By Farhad Musazada, owner of Skyline Kei Trucks. Last updated: October 22, 2026. Shipping estimates checked October 2026 (sources at the end). Prices are published estimates from auto-transport companies, not quotes. General information, not legal advice.
Our kei trucks are on our lot in east Houston, just off I-10, and we sell them to buyers across the lower 48. Delivery works like this: once the truck is paid for, we help you book an independent, licensed carrier, the carrier collects the truck at our lot and delivers it to you, and you pay the carrier directly. If you live within a day's drive, you can skip the carrier and pick the truck up with a trailer. This page has published shipping prices from Houston to 25 cities, the buying steps, and the question to settle before any of it: whether your state will register a kei truck.
Key facts
- Where we ship: anywhere in the lower 48 (the mainland U.S.) from our Houston lot. We help arrange an independent, licensed carrier, or you can hire your own.
- Who pays: you pay the carrier directly. Shipping isn't included in the truck's price; the rate depends on your ZIP code and the carrier.
- Typical cost: published 2026 estimates run about $230–$980 under 500 miles, $450–$1,370 for 500 to 1,000 miles, $690–$1,710 for 1,000 to 1,500 miles and $1,070–$2,170 to Seattle (about 2,300 miles).
- Transit: 1–2 days under 500 miles, 1–3 days to 1,000 miles, 2–5 days to 1,500 miles and 5–8 days to Seattle (Freedom Auto Transport; moveBuddha allows up to 4, 7, 8 and 13 days), after a pickup window of usually 1–3 days.
- Pickup instead: bring a trailer to 6100 Harvey Wilson Dr, Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. or Saturday 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (closed Sunday). A kei truck fits a standard car-hauler trailer.
- Paperwork you get: the Japanese export certificate with translation, our bill of sale, CBP Form 7501, DOT Form HS-7 (Box 1) and EPA Form 3520-1.
- Titling: you title and register the truck at your own state's motor vehicle agency. Check our laws map first: 11 states won't register one for the road.
How does buying a kei truck from another state work?
The same way it works for a Houston buyer, with a carrier at the end. These steps follow our How Buying Works page and our Shipping & Pickup Policy:
- Choose a truck. Trucks marked In Houston have landed and can be bought outright at checkout. Trucks marked Arriving Soon are still on their way from Japan, and their arrival dates are estimates.
- Reserve an arriving truck. A $1,000 deposit marks it Reserved and takes it off the market, and the full $1,000 counts toward the price. The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel and refunded in full if we can't deliver the truck. We contact you when it arrives in Houston.
- Pay for the truck. Pay online at checkout, or at the lot with cash or a cashier's check. For a reserved truck, the balance is due within 14 days of our arrival notice and before the truck is picked up or shipped. Financing? See our financing page.
- We help book the carrier. Tell us where the truck is going and we help arrange an independent, licensed carrier from our lot, or you can use your own. Book soon after paying: a truck not picked up within 14 days of payment in full may be charged reasonable storage fees.
- You pay the carrier. Shipping isn't included in the truck's price, and the carrier's delivery dates are estimates. When the truck arrives, note any damage on the carrier's bill of lading before you sign; damage claims are made directly with the carrier. Risk of loss passes to you when we release the truck to the carrier.
- Keep the paperwork together. The truck is sold with its import paperwork, listed below.
- Title it at home. Take the paperwork to your state's motor vehicle agency. Titling, registration, inspection and insurance are the buyer's responsibility, and state laws vary.
What does shipping a kei truck from Houston cost?
We checked the published estimates of Freedom Auto Transport, moveBuddha, AmeriFreight and Sherpa Auto Transport for 25 cities in October 2026. Miles are driving distance from Houston as moveBuddha lists them, transit is days on the road after pickup, and road use is each state's status on our laws map.
