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New Jersey at a glance
Unclear- Status
- Unclear; no Kei law and no MVC Kei policy
- Where you can drive
- Public roads only after a New Jersey title and registration
- Speed rule
- None specific to Kei Trucks
- Interstates
- Unclear
- Title / registration
- Foreign vehicles: MVC Special Title Unit, by mail; then any agency registers
- Inspection
- Commercial plates: yearly safety and emissions inspection
- Emissions
- Every two years for 1996 and newer gasoline vehicles on passenger plates; 1995 and older exempt
- Key law
- MVC foreign vehicle procedure; N.J.S.A. 39:1-1 (LSV class excludes gasoline)
Are Kei Trucks street legal in New Jersey?
It depends on one office. New Jersey has no statute that names Kei Trucks, and the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) has published no Kei policy. What the MVC does publish is a routing rule: a vehicle bought in a foreign country has to be titled through the central office, not a local agency, and it needs a New Jersey title before it can be registered. The Special Title Unit in Trenton handles those requests by mail.
Owner-run lists have long rated New Jersey as one of the harder states for Kei Trucks. Because the MVC has put nothing in writing, the answer that counts comes from the Special Title Unit, about your specific truck. Get it before you ship, and compare other states on the Kei Truck law map.
Can a Kei Truck use New Jersey's low-speed vehicle rules?
No. Under N.J.S.A. 39:1-1, as amended in 2019, a low-speed vehicle (LSV) must top out between 20 and 25 mph on level pavement, must not burn gasoline or diesel, and must meet the federal LSV standard (49 C.F.R. 571.500). Kei Trucks burn gasoline, exceed 25 mph and lack that certification.
The same section defines a motorized scooter as a miniature motor vehicle, listing pocket bikes, mini choppers and motorized skateboards, and it adds other motorized vehicles built without federal safety certification. That last phrase reads broadly, but the class is aimed at small devices, and we found no MVC statement applying it to trucks. If it comes up, ask the Special Title Unit to address it in writing.
How do you try to title a Kei Truck in New Jersey?
Call the Special Title Unit at 609-341-5718 for its current paperwork requirements; the MVC does not post them on its website. Then mail the request to the unit's Trenton address, listed on the MVC Foreign Vehicles page. Typical import papers include:
- The Japanese export certificate, with a certified English translation
- Your bill of sale
- The three federal import forms: the CBP 7501 entry summary, the HS-7 (the DOT declaration of safety-standard status, box 1 for the 25-year exemption) and EPA Form 3520-1, the emissions import declaration
- Proof of New Jersey insurance for the registration step
Once a title is issued, any MVC agency can register the truck. Our guide to importing a Kei Truck explains each federal form, and the 25-year rule page covers the age test.
Call the Special Title Unit
Phone the unit at 609-341-5718 before you buy or ship, and ask what it needs to title a 25-year-old Japanese truck. Ask for the answer in writing.
Assemble the import file
Gather the export certificate with a certified English translation, the bill of sale, the CBP 7501, the HS-7 with box 1 marked and the EPA 3520-1. Send copies unless the unit asks for originals.
Mail the title request
Send the package to the Special Title Unit in Trenton at the address on the MVC Foreign Vehicles page. Local MVC agencies cannot process a foreign title.
Insure and register
Once a title is issued, buy a policy that meets the 2026 minimums and register the truck at any MVC agency.
Check inspection needs
Find out whether your model year and plate type call for an emissions test or a yearly safety inspection, and book it before the deadline on your registration.
What inspection and insurance apply in New Jersey?
Inspection depends on model year and plate type. Per the MVC's inspection FAQ, gasoline vehicles on passenger plates from model year 1996 on take a biennial emissions test, and passenger-plated gasoline vehicles from 1995 and earlier are exempt. Gasoline vehicles on commercial plates face a yearly safety and emissions inspection. A Japanese-market truck from 1996 to 2001 may not have a US-style OBD II port a station can read, so ask before you buy.
For a commercial-plated truck, the safety check covers the basics, so sort out the Kei Truck lights and wiper blades first. Our buying guide covers what else to check.
Insurance limits rose on January 1, 2026, under P.L. 2022, chapter 87. Standard policies written or renewed since then need bodily injury limits of at least $35,000 for one person and $70,000 for one accident, plus $25,000 for property damage (DOBI Bulletin 25-06), though the basic policy option keeps its own lower limits.
What about historic plates, or what if the MVC says no?
Historic plates are for vehicles at least 25 years old and meant for shows and educational events. The fee is $44, and the application (Form SP-121) needs two color photos and a copy of the truck's New Jersey title. That last item means historic registration helps only after the title question is solved.
If the unit refuses, ask for the refusal and its legal basis in writing, and keep the truck working on private land. Registering it through another state where you do not live can break residency and garaging rules and void your insurance, so talk to an attorney before anyone suggests it. Massachusetts shows another path: its registry reopened Kei registrations in 2024 by policy, without a new statute.
Frequently asked questions
Can a local MVC agency title a Kei Truck?
No. The MVC says a vehicle bought in a foreign country must be titled through its central office, and local agencies cannot process that transfer. Requests go by mail to the Special Title Unit in Trenton. After a title is issued, any MVC agency can handle the registration.
Can a Kei Truck be registered as a low-speed vehicle in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey's low-speed vehicle class covers vehicles that top out between 20 and 25 mph, do not run on gasoline or diesel, and meet the federal LSV standard. A Kei Truck with a gas engine misses on every count, so the LSV route is closed.
Can I put historic plates on a Kei Truck in New Jersey?
Only after it has a New Jersey title. Historic plates are for vehicles at least 25 years old; the fee is $44, and the application is Form SP-121 with two photos and a copy of the truck's New Jersey title. They are meant for shows and educational events only, so they do not suit a working truck.
Does a Kei Truck need an inspection in New Jersey?
It depends on the model year and plates. Passenger-plated gasoline vehicles from 1996 on need an emissions test every two years, while 1995 and older ones are exempt. Commercial-plated gasoline vehicles need a yearly safety and emissions inspection, and historic-plated vehicles 25 or more years old skip inspection.
What insurance does a Kei Truck need in New Jersey?
Standard policies written or renewed since January 1, 2026 must carry bodily injury limits of at least $35,000 for one person and $70,000 for one accident, plus $25,000 for property damage. The basic policy option keeps its own lower limits. Some insurers will only quote a Japanese chassis number by phone.
Is a Kei Truck allowed on private land in New Jersey without plates?
Yes. Titling and registration rules apply to vehicles driven on public roads. On your own farm, or land where you have permission, a Kei Truck can work without plates. That is the safe default while the title question for your truck is still open.
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.