Last updated: October 15, 2026. Based on Arkansas Code §§ 27-14-726 and 27-14-601 and Department of Finance and Administration pages (sources at the end). Shipping prices are published estimates, not quotes. General information, not legal advice.
Our kei trucks are on our lot in Houston, about 290 miles from Texarkana, 435 from Little Rock, 515 from Fort Smith and 570 from Fayetteville. Arkansas has had a mini-truck law since 2009, and it's workable: a kei truck can be titled and plated, but the plate is a farm plate, and that shapes what you can do with it. This page covers the statute, what the Department of Finance and Administration's revenue offices need, the taxes, and how to get the truck home.
Quick facts
- Street legal: yes, as a Class Eight farm vehicle, on roads posted 55 mph or less; not on interstates or controlled-access highways (Ark. Code § 27-14-726).
- How it registers: you sign an affidavit that the truck is used exclusively for farm purposes (DFA Form 10-343) and get an F-prefix farm plate: $3.90 per 1,000 lb, minimum $32.50 a year. Whether an ordinary truck plate is available to a 25-year-old import isn't addressed in DFA's published rules; ask before you count on it.
- Paperwork: Form 10-381 application, proof of ownership in English (our bill of sale plus the export certificate with a certified translation), the customs and DOT/EPA import forms, proof of insurance, your county assessment and personal property tax receipt.
- Taxes: Arkansas use tax at registration: 3.5% state rate on a used vehicle priced $4,000 to $9,999.99 (6.5% at $10,000 and up), plus local tax on the first $2,500.
- Fees: $10 title, $32.50 minimum farm registration, $2.50 decal; yearly county personal property tax.
- Deadline: title and register within 60 days.
- Insurance: Arkansas minimum 25/50/25.
- Inspections: none; Arkansas has no safety or emissions inspection.
Are kei trucks legal in Arkansas?
Yes, under a statute written for them. Ark. Code § 27-14-726 (Act 146 of 2009) defines a mini-truck and says its owner “may register and license it as a Class Eight farm vehicle.” The definition: at least 48 inches wide, no more than 135 inches long including bumpers, at least 1,500 pounds unladen including fuel and fluids, four or more tires, a steering wheel, side-by-side seating for two, a fully enclosed metal or metal-reinforced cab with safety glass and mirrors, metal doors with working locks, headlamps, tail lamps, signal lamps, a horn, seat belts and front and rear bumpers; it may have a bed or cargo box, and “a mini-truck is not an all-terrain vehicle.”
Where it can go: not on an interstate highway (I-30, I-40, I-49, I-55, I-540 and the rest), not on a controlled-access highway, not where the posted limit is over 55 mph, and not anywhere the truck can't keep up with the posted limit. The equipment list is standard on our kei trucks. Check the weight: the definition requires at least 1,500 pounds unladen, and while most 4x4 kei trucks weigh 1,600 to 1,900 pounds, some two-wheel-drive models sit near the line, so look at the weight on the export certificate before you buy.
The farm plate is the catch. § 27-14-601(a)(3)(H) sets the Class Eight fee at $3.90 per 1,000 pounds of gross loaded weight with a $32.50 minimum, and requires an affidavit that “the vehicle is being used exclusively for farm purposes and that the mini-truck meets the other requirements of § 27-14-726.” DFA's Form 10-343 carries a “Mini Truck Farm Use Only – F Prefix” line for exactly this. The statute says the owner “may” register it as a farm vehicle; no DFA page we found says whether a 25-year-old import can instead get the ordinary $21 light-truck plate, and every guide we checked describes the farm plate as the only route. If your use is a hunting camp or errands rather than a farm, call DFA before buying and ask what plate your revenue office will issue; dealer claims that Arkansas “historically permits” road-titled kei trucks aren't a substitute for that call. No change to the law was made in 2024, 2025 or 2026 (a 2025 bill with “mini-truck” in its text concerned commercial drivers and was withdrawn).