| Destination | Road use in that state (our map) | Miles from Houston | Published price range (2026) | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA | Legal with limits: roads posted 55 mph or less | 238 | Freedom $227–$325; moveBuddha $504–$641 | 1–4 days |
| Baton Rouge, LA | Legal with limits: roads posted 55 mph or less | 269 | Freedom $258–$369; moveBuddha $489–$660 | 1–4 days |
| New Orleans, LA | Legal with limits: roads posted 55 mph or less | 347 | Freedom $316–$451; moveBuddha $549–$750; AmeriFreight $550–$800 | 1–4 days |
| Little Rock, AR | Legal with limits: farm plate, roads 55 mph or less | 435 | Freedom $377–$538; moveBuddha $652–$859 | 1–4 days |
| Jackson, MS | Street legal | 441 | Freedom $383–$547; moveBuddha $626–$930 | 1–4 days |
| Oklahoma City, OK | Legal with limits: every road except interstates | 444 | Freedom $386–$552; moveBuddha $679–$876 | 1–4 days |
| Mobile, AL | Street legal (25-year rule) | 467 | Freedom $406–$580; moveBuddha $634–$925 | 1–4 days |
| Tulsa, OK | Legal with limits: every road except interstates | 494 | Freedom $430–$614; moveBuddha $687–$981 | 1–4 days |
| Memphis, TN | Legal with limits: roads 45 mph or less | 568 | Freedom $448–$641; moveBuddha $760–$1,025 | 1–6 days |
| Wichita, KS | Legal with limits: county roads, city opt-in | 602 | Freedom $447–$639; moveBuddha $781–$1,066 | 1–6 days |
| Birmingham, AL | Street legal (25-year rule) | 666 | Freedom $495–$707; moveBuddha $820–$1,178 | 1–6 days |
| Kansas City, MO | Street legal (branded title) | 744 | Freedom $542–$775; moveBuddha $873–$1,267; AmeriFreight $850–$1,050 | 1–6 days |
| Nashville, TN | Legal with limits: roads 45 mph or less | 779 | Freedom $567–$810; moveBuddha $840–$1,237 | 2–7 days |
| St. Louis, MO | Street legal (branded title) | 780 | Freedom $567–$810; moveBuddha $832–$1,312 | 2–7 days |
| Jacksonville, FL | Legal with limits: streets posted 35 mph or less | 870 | Freedom $621–$887; moveBuddha $908–$1,344 | 2–7 days |
| Albuquerque, NM | Check with the DMV: no kei law | 883 | Freedom $634–$906; moveBuddha $911–$1,360 | 2–7 days |
| Orlando, FL | Legal with limits: streets posted 35 mph or less | 963 | Freedom $667–$953; moveBuddha $842–$1,374 | 2–7 days |
| Tampa, FL | Legal with limits: streets posted 35 mph or less | 980 | Freedom $679–$970; moveBuddha $831–$1,357 | 2–7 days |
| Columbia, SC | Street legal | 1,000 | Freedom $687–$981; moveBuddha $906–$1,380 | 2–8 days |
| Charlotte, NC | Legal with limits: roads posted 55 mph or less | 1,038 | Freedom $713–$1,018; moveBuddha $862–$1,352; AmeriFreight $1,000–$1,250 | 2–8 days |
| Phoenix, AZ | Street legal | 1,176 | Freedom $799–$1,142; moveBuddha $949–$1,500; AmeriFreight $1,050–$1,300; Sherpa $825–$975 | 1–8 days |
| Detroit, MI | Street legal (25 years or older) | 1,301 | Freedom $856–$1,223; moveBuddha $1,055–$1,577; Sherpa $850–$1,025 | 1–8 days |
| Richmond, VA | Street legal | 1,322 | Freedom $871–$1,244; moveBuddha $1,098–$1,642 | 2–8 days |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Legal with limits: 50 mph cap, no interstates | 1,476 | Freedom $954–$1,363; moveBuddha $1,204–$1,707 | 3–8 days |
| Seattle, WA | Street legal | 2,325 | Freedom $1,067–$1,525; moveBuddha $1,338–$2,174; AmeriFreight $1,400–$1,500; Sherpa $1,200–$1,450 | 3–13 days |
These are published estimates, not quotes, and the sources are far apart: Freedom's ranges are generally the lowest and moveBuddha's the highest. AmeriFreight labels its figures as open-carrier prices; the others don't state a carrier type in their route tables, and Freedom says its range varies with transport type, timing and vehicle size.
