By Farhad Musazada, owner of Skyline Kei Trucks. Last updated: October 24, 2026. Statute and agency rules verified October 2026; fees, taxes and shipping estimates checked October 2026. Based on the Motor Vehicle Commission's foreign-vehicle titling guidance, N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 and 39:10-11, and inspection rules N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.2 and 13:20-7.4 (sources at the end). Shipping prices are published estimates, not quotes. General information, not legal advice.
Our kei trucks are on our lot in east Houston, about 1,585 miles from Trenton, where New Jersey titles imported vehicles. Cherry Hill is about 1,550 miles away, Newark 1,617 and Jersey City 1,625. New Jersey has no law written for kei or mini trucks, which helps here: a 25-year-old kei truck gets a regular title and registers like any other truck, and we found no kei-specific road or speed limits. The catch is the first title, which only the Motor Vehicle Commission's Special Title Unit in Trenton can issue; the MVC publishes no document list for it, and mailed applications may take up to 10 weeks. This page covers the rules, the plates and inspections, the paperwork, the taxes and getting the truck home.
Key facts
- Street legal: yes. New Jersey has no kei or mini-truck law, and we found no road or speed limit for a registered kei truck.
- How it registers: a title from the MVC's Special Title Unit, then registration at an MVC vehicle center as a non-commercial truck with passenger plates, or as a commercial truck for business use.
- Paperwork: the Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA), the Japanese export certificate with our English translation, our bill of sale, CBP Form 7501, DOT HS-7 (Box 1) and EPA Form 3520-1; the MVC publishes no import list, so call the Unit first.
- Taxes: 6.625% sales and use tax on the price, paid when you title.
- Fees: $60 title; $87.50 a year to register a non-commercial truck up to 5,000 lb ($105 as a commercial truck); plates included.
- Insurance: since January 1, 2026, at least $35,000/$70,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage liability on a standard policy.
- Inspection: none for a gasoline model year 1995 or older registered passenger; a 1996 to 2001 truck on passenger plates needs an emissions inspection within 14 days of first registration, then every two years; commercial plates mean yearly safety and emissions.
Are kei trucks legal in New Jersey?
Yes, through New Jersey's ordinary process for imported vehicles. The state has no kei or mini-truck statute (the vehicle definitions in N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 don't mention them), and a kei truck fits the Code's definition of a truck: “every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.” Like any vehicle, it has to be registered “before using the vehicle on the public highways” (N.J.S.A. 39:3-4).
The MVC's page on foreign vehicles sets the path: “You must submit your request to the central MVC office to obtain a title on a foreign vehicle,” and “Before you can register a foreign vehicle, you have to get it titled in New Jersey.” Our trucks come in under HS-7 Box 1, the 25-year exemption (see our 25-year import rule guide). We found no published MVC refusal of these imports, and no speed cap, road list or special plate for a registered kei truck.
Two other classes don't fit. New Jersey's low-speed vehicle tops out at “not more than 25 miles per hour” and is “not powered by gasoline or diesel fuel” (N.J.S.A. 39:1-1). Historic (QQ) plates are for a vehicle “owned as a collector's item and used solely for exhibition and educational purposes by the owner” (N.J.S.A. 39:3-27.3), not a working truck.
The 2026 change is in insurance: since January 1, a standard policy must carry at least $35,000 per person and $70,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, plus $25,000 for property damage (Banking and Insurance Bulletin 25-06, under P.L.2022, c.87); the increase doesn't apply to the basic policy. We found no kei or mini-truck bill in the 2024–2025 or 2026–2027 session.
Moving the truck to another state later, or want to see how New Jersey compares? Our kei truck laws by state map covers all 50 states, with each state's status, statute and the 2026 changes.
Which plates does a kei truck get in New Jersey?
For personal use, regular passenger plates. The MVC's non-commercial truck class (registration code 15) covers “a vehicle designed primarily for transportation of property” that is “not used for commercial transportation of goods, wares, merchandise and/or used for hire,” and pickup trucks are on its list. The truck can't carry advertising or lettering other than the manufacturer's own, and you confirm personal use on the back of the registration application (BA-49) at the agency. In the MVC's words, “You will receive regular passenger plates when you register your non-commercial truck.” The code 15 fee chart starts at $87.50 for 0 to 5,000 pounds, and registration is renewed every year.
A truck that hauls goods for a business or wears a company name registers as a commercial truck (code 11) instead: $105 at 0 to 5,000 pounds (MVC fee chart), with a yearly safety and emissions inspection. Buying several for a business? See our fleet sales page.
Does a kei truck need an inspection in New Jersey?
It depends on the model year and the plates; our trucks are model year 2001 and older.
- Model year 1995 and older, registered passenger: exempt. The MVC's exemption list (N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.2) covers “Gasoline powered vehicles registered passenger, model year 1995 & older with a GVWR 8,500 pounds or less.”
- Model year 1996 to 2001, passenger plates: an emissions inspection within 14 days of the temporary authorization certificate you get at first registration, then every two years (N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(h)).
