Last updated: October 15, 2026. Shipping prices are published estimates, not quotes. Office details are from each county's website; call before you go. General information, not legal advice.
Our kei trucks are on our lot in Houston, about 750 miles from El Paso, the longest in-state trip on this site. We don't have an El Paso location, so this page covers what it actually takes to get a kei truck across the state and register it in El Paso County: what the long haul costs, the county tax office and its rotating branch closures, and where to get the VIN inspection.
Quick facts
- Distance: about 750 miles, I-10 West the whole way; 11 hours or more of driving. El Paso is on Mountain Time, an hour behind Houston.
- Shipping: published 2026 open-carrier prices run from about $545 to $1,050; 2 to 5 days on the road.
- County office: El Paso County Tax Office, 301 Manny Martinez Sr. Dr., or a branch; each office closes one weekday on a rotating schedule.
- VIN inspection: by appointment through the county tax office's Enforcement Division; call (915) 273-3430.
- Tax and fees: about $617 for a $7,999.99 truck in El Paso County, whose $20 local fee is among the highest in Texas.
- Emissions test: none for a kei truck 25 years or older, even though El Paso is an emissions county.
Getting a kei truck from Houston to El Paso
Option 1: have it shipped
We help arrange transport with independent carriers, and you pay the carrier directly. The carrier picks the truck up at our lot during business hours once the balance is paid. Carriers list the El Paso run as 2 to 5 days on the road, and because it's a long, one-way route into far West Texas, pickup windows can be longer than on the Dallas or San Antonio runs. How quickly a carrier can pick up varies, so plan on several days to a week from booking to delivery.
What it costs: published 2026 prices for Houston to El Paso run from about $545 to $1,050 on an open carrier.
| Source (route) | Published price | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Auto Transport (Houston–El Paso, October 2026) | $544–$777 | 2–3 days |
| Sherpa Auto Transport (Houston–El Paso, 2026) | $775–$1,050 | Up to 3 days |
| AmeriFreight (El Paso–Houston, 2026) | $850–$1,050 | 3–5 days |
Prices are for a running vehicle on an open carrier. The three ranges above work out to roughly $0.75 to $1.40 a mile for the 750-mile run; long routes cost more in total but less per mile than the short Texas trips. Brokers don't list a separate price for kei trucks, so expect to be quoted at a car or pickup rate even though a kei truck is smaller. 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.
Option 2: come to Houston and trailer it home
It's about 750 miles to El Paso on I-10 West through San Antonio, Fort Stockton and Van Horn: 11 hours of driving without a trailer and realistically a two-day trip with one. West of Fort Stockton the gaps between fuel stops get long, so plan them. Kei trucks are no more than about 11 ft 2 in long and 4 ft 10 in wide (Japan's size limits for kei vehicles), so they fit on a typical car-hauler trailer. Check your trailer's weight rating and bring straps. Coming in person also lets you inspect and test drive the truck first; call or text (713) 385-9798 to set a time. Lot hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Can I just drive it home? Not legally until it's titled and registered. Texas law lets a miniature vehicle on public highways only after it “has been registered and titled” (Transportation Code §545.429). A 2016 TxDMV policy limited 30-day temporary permits to vehicles already titled or registered in Texas (TxDMV), so ask your county tax office whether a fresh import qualifies for any temporary permit before you count on one (TxDMV temporary permits). And even once it's registered, Texas allows highway speed limits of 70 mph and higher (TxDOT), well above a comfortable cruising speed for a 660 cc kei truck, so I-10 isn't a good way to get one home either.
Which county office to use
You title and register the truck in the county where you live, within 30 days of the sale. In El Paso, Socorro, Horizon City, Canutillo or Fabens that's the El Paso County Tax Office. The county's registration page lists what an imported vehicle needs: the HS-7 or CBP Form 7501, proof that the vehicle meets DOT and EPA requirements, and Form 68-A. It also says a translation of a foreign-language document must come with the translator's notarized or acknowledged affidavit giving their name and address.
| County | Main office | Phone | Hours and visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso | Main office: 301 Manny Martinez Sr. Dr., 1st floor, El Paso 79905 (the Ascarate office). Branches include Northeast (4641 Cohen Ave., Suite B), Eastside (2350 George Dieter Dr.) and Ysleta (9521 Socorro Rd.) | (915) 273-3430 | 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Walk-in; no appointment system is posted. The county's “daily closures” schedule, in effect until further notice, closes the Northeast office on Tuesdays, Eastside on Wednesdays, Ysleta on Thursdays and Ascarate on Fridays, and offices may close their doors early on busy days (El Paso County). Independent title runners are handled only at the main office. |
Outside El Paso County? Hudspeth and Culberson county buyers use their own county's office (TxDMV office finder). If the county offices are busy, El Paso County also contracts with eleven private deputy title offices that can process a title transfer for a convenience fee, some of them open Saturdays (El Paso County office list). Whichever you use, bring the certified translation with the translator's affidavit, and call ahead to confirm what they want to see.