A kei truck is smaller and lighter than the sedans and pickups these prices are built around, but none of the companies we checked lists a kei truck rate. Size does count: Freedom says SUVs and trucks cost more than sedans, and Sherpa says full-size pickups and SUVs take up more space on the trailer. When you ask for quotes, describe the truck accurately, including that it is at most about 11 ft 2 in long and 4 ft 10 in wide.
Extras add up. An enclosed trailer costs about 30% to 50% more than an open one, according to Homeland Auto Transport; Sherpa says 40% to 60%. A vehicle that doesn't run costs more again: AmeriFreight puts non-running rates 20% to 50% above running ones, plus a winch fee of $150 to $300. Door-to-door service is standard, though where a big truck can't get down your street the driver may ask to meet at a nearby spot (AmeriFreight, Freedom).
Timing matters too. Sherpa calls summer the busiest season, which pushes prices up, and says Florida's snowbird season (October to April, on its Orlando page) drives prices up there; for those months it suggests booking three to four weeks ahead. Homeland adds that corporate relocation season (May to August) tightens long-haul capacity, and that when a named storm approaches the Texas coast, pickup windows across the region shift by several days. Get written quotes from two or three companies before you book.
Can you register a kei truck in your state?
Shipping is the easy part; registration is the question to answer before you buy. Our kei truck laws by state map puts every state in one of four groups (verified October 2026):
- Street legal (18 states): titles and registers like any other vehicle, with no kei-specific road or speed limits. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
- Legal with limits (20): can be plated, but with kei-specific rules such as speed-limited roads, no interstates, a special plate class or local opt-in. Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. A few are close to a no: Delaware allows events and parades only, Pennsylvania an antique plate only and Wisconsin collector plates only.
- No road use (11): the state won't register one for public roads. California, Colorado (until January 1, 2028), Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island.
- Check with the DMV (1): New Mexico has no kei law and no published agency position either way; get the MVD's answer in writing before you buy.
Here's the plain warning: California, Georgia, New York and the other no-road-use states won't register a kei truck for the road, and a title from another state doesn't always help. Georgia refuses kei trucks titled in other states, and Hawaii's rule applies even to a truck arriving with a mainland title. Check your state before you buy; being unable to register the truck is not grounds to cancel a purchase.
We have guides for buyers in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Arizona and South Carolina, plus our Texas title and registration guide. For any other state, start with its entry on the map.
Can you pick up the truck yourself?
Many nearby buyers bring a trailer. A kei truck is at most about 11 ft 2 in long and 4 ft 10 in wide (Japan's kei size limits since October 1998 are 3.4 m by 1.48 m), so it fits a standard car-hauler trailer behind a half-ton pickup. Plan on hauling it, not driving it: an unregistered kei truck can't be driven on Texas roads, so it leaves our lot on a trailer or a carrier.
Our lot is at 6100 Harvey Wilson Dr, Houston, TX 77020, in east Houston just off I-10. We're open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., closed Sunday. Call or text (713) 385-9798 to set a pickup time. The truck has to be paid in full before it leaves.
What paperwork comes with the truck?
Every truck is sold with its import paperwork, the documents state agencies ask for when you title an imported vehicle:
- The Japanese export certificate, with an English translation: Japan's deregistration record for the truck, showing its chassis number and first registration date
- Our bill of sale
- CBP Form 7501, the customs entry summary that shows the truck was legally imported
- DOT Form HS-7 with Box 1 checked, declaring the truck 25 years or older and so exempt from federal safety-standard conformance at import
- EPA Form 3520-1, the EPA's import declaration
You don't get a state title or registration from us; you apply for those yourself. Many states also want a VIN inspection, proof of insurance and their own application form, and kei odometers read in kilometers, so write the reading as shown. If the truck is going by carrier, ask us how the originals will reach you.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to my state?
If you're in the lower 48, yes. We help arrange an independent carrier from our Houston lot to anywhere in the mainland U.S., and you pay the carrier directly. Whether your state will register the truck is a separate question, so check the laws map before you buy.
How long does delivery take?