- Commercial plates: the MVC's inspection FAQ puts “All gasoline or bi-fueled-powered, commercial plated (x-plated) vehicles” in the yearly safety and emissions program.
The open question for a 1996 to 2001 truck is the test. New Jersey's rule presumes an OBD (onboard diagnostics) test for 1996 and later vehicles “equipped with an OBD system,” says a vehicle “not equipped with an OBD system is not OBD-eligible,” and calls for an emission control apparatus examination on gasoline vehicles from model year 1975 on (N.J.A.C. 7:27-15.5). We found nothing on how that applies to a Japanese-market truck, or on whether the 1995-and-older exemption covers a non-commercial truck, so call MVC Inspection Services at (609) 633-9474 before you buy. State stations and licensed private facilities (which charge a fee) do the inspections.
How do you title an imported kei truck in New Jersey?
Through the Special Title Unit in Trenton, not your local agency: “Local MVC Agencies cannot issue this type of transfer.” The MVC publishes no document list for imports; instead, “To make sure you have all the required paperwork, please call 609-341-5718.” Make that call before you buy. From the MVC's forms and what comes with every truck we sell, expect to send:
- The Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA), which replaced the OS/SS-7; it asks for the odometer reading (kei odometers read in kilometers)
- The Japanese export certificate, with our English translation; if the Unit asks for a certified translation, we can get a certified English translation for you for $50
- Our bill of sale
- CBP Form 7501 (the customs entry), NHTSA Form HS-7 with Box 1 checked, and EPA Form 3520-1
- The $60 title fee and the sales tax; the MVC takes mailed fees by personal check, cashier's check or money order payable to NJMVC, not cash
An older list asks for more. The import list of NJ CAR, the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers, which runs a title service in Trenton, also wants originals or carbon copies of the HS-7 (“No photocopies are accepted”), the stamped customs entry and the shipping documents or bill of lading, plus a pencil tracing or digital photo of the VIN. It still names the replaced OS/SS-7 and a 7% payment, so confirm with the Unit. A bill of lading isn't among the documents that come with our trucks, so if the Unit asks for one, or for original federal forms, settle with the Unit what it will accept before you buy.
The MVC's titles page says to title “within ten days of purchase or face a penalty fee”; for a vehicle bought in New Jersey, the Title Law sets 10 working days and a $25 penalty plus the title fee (N.J.S.A. 39:10-11). Mailed applications “may take up to 10 weeks to process, plus mailing time” (OS/SS-UTA). The chassis number on the export certificate serves as the VIN (format like S210P-0123456; see our VIN and frame number guide).
With the title in hand, register the truck at an MVC vehicle center by appointment, bringing the title, your driver license or other ID, your New Jersey insurance card (or insurer and policy number) and the registration application, BA-49 (MVC registration page).
What are the taxes and fees in New Jersey?
New Jersey's sales and use tax is 6.625%, and use tax “is owed by New Jersey residents and businesses that buy products out of state” (Division of Taxation). The MVC collects it with the title: when an out-of-state seller hasn't collected it, “sales tax will be due upon titling the vehicle.” Texas doesn't charge its motor vehicle sales tax on a vehicle “purchased in Texas for use exclusively outside Texas” that isn't used here beyond the trip out or registered here; the buyer gives the seller Form 14-312 (Texas Comptroller). New Jersey credits sales or use tax “legally due and paid to another state” (automotive tax guide), but with no Texas tax paid, the full 6.625% is due. The MVC refers tax questions to the Division at 609-984-6206.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sales and use tax (6.625%) | $530.00 |
| Title | $60.00 |
| Registration up to 5,000 lb, one year | $87.50 as a non-commercial truck (code 15); $105.00 as a commercial truck (code 11) |
| Total | about $677.50 (or $695.00 registered commercial) |
Example for a $7,999.99 truck; tax rate from the Division of Taxation, the $60 title fee from the MVC, and registration from the MVC's code 15 and code 11 fee charts at 0 to 5,000 pounds; plates are included. Add $25 to record a lien, any late-title penalty, and a private inspection facility's fee if you use one.
How do you get it home from Houston?
On a trailer or a carrier. An unregistered kei truck can't be driven on Texas roads, and New Jersey won't register it until the Special Title Unit has issued the title. 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. Our lot is just off I-10 on the east side of Houston. Lot hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; call or text (713) 385-9798 to set a time.
| Destination | From our lot | Published price range (2026) | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Hill | about 1,550 miles | AmeriFreight $1,250–$1,500 (open carrier); Sherpa Auto Transport (South Jersey) $875–$1,075 | 6–8 days (Sherpa: 2–6) |
| Trenton | about 1,585 miles | moveBuddha $1,183–$1,656 | 3–9 days |
| Newark | about 1,617 miles | Freedom Auto Transport $985–$1,408; moveBuddha $1,193–$1,717; Sherpa (North Jersey) $925–$1,125 | 3–5 days (moveBuddha: 3–9; Sherpa: 2–6) |
| Jersey City | about 1,625 miles | moveBuddha $1,231–$1,862 | 3–9 days |
Prices are the brokers' own published estimates for a running vehicle, not quotes. Freedom and moveBuddha publish one range per route and Sherpa one per region, without saying open or enclosed; AmeriFreight's Cherry Hill figure is its open-carrier rate, published for the trip from Cherry Hill to Houston. 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. We help arrange an independent carrier and you pay the carrier directly; see delivery to your state.