How to title an imported kei truck in Arkansas
Titles and registrations are done in person at one of DFA's 130-plus state revenue offices, within 60 calendar days of the sale (DFA). Before you go, assess the truck with your county assessor and have proof that last year's personal property taxes are paid; the revenue office checks both. Bring:
- Vehicle Registration Application, Form 10-381
- Proof of ownership “in the English language”: our bill of sale showing the full price, plus the Japanese export certificate with a certified English translation (§ 27-14-726 accepts a bill of sale and export certificate in place of a title or manufacturer's certificate of origin)
- Customs entry (CBP Form 7501), DOT Form HS-7 with Box 1 checked, and EPA Form 3520-1; DFA's pages don't list them, but the office will want to see how the truck entered the country
- The farm-use affidavit, Form 10-343, signed at the revenue office
- Proof of Arkansas liability insurance (25/50/25 minimum)
- Your county assessment and personal property tax receipt
- A VIN verification if the office asks: DFA formally requires one only for branded out-of-state titles and bonded titles, but revenue offices commonly ask a certified law enforcement officer or the State Police to verify an import's VIN, so plan on it
No odometer disclosure is needed for a vehicle more than 20 years old, and Arkansas has no safety or emissions inspection. We found no DFA rule requiring a bond or a state-assigned VIN for a short Japanese chassis number. Late filing costs $3 for each 10 days (capped at a year's registration) plus a 10% tax penalty; if the truck won't be driven in Arkansas for a while, Form 10-300 (affidavit of non-use) avoids the penalties (DFA FAQ).
Taxes and fees
Arkansas collects use tax on a vehicle bought out of state when you register it (Ark. Code § 26-53-126), on the greater of the bill-of-sale price or the guide loan value. Used vehicles under $4,000 are tax-free; from $4,000 to $9,999.99 the reduced state rate of 3.5% applies (Act 1013 of 2021); at $10,000 and up it's the full 6.5% (7% in Texarkana). Local sales tax is set by your residence and applies only to the first $2,500 of the price, capped at $25 per 1% of local tax (DFA). Arkansas gives no credit for tax paid to another state on a first registration (Rule GR-12), but since Texas collects its motor vehicle tax only when a vehicle is titled in Texas, nothing is paid twice.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| State use tax (3.5% reduced rate, $4,000–$9,999.99) | $280.00 |
| Local sales tax | your local rate × $2,500 (for example $50 at 2%) |
| Title | $10.00 |
| Class Eight farm registration (minimum) | $32.50 a year |
| Validation decal | $2.50 |
| Total | about $325 plus local tax |
Example for a $7,999.99 truck; fees from the DFA fee schedule. Add the county personal property tax each year, which depends on your county's millage and the truck's assessed value, and a VIN verification fee if your agency charges one.
Getting it home from Houston
A kei truck can't be driven on Texas roads until it's titled and registered, and Arkansas bars mini-trucks from interstates and roads posted over 55 mph, so the truck comes home on a trailer or a carrier. Kei trucks are no more than about 11 ft 2 in long and 4 ft 10 in wide, so they fit a standard car-hauler trailer behind a half-ton pickup. From our lot it's US-59/I-69 North through Lufkin and Nacogdoches to Texarkana (about 5 hours with a trailer), then I-30 to Little Rock (about 7 hours total). Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas are 8 to 9 hours. Lot hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; call or text (713) 385-9798 to set a time.
| Destination | From our lot | Published open-carrier price (2026) | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texarkana | 290 miles (US-59/I-69) | Freedom Auto Transport $279–$399 (Texarkana–Houston) | 1–2 days |
| Little Rock | 435 miles (US-59, I-30) | Freedom $377–$538; Sherpa $650–$725; moveBuddha $652–$859 | 1–2 days |
| Fort Smith | 515 miles | Freedom $407–$581; moveBuddha $690–$996 | 1–6 days |
| Fayetteville / Northwest Arkansas | 570 miles | moveBuddha $767–$1,035 (Freedom quotes on request) | 1–6 days |
Prices are for a running vehicle on an open carrier and are the carriers' own published estimates, not quotes; a kei truck is smaller and lighter than the cars they price, but brokers don't list a separate rate for them. An enclosed trailer costs about 30% to 50% more (Homeland Auto Transport), and a vehicle that doesn't run costs more again, often $150 to $300 extra for winching (AmeriFreight). Prices change with season and fuel, so ask for a written quote.