Expect a pickup window of usually 1 to 3 days, then 1 to 2 days on the road to Louisiana, Arkansas or Oklahoma and 5 to 8 days to Seattle, by Freedom Auto Transport's estimates; other companies allow longer. Delivery dates are estimates. For an Arriving Soon truck, add the time until it reaches Houston.
Who do I pay?
You pay us for the truck, online at checkout or at the lot with cash or a cashier's check, and you pay the carrier for shipping. Shipping isn't included in the truck's price, and we're not the carrier.
Can I see the truck first?
Yes, if it's in Houston. Trucks marked In Houston can be seen and test driven at our lot; call or text (713) 385-9798 to set a time. An Arriving Soon truck can be reserved before it lands, and you can come see it once it's here.
Do you ship to Alaska or Hawaii?
Our shipping help covers the lower 48. Hawaii won't register a kei truck for the road: state law (HRS 286-42) bars registering vehicles that weren't certified to federal safety standards when built, with narrow exceptions, and that applies even to one with a mainland title (Hawaii on our map). Alaska's DMV titles legally imported vehicles 25 years or older (Alaska on our map). If you're in Alaska, call or text us before you buy so we can talk through getting the truck there.
Is shipping insured?
The carrier's cargo insurance covers the truck in transit, according to Freedom Auto Transport and Homeland Auto Transport; ask for proof of coverage when you book. We're not the carrier, and risk of loss passes to you when we release the truck, so note any damage on the bill of lading before you sign and make any claim directly with the carrier.
Shop kei trucks
Browse trucks in stock in Houston, or reserve one that is arriving soon from Japan with a $1,000 deposit that counts toward the price. New to kei trucks? Start with our kei truck buyer's guide and the kei truck FAQ. Buying several for a farm or business? See fleet sales. Questions? Call or text (713) 385-9798 or email contact@skylinekeitrucks.com.
Buying from another state: Louisiana · Oklahoma · Arkansas · New Mexico · Mississippi · Alabama · Tennessee · Missouri · Kansas · Florida · Arizona · South Carolina · Texas title guide · All locations · Laws in all 50 states (map)
Sources
- Skyline Kei Trucks: Shipping & Pickup Policy
- Skyline Kei Trucks: How Buying Works
- Skyline Kei Trucks: kei truck laws by state (verified October 2026)
- Freedom Auto Transport, Houston route pages (rates marked updated October 2026): Shreveport, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Little Rock, Jackson, Oklahoma City, Mobile, Tulsa, Memphis, Wichita, Birmingham, Kansas City, Nashville, St. Louis, Jacksonville, Albuquerque, Orlando, Tampa, Columbia, Charlotte, Phoenix, Detroit, Richmond, Salt Lake City, Seattle
- moveBuddha, car shipping from Texas by state (last updated October 15–17, 2026): Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington
- AmeriFreight: Houston auto transport, open and enclosed route prices (2026)
- Sherpa Auto Transport: popular routes from Houston (updated October 2, 2026)
- Sherpa Auto Transport: Orlando car shipping and snowbird season (updated October 2, 2026)
- Sherpa Auto Transport: what it costs to ship a car across the country (October 2, 2026)
- Homeland Auto Transport: Houston car shipping guide (2026)
- AmeriFreight: how to ship a non-running car (April 13, 2026)
- Hawaii Revised Statutes 286-42: vehicles not certified to federal safety standards
- Alaska DMV: foreign vehicles, including legally imported vehicles 25 years or older
Written by Farhad Musazada, owner of Skyline Kei Trucks
Farhad imports more than 300 kei trucks a year to Houston and meets buyers at the lot at 6100 Harvey Wilson Dr. He writes these guides from the paperwork our buyers take to the county tax office and the official sources listed on each page. Spotted something out of date? Email us and we will check it.
All vehicles are sold by Wideway Motors LLC as is, with no warranty. We help arrange shipping through independent carriers; you pay the carrier directly, and we are not the carrier. Seller makes no representation that any vehicle can be titled, registered or driven on public roads in any state, and being unable to do so is not grounds to cancel a purchase. Laws and agency practice change; confirm with your state's motor vehicle agency before you buy. See our Terms of Sale and Shipping & Pickup Policy.
