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 180 miles from downtown Waco. We don't have a Waco location, so this page covers what it actually takes to get a kei truck to Central Texas and register it in McLennan County, or in Bell, Hill, Falls or Bosque County: shipping costs and timing, the county's auto department and substations, and the Heart of Texas task force's walk-up VIN inspection, one of the simplest in the state.
Quick facts
- Distance: about 180 miles, roughly 3 to 3½ hours: US-290 West and SH-6 North through Bryan–College Station, Hearne and Marlin.
- Shipping: published 2026 open-carrier prices run from about $500 to $750; usually 1 to 3 days on the road.
- County office: McLennan County Tax Office auto department, Records Building, 215 N. 5th St.; substations in McGregor and West.
- VIN inspection: Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force, 501 S. 32nd St., 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 9–10 a.m., no appointment, $40.
- Tax and fees: about $603.50 for a $7,999.99 truck in McLennan County.
- Emissions test: none. McLennan County doesn't test, and a 25-year-old truck would be exempt anyway.
Getting a kei truck from Houston to Waco
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 Waco 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 Waco run from about $500 to $750 on an open carrier.
| Source (route) | Published price | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Sherpa Auto Transport (Waco–Houston, 2026) | $500–$600 | Up to 2 days |
| AmeriFreight (Houston–Waco, 2026) | $550–$750 | 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 $280 to $450 for the 180 miles to Waco, though the two 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 180 miles to Waco, roughly 3 to 3½ hours with a trailer. SH-6 is the direct route: US-290 West to Hempstead, then SH-6 North through Navasota, Bryan–College Station, Hearne, Calvert and Marlin into Waco. I-45 North to Buffalo and SH-7 West through Marlin is the alternative. 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 SH-6 run (and I-35 once you're there) 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 Waco, Hewitt, Woodway, Robinson, McGregor or West that's the McLennan County Tax Office's auto department. Temple, Belton and Killeen are in Bell County, Hillsboro in Hill County, Marlin in Falls County and Clifton and Meridian in Bosque County, each with its own office.
| County | Main office | Phone | Hours and visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLennan | Auto Department, Records Building, 215 N. 5th St., Waco 76701; substations at 415 N. Johnson St., McGregor 76657 (254-759-7567) and 201 N. Reagan St., West 76691 (254-759-5998) | (254) 757-5151 | Waco Mon–Fri 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; McGregor and West Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed noon–1 p.m. No appointment system is posted; 2.19% fee on card payments. H-E-B stores and Educators Credit Union handle renewals only, not titles (McLennan County). Email auto.reg@co.mclennan.tx.us. |
Outside McLennan County? Use your own county's office (TxDMV office finder). McLennan County doesn't publish 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 $28 in McLennan, Bell, Hill, Falls and Bosque counties (none is an emissions or “affected” county), 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLennan | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $603.50 |
| Bell | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $603.50 |
| Hill | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $10.00 | $12.25 | $602.00 |
| Falls | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $603.50 |
| Bosque | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $10.00 | $12.25 | $602.00 |
None of these counties runs emissions testing, and a kei truck old enough to import would be exempt anyway (TCEQ). 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 Waco
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force (investigators from the Burnet, Coryell, McLennan and Williamson County sheriff's offices), Waco site: 501 S. 32nd St., Waco 76711, in the parking lot of the Hart-Patterson Track and Field complex | Anyone; no residency restriction is stated | 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 9:00–10:00 a.m. No appointment; first come, first served, and if you're in line before 10 a.m. you'll be seen. Cancelled in dangerous weather. Bring the truck, your ID and the bill of sale and import papers (Heart of Texas task force) | $40 by cashier's check or money order payable to “Auto Theft Task Force”; no cash |
Local news has reported the task force doing VIN checks in Waco every Wednesday with the McLennan County Sheriff's Office and Waco police, but the task force's own page lists the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, so go by that or call its headquarters at the Burnet County Sheriff's Office (512-756-8080). 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. McLennan, Bell, Hill, Falls, Bosque and the other Central Texas counties are served by the Waco Regional Service Center (2203 Austin Ave., Waco 76701; 254-296-2700), open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kei trucks around Waco
Waco sits where the Blackland Prairie meets the Brazos, with Baylor University (about 20,000 students) downtown and farm and ranch land in every direction: cotton, corn and cattle in McLennan and Falls counties, and the edge of the Hill Country out toward Clifton and Meridian. Kei trucks here go to small farms, to the tourism businesses downtown, and to buyers in Temple, Belton and Killeen who want a cheap, licensed work truck. The Heart of Texas task force's twice-monthly walk-up inspection makes the 68-A step easier here than in most of Texas: no appointment, just show up before 10 a.m. with a $40 money order.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a kei truck from Houston to Waco?
Published 2026 prices for an open carrier run from about $500 to $750. Get a written quote; we can help you arrange one.
How long does shipping from Houston to Waco 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 Waco?
The Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force does walk-up inspections at 501 S. 32nd St. (the Hart-Patterson track complex lot) on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 9 to 10 a.m. No appointment; $40 by cashier's check or money order.
Do kei trucks need an emissions test in McLennan County?
No. McLennan County isn't an emissions-testing county, and a 25-year-old truck would be exempt even where testing applies.
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 · 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
- McLennan County Tax Office: auto department, hours and substations
- McLennan County: tax assessor-collector directory listing
- Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force: inspection schedule
- KWTX: Heart of Texas task force VIN checks in Waco (2024)
- TxDMV: Waco Regional Service Center
- Baylor University: fall enrollment
- 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.