Checked against Connecticut law, in plain words

Kei Trucks in Connecticut

Registered as grey-market imports: the DMV inspection, the papers, and the costs

Connecticut registers imported vehicles once they pass a DMV safety inspection. A kei truck 25 years or older is exempt from US safety and emissions rules at import. The DMV's page doesn't name 25-year-old imports, so ask it which exemption papers it accepts.

Yes, street legal in ConnecticutThe DMV registers grey-market imports after an inspection, but its page doesn't mention 25-year-old trucks. Call before you buy.

Ask the DMV first: what to bring ↓

Federal import age25+ years

InspectionDMV lane

Customs form7501

Sales tax6.35%

A white Honda Acty kei truck with Connecticut plates parked in front of autumn trees — A 1992 Honda Acty SDX 4WD with Connecticut plates.

The law

What Connecticut rules say about kei trucks

No law names kei trucks. They follow the DMV's rules for imported (non-US) vehicles.

The DMV's imported-vehicle rules

You need US Customs Form 7501, signed by the importer.
The DMV says DOT and EPA letters aren't needed if you give it papers from those agencies showing the vehicle complies or is exempt. It doesn't name 25-year-old imports, so ask the DMV what it accepts for yours.
The truck must pass a safety inspection at a DMV lane before you get even a temporary plate.
Foreign ownership papers must show no break in ownership, with approved translations.

If the DMV isn't satisfied with your ownership papers, it can require a surety bond worth twice the truck's book value.

Sources: Connecticut DMV, "Imported vehicles (non-US)" ↗. Checked Nov. 9, 2026.

How to register a kei truck in Connecticut

Six steps for kei trucks in Connecticut, finished at the DMV.

Your Connecticut DMV checklistTick each step as you do it.

1Check the ageThe federal import exemption needs the truck to be 25 years old, counted from the month built (built in October 2001 or earlier, as of November 2026). Connecticut's DMV page doesn't set its own age rule.
2Get the import papersCustoms entry (CBP 7501), DOT form HS-7, EPA form 3520-1, the Japanese export certificate with an English translation, and your bill of sale. Customs Form 7501 is a must here.
3Get approved translationsThe Japanese export certificate may need a translation from an approved translator.
4Buy Connecticut insuranceBring the insurance card in your name.
5Pass the DMV safety inspectionAt a DMV inspection lane. One owner says older trucks skip emissions testing.
6Register at a DMV officePay 6.35% sales tax and the registration fee.

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Papers to bring to the DMV

Customs entry form CBP 7501, signed
Papers showing the truck is exempt (the DOT form HS-7 and EPA form 3520-1; the DMV asks for documentation from those agencies, so ask if your stamped copies are enough)
Japanese export certificate, with an approved translation
Your bill of sale
Connecticut insurance card in your name

If the DMV office isn't sure

Imports are less common at some offices. Calmly show them:

The DMV's own page: Imported vehicles (non-US) ↗. It says DOT and EPA forms aren't needed when you give it documentation from those agencies that the truck is exempt, but the customs form still is. It doesn't name 25-year-old imports.
On paper:

Still stuck? Ask politely to speak with a supervisor.

Source: Connecticut DMV. Not legal advice.

Cost

What it costs to register one

What	Cost
Sales tax	6.35% (up to $50,000)
Safety inspection	At a DMV lane, before plates
Registration and title	Standard DMV fees
Insurance	Owners report about $200–$400 a year

Source: Connecticut DMV. Confirm current fees.

Roads

Where you can drive one

No special road limits for a registered kei truck.

One owner calls it a great little around-town truck. Highways here run 55⁠–⁠65 mph, so plan routes on local roads.

Town streetsEasy at kei truck speeds.Good fit
Local roadsWhere most Connecticut owners drive.Good fit
Highways (55⁠–⁠65 mph)Allowed, but at the edge of what most kei trucks can do.Too fast for most

Buy

Buying a kei truck for Connecticut

The nearest dealers we found are in New York, New Jersey and New Hampshire.

1990s trucks run about $5,700 to $9,000. Make sure the seller has the customs Form 7501.

See trucks for sale near Connecticut → Import cost calculator →

Prices nearby

1998 Honda Acty 4WDAsking · 54,142 miles · New Jersey dealer$5,700
1996 Daihatsu HijetAsking · Goshen, New York$8,500
1997 Honda ActyAsking · Hopkinton, New Hampshire$8,999

Seen Nov. 8, 2026. Not offers or guarantees. We're not paid by any dealer.

Nearby

Kei truck rules next door to Connecticut

Moving or buying across the line? The rules change at the border.

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Questions

Connecticut questions

Are kei trucks legal in Connecticut?

Yes. The DMV registers them as grey-market imports after a safety inspection, with customs Form 7501.

Do I need DOT and EPA letters for a kei truck in Connecticut?

The DMV says not if you give it papers from those agencies showing the vehicle complies or is exempt. It doesn't name 25-year-old imports, so ask what it accepts for yours. You still need customs Form 7501.

Do kei trucks need an emissions test in Connecticut?

One owner says older trucks skip it. The DMV safety inspection is required.

What sales tax applies in Connecticut?

6.35% for vehicles bought for $50,000 or less.

What if my ownership papers aren't accepted?

The DMV can require a surety bond worth twice the truck's book value.

Where can I buy a kei truck near Connecticut?

Dealers in Goshen, New York; New Jersey; and Hopkinton, New Hampshire.

Next step