Where to go
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Motor Vehicle: Ragland Building, 1900 W. 7th St., Suite 1010, Little Rock 72201; 501-682-4692; dfa.arkansas.gov/motor-vehicle. Titles are issued at any of the 130-plus revenue offices, and you can book an appointment online. Forms 10-381, 10-343, the odometer statement and the bonded-title affidavit are on DFA's motor vehicle forms page.
Kei trucks in Arkansas
Arkansas's mini-truck law was built around farms, and the state has 37,400 of them on 13.7 million acres (Arkansas Department of Agriculture): poultry houses in the northwest, rice and soybeans in the Delta, cattle and hay almost everywhere. The “exclusively for farm purposes” affidavit fits a truck that lives on the place and runs feed, fencing and tools down county roads posted 55 or under. Duck country around Stuttgart and the deer and turkey leases of the Ozarks and Ouachitas are the other natural homes, but a hunting camp isn't a farm in the statute's words, so ask DFA how your revenue office reads the affidavit before you plan on plating the truck for lease use.
Frequently asked questions
Are kei trucks legal in Arkansas?
Yes, as Class Eight farm vehicles under Ark. Code § 27-14-726: an F-prefix plate, with a sworn affidavit of exclusive farm use, on roads posted 55 mph or less and never on interstates or controlled-access highways.
Can I get a regular license plate for a kei truck in Arkansas?
DFA's published rules don't say. The statute says the owner “may” register it as a farm vehicle, and every guide we checked describes the farm plate as the only route. Call DFA (501-682-4692) or your revenue office before you buy if you need an ordinary plate.
How much is the tax on a kei truck in Arkansas?
A used truck priced $4,000 to $9,999.99 pays the reduced 3.5% state rate plus local tax on the first $2,500: about $280 in state tax on an $8,000 truck. Title is $10 and the farm registration minimum $32.50 a year.
Does Arkansas require a VIN inspection for an imported kei truck?
Officially only for branded or bonded titles, but revenue offices commonly ask for a law enforcement VIN verification on a never-titled import. Plan on it.
How long do I have to register it?
60 calendar days from the sale. File Form 10-300 if the truck won't be used in Arkansas yet.
Can you ship to Little Rock?
Yes, through an independent carrier you pay directly; published 2026 prices for Houston–Little Rock run from about $380 to $860. Many buyers trailer it: Texarkana is about 5 hours from our lot.
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, our guide to what a kei truck costs in Texas and the Texas title and registration guide. Questions? Call or text (713) 385-9798.
Other Texas cities: Houston (our lot) · Dallas–Fort Worth · Fort Worth · Austin · San Antonio · El Paso · Corpus Christi · Lubbock · Beaumont · College Station–Bryan · Waco · Tyler–Longview · Rio Grande Valley
Buying from a nearby state: Louisiana · Oklahoma · New Mexico · All locations
Sources
- Arkansas Code § 27-14-726: mini-trucks
- Arkansas Code § 27-14-601: registration fees and farm affidavit
- DFA Form 10-343: farm plate affidavit
- DFA Form 10-381: vehicle registration application
- DFA: new and used vehicle registration
- DFA: motor vehicle FAQs
- DFA: motor vehicle forms
- DFA: fee schedule
- Arkansas Code § 26-53-126: use tax on vehicles
- DFA: Act 1013 of 2021 (3.5% rate on used vehicles $4,000–$9,999.99)
- DFA: local sales and use tax on vehicles
- Arkansas Rule GR-12: vehicle tax and out-of-state credit
- DFA: revenue office appointments
- Arkansas HB 1239 (2009): mini-truck registration
- Arkansas insurance minimums (Ark. Code § 27-22-104)
- Arkansas Department of Agriculture
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission: waterfowl
- Freedom Auto Transport: Texarkana
- Freedom Auto Transport: Little Rock–Houston
- Sherpa Auto Transport: Little Rock
- moveBuddha: Texas to Arkansas car shipping
- Houston–Texarkana distance
- Texas SB 1816 (Transportation Code §545.429)
Written by Farhad Musazada, Skyline Kei Trucks. Sources checked October 15, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email us and we'll fix 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.