Checked against Maine law, in plain words

Kei Trucks in Maine

Not street legal: the 2021 rule, the bills that followed, and what owners can do

Since 2021, Maine treats vehicles that don't meet US safety and EPA standards as off-road vehicles. That covers kei trucks in Maine, even 25-year-old legal imports. A 2025 working group studied a change, but the rule still stands.

Not street legal in MaineSince 2021, kei trucks count as off-road vehicles. No change yet.
See your options ↓
Road platesNo
Since2021
Private landYes
Working group2025
A white Daihatsu Hijet kei truck seen from behind, parked on a gravel lot
A Daihatsu Hijet with plates, in Lethbridge, Canada.

Photo: dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons ↗

The law

Why kei trucks aren't street legal in Maine

The rule comes from a 2021 change to the state's definition of an off-road vehicle.

The rule (Maine Revised Statutes 29-A, section 354)
  • Vehicles that don't meet US safety (FMVSS) and EPA standards are treated as off-road vehicles.
  • Off-road vehicles can't be registered for public roads.
  • In summer 2021, the BMV sent letters to owners of imported vans and trucks.
  • The 25-year federal import rule doesn't change this.
Maine's BMV also helped write national guidance urging states not to register these vehicles.
  1. June 2021Maine changed its off-road vehicle definition.
  2. 2023LD 63, to let 25-year imports on the road, didn't become law.
  3. May 2025LD 1209 created a working group on nonconforming vehicles, including mini trucks.
  4. Nov. 2026We found no change to the rule.

Sources: Maine Revised Statutes 29-A, LD 63 (2023), LD 1209 (2025) ↗, Maine Secretary of State working group notes, The Autopian. Checked Nov. 9, 2026.

Options

What Mainers can do now

No road plates for kei trucks in Maine for now. Here's what owners do instead.

  1. 1
    Use it on private landFarms, woodlots and big properties. That's legal.
  2. 2
    Follow the working groupIts job was to study limits on place, miles or speed, and how to register and inspect these vehicles.
  3. 3
    Contact your legislatorsA change needs a new law. Tell them you'd use a kei truck on back roads.
  4. 4
    Don't register out of stateNew Hampshire plates won't make it legal for a Maine resident. Register where you live.

Before you buy one in Maine

  • A New Hampshire title won't get you Maine plates. You must register where you live.
  • Plan where you'll use it: your own land, a farm or a woodlot.
  • The 2025 working group law: LD 1209 ↗.

Sources: Maine BMV and Legislature. Not legal advice.

Roads

Can you drive one on Maine roads?

Not without registration, which the BMV won't issue.

Keep it on your own land. If a law passes, it would likely limit where, how far or how fast kei trucks could go.

  • Private landFarms, woodlots and your own property, away from public roads.Yes
  • Public roadsThe BMV won't register them for the road.Not allowed
Buy

Buying a kei truck as a Mainer

The nearest dealers we found are in New Hampshire and further south.

Buy only for private-land use for now. Keep every import paper in case the law changes.

See trucks for sale → Import cost calculator →

Prices nearby

  • 2000 Suzuki CarryAsking · New Hampshire seller$13,000
  • 1998 Honda Acty 4WDAsking · 54,142 miles · New Jersey dealer$5,700
  • 1999 Suzuki Carry 4WDAsking · 95,777 miles · New Jersey dealer$6,900

Seen Nov. 7⁠–⁠8, 2026. Not offers or guarantees. We're not paid by any dealer.

Nearby

Kei truck rules in New England

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

Live somewhere else? Check your state

TapClick the yellow button. Your answer shows up right here.

Questions

Maine questions

Are kei trucks legal in Maine?

Not on public roads. Since 2021, vehicles without US safety and EPA approval count as off-road vehicles, and those can't be registered.

Why are kei trucks illegal in Maine?

A 2021 change to the off-road vehicle definition (29-A, section 354) covers vehicles that don't meet US safety and EPA standards, including kei trucks.

Does the 25-year import rule help in Maine?

No. It lets you import the truck, but Maine still treats it as off-road.

What is LD 1209?

A 2025 law that created a working group to study nonconforming vehicles, including mini trucks. Its report was due Feb. 6, 2026. We couldn't find the final report or any 2026 bill that followed, and the rule hasn't changed.

Can I use a kei truck on my land in Maine?

Yes, on private land, off public roads.

Can I register it in New Hampshire?

Only if you live there. You must register where you live.

Next step

Planning ahead? Pick the right truck

If you have land to use it on now, compare the Carry, Acty, Hijet, Sambar and Minicab.

Compare kei trucks →