vehicle's page shows where the container is and when we expect it at our lot.
- Apply once it's ready. When we let you know the vehicle is at our lot, apply with LightStream. The balance is due within 14 days of that notice, which is plenty of time for a same-day lender.
- Pay the balance and pick up or ship.
Timing tip: a LightStream approval expires if the loan isn't funded within 5 days, and every application is a hard credit inquiry. Apply once, when the truck is ready and you're ready to pay, not months ahead.
Payment estimator
Enter a vehicle price, any cash you'll put in, a term and an APR to see an estimated monthly payment. Start with a rate from LightStream's current rate table, or the rate you were actually offered.
- Est. monthly payment–
- Amount financed–
- Total interest–
- Total of payments–
The estimator is for illustration only. It is not an offer of credit, a rate quote or a credit decision, and Skyline Kei Trucks is not a lender. It assumes equal monthly payments with simple interest and no fees, which is how LightStream loans are structured. The rate, term and amount you're offered are set by the lender based on your credit profile, and the APR you enter may not be available to you. Example: $6,999.99 financed over 60 months at 10.99% APR is 60 payments of about $152.16, for a total of about $9,129.71.
Other ways to pay
- Your own bank or credit union. A personal (unsecured) loan from any lender works exactly the same way: the money comes to you and you pay us as a cash buyer. If your bank only offers auto loans that need a title and a lien, ask for a personal or signature loan instead.
- Card, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal at checkout. Every vehicle page has a Buy Now button that goes straight to checkout, and In Transit vehicles can be reserved with a $1,000 deposit the same way.
- What we don't offer: in-house financing, payment plans, layaway or buy-here-pay-here, and Shop Pay or Affirm installment plans aren't available on vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer in-house financing or payment plans?
No. Vehicles are sold by Wideway Motors LLC at the listed price, and we don't carry loans or payment plans. Buyers who finance arrange their own loan, most often through LightStream, and pay us in full.
What credit score do I need for LightStream?
LightStream approves applicants with good-to-excellent credit and doesn't publish a cutoff. Most independent reviews put the practical floor around a 660 FICO score, and LightStream says it also looks at the length of your credit history, the mix of accounts, your income and your payment record, so a high score alone doesn't guarantee approval.
Can I finance a vehicle that's still on its way from Japan?
Yes. Reserve it with the $1,000 deposit, then apply with LightStream once we tell you it's ready at our lot. You'll have 14 days from that notice to pay the balance, and LightStream can fund the same day.
Will the loan put a lien on my truck?
No. A LightStream loan is unsecured, so there's no lienholder, nothing to add to the Texas title application and nothing to release when you pay it off.
Is there a minimum or maximum?
LightStream lends from $5,000 to $100,000. You don't have to finance the whole price; many buyers borrow part and pay the rest from savings. A vehicle under $5,000 is financed at the $5,000 minimum.
Does financing change the price or the terms of sale?
No. The price is the price, there are no dealer financing or documentation fees, and the vehicle is still sold as is under our Terms of Sale.
Can I pay the loan off early?
Yes. LightStream charges no prepayment penalty, so you can pay extra or clear the balance whenever you like.
Does the loan have to come from LightStream?
No. We'll accept payment from any lender, bank or credit union. We link to LightStream because its loans are unsecured, fast and widely used for imported vehicles, not because you have to use it.
Shop kei trucks
Browse vehicles in Houston now or reserve one arriving soon from Japan. New to kei trucks? Start with our kei truck buyer's guide, how buying works and the Texas title and registration guide. Questions? Call or text (713) 385-9798.
Skyline Kei Trucks (Skyline JDM Inc) and Wideway Motors LLC are not lenders, loan brokers or credit services organizations. We don't take loan applications, quote or negotiate loan terms, or charge any fee for financing information; the lender decides whether to approve you and on what terms. All loans are subject to credit approval. Rates, terms and availability are set by the lender and can change without notice; confirm current terms on the lender's website before you apply. LightStream and Truist are trademarks of Truist Financial Corporation; lending services are provided by Truist Bank. All vehicles are sold as is, with no warranty; see our Terms of Sale.