Tax and fees in your county
Example: a $7,999.99 kei truck bought from us and titled in your county. The title fee is $33 in El Paso County (an emissions county) and $28 in Hudspeth and Culberson counties, and the state registration fee is $50.75 plus $1 for TexasSure. The processing fee ($4.75) and inspection program replacement fee ($7.50) are the same everywhere (TxDMV, DPS). Only the local fees change (TxDMV 2026 fee chart).
| County | Sales tax (6.25%) | Title | State registration | Local fees | Processing + inspection fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso | $500.00 | $33.00 | $51.75 | $20.00 | $12.25 | $617.00 |
| Hudspeth | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $10.00 | $12.25 | $602.00 |
| Culberson | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $10.00 | $12.25 | $602.00 |
El Paso County's $20 local fee is among the highest on TxDMV's 2026 chart, which is why the total runs about $8.50 more than in Houston. El Paso is an emissions county, but testing applies only to gasoline vehicles 2 through 24 years old (TCEQ), so a kei truck old enough to import isn't tested. TxDMV also lists a $2.75 state emissions fee collected at registration in emissions counties (TxDMV); ask whether it applies to a truck that's exempt from testing. The county's own registration page still shows some older fee amounts, so go by the 2026 fee chart. Plan for the VIN inspection fee below, and the notarized translation (see the Texas guide).
Where to get the VTR-68-A VIN inspection in El Paso
A truck imported from Japan needs Form VTR-68-A, a VIN inspection done by a law enforcement auto theft unit, before the county will title it (TxDMV). The truck has to be there, so this is another reason to bring it home on a trailer or carrier first.
| Agency | Who it serves | How to book | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso County Tax Office, Enforcement Division, 301 Manny Martinez Sr. Dr., 1st floor | El Paso County residents; the county lists 68-A inspections among its tax office services | By appointment. The county's registration page says to call the Enforcement Division to schedule; use the current number, (915) 273-3430 (Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), since the one printed on that page is out of date | Not posted; ask (Texas caps the fee at $40) |
| El Paso Police Auto Theft Task Force, 9600 Dyer St. | Not posted | Call 915-212-0310. The task force's page describes investigations and prevention, not inspections, so ask whether it completes 68-A forms | Ask |
Bring your ID, proof of insurance, the bill of sale and all the import papers. Having the county tax office do the inspection means one building for both the inspection and the title application; ask whether the truck has to come to the main office or whether a branch can do it.
If the county office has questions
Kei titles are still new to many clerks. Our Texas title guide covers the common problems: non-17-digit chassis numbers, outdated inspection checklists, translations, and the “off-highway use only” remark. If you're still stuck, the TxDMV regional service center for your county can help with title problems. El Paso, Hudspeth and Culberson counties are served by the El Paso Regional Service Center (1227 Lee Trevino Dr., Suite 100, El Paso 79907; 915-594-6000), open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
Kei trucks around El Paso
El Paso is the only major Texas city on Mountain Time, sitting at about 3,700 feet in the Chihuahuan Desert with Ciudad Juárez across the river and Fort Bliss, the region's largest employer, on its north side. Kei trucks here go to the pecan and cotton farms of the Upper Valley and the lower valley toward Fabens and Tornillo, to desert ranches in Hudspeth County, and to tradespeople who want a small, cheap truck for in-town work. Two things to know before you buy: El Paso County's $20 local registration fee is among the highest in the state, and a tax office branch may be closed on the day you plan to visit, so check the rotating closure schedule first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a kei truck from Houston to El Paso?
Published 2026 prices for an open carrier run from about $545 to $1,050. It's a 750-mile run, so get a written quote; we can help you arrange one.
How long does shipping from Houston to El Paso take?
Carriers list 2 to 5 days on the road. Allow a week or more from booking, since fewer trucks run this route than the Houston–Dallas corridor.
Where do I get a VTR-68-A inspection in El Paso?
The El Paso County Tax Office's Enforcement Division does them by appointment at 301 Manny Martinez Sr. Dr.; call (915) 273-3430. The El Paso Police auto theft task force (915-212-0310) is the other agency to ask.
Do kei trucks need an emissions test in El Paso County?
No, not if the truck is 25 years or older. Texas emissions testing covers gasoline vehicles 2 through 24 years old.
Can I see the truck before it's shipped?
Yes. It's on our Houston lot, and you're welcome to inspect and test drive it, or send someone to do it for you. Call or text (713) 385-9798.
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 · Corpus Christi · Lubbock · Beaumont · College Station–Bryan · Waco · Tyler–Longview · Rio Grande Valley
Buying from a nearby state: Louisiana · Oklahoma · Arkansas · New Mexico · All locations
Sources
- TxDMV registration fee chart, 2026
- TxDMV: out-of-state and foreign vehicles
- TxDMV regional service centers: hours and appointments
- El Paso County Tax Office (closure schedule)
- El Paso County: tax office locations and deputy offices
- El Paso County: registration and imported vehicles
- El Paso County: Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division
- TxDMV: El Paso County tax office
- TxDMV: auto theft task force grantees (El Paso Police)
- TxDMV: El Paso Regional Service Center
- Health and Safety Code §386.001 (affected counties, $33 title fee)
- TCEQ: vehicle emissions inspections
- TxDMV: temporary permits (30-day permit limits)
- 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, and being unable to do so is not grounds to cancel a purchase. See our Terms of Sale and Shipping & Pickup Policy.