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Maryland at a glance
Unclear- Status
- Unclear: no law names Kei Trucks
- Where you can drive
- Private land; road use unconfirmed
- Speed rule
- No Kei-specific speed rule
- Interstates
- Unclear
- Title / registration
- MVA overseas-vehicle rules; outcome unconfirmed
- Inspection
- Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate (valid 90 days)
- Emissions
- EPA 3520 import form required at titling
- Key law
- MVA overseas-vehicle rules; Transportation Article §13-936
Are Kei Trucks street legal in Maryland?
Maryland has no statute or published bulletin that names Kei Trucks, so the answer comes from the Motor Vehicle Administration's (MVA) general rules for titling a vehicle built for another country. Those rules point two ways.
On one side, the MVA accepts a federal HS-7 import declaration marked in box 1 or box 2A. Box 1 claims the 25-year exemption, which lets an old import skip the federal safety standards known as FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards); it is the box a Kei Truck importer uses. On the other side, the same page says a non-conforming vehicle cannot be titled or registered until it is brought into compliance, and it asks for documents showing the vehicle meets FMVSS and EPA requirements. It even describes box 1 as verifying that a vehicle meets US specifications, which is not what box 1 declares. A Japanese-market truck cannot be made FMVSS-certified after the fact.
Owners and guides widely report that Maryland will not plate Kei Trucks. We could not find the written policy behind those refusals, which is why we list Maryland as unclear rather than closed.
What does the MVA ask for?
If you apply, the overseas-vehicle instructions call for:
- an Application for Certificate of Title (form VR-005)
- proof of ownership, such as the foreign registration or export certificate, translated into English through an embassy with the embassy seal attached
- the HS-7 with box 1 or 2A checked, plus the EPA 3520 import form
- US Customs and Border Protection release paperwork, such as the printed digital cargo release
- a Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate, which expires 90 days after it is issued
You have 60 days from the truck's entry into the United States to title it. That clock starts at the port, not at your driveway.
What does the Maryland safety inspection check?
The state safety inspection looks at ordinary road equipment such as lights, brakes, tires, glass, wipers and steering. A Kei Truck in good order can meet those items, but whether a station will inspect a vehicle without a federal certification label is a separate question to ask in advance. Fresh Kei Truck brake parts and working Kei Truck wiper blades are worth checking before any inspection.
Can a historic plate help?
Maybe for the oldest trucks, and only for light use. Transportation Article §13-936 limits historic registration to model year 1999 or earlier, to vehicles not substantially altered from the factory design, and to shows, club events, parades, tours and occasional driving. It bars daily driving, commuting, work use and commercial use. A historic plate does not get around the import and conformity questions above, and a lift kit or oversized tires can count as substantial alteration.
In 2026, Senate Bill 452 and House Bill 125 would have changed the cutoff to a rolling 25 years. Both got hearing dates and no committee vote, so they died when the session ended.
What can you do in the meantime?
Ask the MVA in writing first
Describe the truck, its model year, the HS-7 import declaration with box 1 (the 25-year exemption) and EPA Form 3520-1 (the Environmental Protection Agency's import declaration), and ask whether the MVA will title and register it after a passing safety inspection. Keep the reply.
Line up translations early
The MVA wants foreign registration documents translated into English through an embassy, with the embassy seal attached to the translation.
Watch the 60-day clock
You have 60 days from the truck's entry into the United States to title it. Start the paperwork before the ship arrives.
Gather the federal forms
Bring the HS-7, the EPA 3520-1, the printed CBP digital cargo release, the bill of sale and the Application for Certificate of Title (form VR-005).
Pass the safety inspection
Get a Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate, which is valid for 90 days from the date issued, before you apply.
Use the truck on private land with the owner's permission; that needs no plate. Read our buying guide and importing guide before money moves, review the 25-year rule, and check the Kei Truck law map to see how other states compare.
Frequently asked questions
Will Maryland register a Kei Truck?
Possibly, but nobody can promise it. No Maryland statute names Kei Trucks, the MVA accepts the HS-7 25-year box, and the same MVA instructions require a non-conforming vehicle to be made conforming before titling. Owners widely report refusals. Ask the MVA in writing, with your truck's details, before you buy.
Does Maryland accept the 25-year import exemption?
On paper, yes. The MVA's overseas-vehicle instructions accept an HS-7 marked in box 1 or box 2A, and box 1 is where an importer claims the 25-year exemption. The same page asks for documents showing FMVSS and EPA compliance and says non-conforming vehicles must be modified first, which is where a Kei Truck application can stall.
Can a Kei Truck get Maryland historic plates?
Only a model year 1999 or older truck that has not been substantially altered, under Transportation Article §13-936, and only for shows, club events, parades, tours and occasional driving. A historic plate does not settle the import and conformity questions. Bills in 2026 to switch to a rolling 25-year rule died without a committee vote.
What is Maryland's deadline for titling an imported Kei Truck?
The MVA allows 60 days, counted from the day the vehicle entered the United States, to get it titled. The clock starts at the port, not when the truck reaches you, so start the MVA inquiry and the translations before the ship arrives. The safety inspection certificate is valid for only 90 days.
Is private-land use allowed for a Kei Truck in Maryland?
Yes. Private-property use with the owner's permission needs no Maryland title, plate or inspection, and the uncertainty about registration does not affect it. Farms, woodlots and private grounds are the realistic use for a Kei Truck in Maryland until the MVA confirms road registration in writing.
Could out-of-state plates work for a Maryland resident?
Only if you genuinely live in that state. Registration follows where you live and keep the vehicle, so registering through an out-of-state address or company while living in Maryland can break residency and garaging rules and void your insurance. Talk to an attorney before considering it.
Sources
This page explains the rules in plain English. It is not legal advice. Laws change and offices apply them differently, so confirm with your state DMV or county titling office before you buy or register a truck.