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 205 miles from Tyler and 240 from Longview. We don't have an East Texas location, so this page covers what it actually takes to get a kei truck to the Piney Woods and register it in Smith County, or in Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Cherokee or Wood County: shipping costs and timing, the county tax offices, and the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force, which does the VIN inspection from the same building as the Smith County tax office.
Quick facts
- Distance: about 205 miles to Tyler, roughly 4 hours: US-59/I-69 North to Lufkin, then US-69 North through Jacksonville. Longview is about 40 miles farther east.
- Shipping: published 2026 open-carrier prices run from about $500 to $700; usually 1 to 3 days on the road.
- County office: Smith County Tax Office in the Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St., Tyler, or its Noonday, Lindale and Troup substations; Gregg County in Longview.
- VIN inspection: East Texas Auto Theft Task Force, Suite 360 of the same Cotton Belt Building; call 903-590-4916.
- Tax and fees: about $608.50 for a $7,999.99 truck in Smith County and $606 in Gregg; both charge the $33 title fee as state “affected counties”.
- Emissions test: none. No East Texas county tests, and a 25-year-old truck would be exempt anyway.
Getting a kei truck from Houston to Tyler
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. Most transport companies list the Tyler run as 1 to 3 days on the road. 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 Tyler run from about $500 to $700 on an open carrier.
| Source (route) | Published price | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriFreight (Tyler–Houston, 2026) | $500–$700 | 1–3 days |
| A1 Auto Transport (Texas routes under 500 miles, August 2026) | $500–$650 | 1–3 days |
Prices are for a running vehicle on an open carrier. As a rule of thumb, trips under 500 miles run about $1.55 to $2.50 a mile (Sherpa Auto Transport, 2026), which works out to about $320 to $510 for the 205 miles to Tyler, though the published quotes sit a little higher because of brokers' minimum charges. 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 205 miles to Tyler, roughly 4 hours with a trailer: US-59/I-69 North through Livingston and Lufkin, then US-69 North through Rusk and Jacksonville into Tyler. For Longview, stay on US-59 to Nacogdoches and take US-259 North through Henderson and Kilgore. 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 the US-59 run 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. Tyler, Whitehouse, Lindale and Troup are in Smith County; Longview and Kilgore in Gregg County; Athens in Henderson County; Henderson in Rusk County; Jacksonville and Rusk in Cherokee County; Mineola and Quitman in Wood County.
| County | Main office | Phone | Hours and visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith | Cotton Belt Building, 1517 W. Front St., Tyler 75702; substations in Noonday (15405 Hwy. 155 S., 903-590-4824, 8–noon and 1–4), Lindale (2616 S. Main St., 903-590-4899, 8–4:30) and Troup (313 E. Duval St., 903-590-4741, 8–noon and 1–4) | (903) 590-2920 | Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. No appointment system is posted. Ask whether your substation handles titles before you drive there (office list). Email gbarber@smith-county.com. |
| Gregg | 100 E. Methvin St., Suite 110, Longview 75601 | (903) 236-8417 | Hours not posted on TxDMV's listing; call. Email autotax@greggcounty.texas.gov. |
Outside these counties? Use your own county's office (TxDMV office finder). Neither Smith nor Gregg County publishes its own checklist for imported vehicles, so follow TxDMV's out-of-state and imported vehicle requirements (TxDMV), including a certified English translation, 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 Smith, Gregg, Henderson and Rusk counties, which are on the state's “affected county” list even though they don't test emissions, and $28 in Cherokee and Wood counties. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith | $500.00 | $33.00 | $51.75 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $608.50 |
| Gregg | $500.00 | $33.00 | $51.75 | $9.00 | $12.25 | $606.00 |
| Henderson | $500.00 | $33.00 | $51.75 | $10.00 | $12.25 | $607.00 |
| Rusk | $500.00 | $33.00 | $51.75 | $11.00 | $12.25 | $608.00 |
| Cherokee | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $10.00 | $12.25 | $602.00 |
| Wood | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $603.50 |
None of these counties runs emissions testing, and a kei truck old enough to import would be exempt anyway (TCEQ). Gregg County's $9 local fee is one of the lowest on the 2026 chart. Plan for the VIN inspection fee below, and a translation or appraisal if your county asks for one (see the Texas guide).
Where to get the VTR-68-A VIN inspection in Tyler
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Texas Auto Theft Task Force (Smith County District Attorney, Tyler police, the Smith, Rusk and Upshur county sheriffs and DPS), 1517 W. Front St., Suite 360, Tyler 75702, in the same Cotton Belt Building as the tax office | 14 counties: Smith, Gregg, Rusk, Cherokee, Henderson, Harrison, Panola, Rains, Van Zandt, Upshur, Camp, Anderson, Wood and Marion | Call the inspection line, 903-590-4916 (office 903-590-4911), Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Days, hours, booking method and residency rules aren't published (City of Tyler) | Not posted; Texas caps the fee at $40 |
Having the task force and the tax office in one building means you can, in principle, get the inspection and file the title the same morning; call first to confirm the inspection schedule. Bring your ID, proof of insurance, the bill of sale and all the import papers.
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. Smith, Gregg and the other Northeast Texas counties are served by the Longview Regional Service Center (4549 W. Loop 281, Longview 75604; 903-237-2800), open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no TxDMV center in Tyler.
Kei trucks around Tyler and Longview
East Texas is timber country: pine forests across 43 counties support a forest industry worth about $27 billion a year, and the land between the mills is divided into hunting leases, small cattle places, hay meadows and the rose and nursery operations around Tyler. A 4x4 kei truck with a diff lock handles sandy forest roads and wet bottomland the way a UTV does, with a bed, a cab and a license plate. Tyler's Cotton Belt Building is also unusually convenient: the tax office and the auto theft task force share it, so the VIN inspection and the title application can happen under one roof.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a kei truck from Houston to Tyler?
Published 2026 prices for an open carrier run from about $500 to $700. Get a written quote; we can help you arrange one.
How long does shipping from Houston to Tyler take?
Usually 1 to 3 days on the road once the carrier picks it up. Allow several days to a week from booking.
Where do I get a VTR-68-A inspection in Tyler?
The East Texas Auto Theft Task Force, 1517 W. Front St., Suite 360, in the same building as the Smith County tax office. Call the inspection line at 903-590-4916; it covers 14 counties including Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Cherokee and Wood.
Why is the title fee $33 in Smith and Gregg counties?
Both are on the Health and Safety Code's “affected county” list, which triggers the $33 title fee even though neither county runs emissions testing.
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 · El Paso · Corpus Christi · Lubbock · Beaumont · College Station–Bryan · Waco · 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
- TxDMV: Smith County tax office
- City of Bullard: Smith County vehicle registration locations and hours
- TxDMV: Gregg County tax office
- City of Tyler: East Texas Auto Theft Task Force
- TxDMV: Smith County auto theft task force grant
- TxDMV: Longview Regional Service Center
- Texas A&M AgriLife: Texas forest industry (2026)
- 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.