Where do you go to title and register it?
The title comes from the MVC's Special Title Unit: Motor Vehicle Commission, Special Title Unit, 225 East State Street 2 East, Trenton, NJ 08666, 609-341-5718 (MVC: foreign vehicles). Registration is at an MVC vehicle center, where new registrations are “By appointment only”; centers include Trenton, Cherry Hill, Cardiff (Egg Harbor Township), Jersey City, East Orange and Paterson (vehicle center list). Book through the MVC's appointment system; the facility locations page also lists the state inspection stations. Newark's inspection station closed for good on April 11, 2026; the MVC suggests Secaucus, Rahway, Wayne or Paramus, or a private facility (MVC notice).
Kei trucks in New Jersey
New Jersey's farms are small: 9,998 of them in 2022, on 711,502 acres and averaging 71 acres. Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod sales came to about $726 million, seventh among the states; vegetables (about $294 million) and fruits, tree nuts and berries (about $198 million) are also big, and farms counted 20,782 horses and ponies (USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture). That is work a kei truck suits: moving plants and tools around nurseries and greenhouses, running between vegetable and berry fields, hauling feed on horse farms, and keeping up larger lots and small businesses. With no kei-specific road rules, a registered one can make the road trips in between; it is a small truck in fast traffic, though (see our top speed and mpg guide).
Frequently asked questions
Are kei trucks street legal in New Jersey?
Yes. A 25-year-old kei truck imported under HS-7 Box 1 can get a regular New Jersey title and be registered like any other truck. We found no New Jersey law that limits its roads or speed.
Can my local MVC agency title a kei truck?
No. A truck on Japanese paperwork is titled only by the MVC's Special Title Unit in Trenton. Call it at 609-341-5718 before you buy, then register at an MVC vehicle center once the title arrives.
What plates does a kei truck get in New Jersey?
For personal use, regular passenger plates, as a non-commercial truck (code 15): $87.50 a year up to 5,000 lb. Used for a business, it registers as a commercial truck (code 11), $105 at that weight, with a yearly safety and emissions inspection.
Does a kei truck need an inspection in New Jersey?
A gasoline model year 1995 or older registered passenger is exempt. A 1996 to 2001 truck on passenger plates needs an emissions inspection within 14 days of first registration, then every two years; ask MVC Inspection Services, (609) 633-9474, how a Japanese-market truck is tested.
How much is the tax on a kei truck in New Jersey?
6.625% sales and use tax, $530 on a $7,999.99 truck, paid when you title. Fees add $60 for the title and $87.50 to register a non-commercial truck up to 5,000 lb, about $677.50 in all.
Can you ship a kei truck to New Jersey?
Yes. We help arrange an independent carrier and you pay the carrier directly; published 2026 estimates from Houston run from about $875 (Sherpa, South Jersey) to $1,862 (moveBuddha, Jersey City).
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 comparison of the Hijet, Carry, Acty and Sambar and how buying from us works. Questions? Call or text (713) 385-9798.
Buying from another state: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · Connecticut · Florida · Indiana · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Massachusetts · Michigan · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · New Hampshire · New Mexico · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · South Carolina · Tennessee · Utah · Virginia · West Virginia · Wyoming · Delivery to your state · All locations · Laws in all 50 states (map)
Sources
- MVC: foreign vehicles (Special Title Unit)
- MVC: titles, fees and the ten-day rule
- MVC: Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA) and forms list
- MVC: initial registration and annual renewal
- MVC: non-commercial trucks
- MVC registration fee charts: code 15, non-commercial truck, code 11, commercial truck
- MVC locations: vehicle centers, all facilities
- MVC inspections: exempt vehicles (N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.2), FAQs, Inspection Services contact, Newark station closure (April 2026)
- N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4: inspection after first registration
- N.J.A.C. 7:27-15.5: emissions inspection tests
- N.J.S.A. 39:1-1: definitions
- N.J.S.A. 39:3-4: registration
- N.J.S.A. 39:3-27.3: historic motor vehicles
- N.J.S.A. 39:10-11: title deadline and penalty
- NJ CAR Title Services: import vehicles
- Division of Taxation: use tax
- Division of Taxation: consumer automotive tax guide
- Banking and Insurance Bulletin 25-06: 2026 liability minimums
- Texas Comptroller: vehicles taken out of state
- USDA: 2022 Census of Agriculture, New Jersey
- Freedom Auto Transport: Houston–Newark
- moveBuddha: Texas to New Jersey
- Sherpa Auto Transport: Texas to New Jersey
- AmeriFreight: Cherry Hill car shipping
- Homeland Auto Transport: Houston
- AmeriFreight: non-running vehicles
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.
