Checked against Massachusetts law, in plain words

Kei Trucks in Massachusetts

Registered again since 2024: what happened, how to register and the yearly inspection

Massachusetts canceled kei registrations in 2024, then reversed course after owners pushed back. Since Sept. 18, 2024, the RMV registers kei trucks in Massachusetts again, along with kei cars and vans.

Yes, street legal in MassachusettsThe RMV reinstated kei registrations on Sept. 18, 2024. Passenger or commercial plate by use.

Start my RMV checklist ↓

SinceSept. 18, 2024

PlatesPassenger or commercial

Safety inspectionYearly

Title fee$75

A white Honda Acty kei truck with a black bed parked by the curb on a city street — A Honda Acty in Manchester, New Hampshire, just north of the state line.

The law

What Massachusetts rules say about kei trucks

There's no kei-truck law in Massachusetts. The rule is RMV policy, announced in a 2024 advisory.

The RMV advisory (Sept. 17, 2024)

The RMV reinstated registration of kei trucks, cars and vans from Sept. 18, 2024.
Existing registrations carry on, with renewals.
New kei vehicles get a passenger or commercial plate, depending on use.
The RMV says it will keep reviewing kei safety.

Because it's a policy and not a law, the RMV could change it again without a vote.

Mid-2024The RMV canceled kei registrations and stopped new ones.
Sept. 17, 2024After owner backlash, the RMV announced it would register kei vehicles again.
Sept. 18, 2024Kei registrations restarted.

Sources: Massachusetts RMV advisory (mass.gov) ↗, The Drive, Motor1. Checked Nov. 9, 2026.

How to title and register a kei truck in Massachusetts

Six steps for kei trucks in Massachusetts, finished at an RMV Service Center.

Your Massachusetts RMV checklistTick each step as you do it.

1Check the ageMost kei trucks come in under the federal 25-year exemption, counted from the month the truck was built. In November 2026, that means built in October 2001 or earlier. A truck built in November 2001 turns 25 on its build day this month, so check the exact date (if you don’t know it, wait until Dec. 1, 2026). Buying one that is already in the US? The import is done; you need its import papers.
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.
3Buy Massachusetts insuranceYour insurance agent stamps the registration application.
4Pick your plate typePassenger plate for personal use, commercial plate if it's for a business.
5Title and register at the RMVPay the $75 title fee, the registration fee and 6.25% sales tax.
6Get the yearly inspectionMassachusetts vehicles need an annual safety inspection at a licensed station.

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Papers to bring to the RMV

Registration application, stamped by your insurance agent
Customs entry form CBP 7501
DOT form HS-7
EPA form 3520-1
Japanese export certificate, with an English translation
Your bill of sale

If the RMV office isn't sure

Some staff may remember the 2024 pause. Calmly show them:

The RMV's own advisory: Update to Kei Vehicle Policy ↗ (Sept. 17, 2024). It says owners can register kei vehicles from Sept. 18, 2024.
On paper:

Still stuck? Ask politely to speak with a supervisor.

Sources: Massachusetts RMV. Not legal advice.

Cost

What it costs to register one

What	Cost
Sales tax	6.25% of the price or the market value, whichever is higher
Title	$75
Registration	Depends on plate type: passenger or commercial
Inspection	Yearly, at a licensed inspection station
Insurance	Owners report about $200–$400 a year

Sources: Massachusetts RMV (mass.gov). Confirm current amounts with the RMV.

Roads

Where you can drive one

No special road limits for a registered kei truck.

Highways here run 55⁠–⁠65 mph, at the edge of what most kei trucks can do, so owners stick to local roads. Keep an eye on RMV news: its safety review is still open.

Town streetsEasy at kei truck speeds.Good fit
Local roadsWhere most Massachusetts 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

Kei trucks for sale near Massachusetts

We found few dealers in-state. The nearby listings we found are from New Jersey dealers.

New Jersey dealers ask $5,700–$7,900 for late-1990s 4WD trucks. Ask the seller for the import papers the RMV will want.

See trucks for sale near Massachusetts → Import cost calculator →

Prices nearby

1995 Honda Acty 4WD dumpAsking · 72,492 miles · New Jersey dealer$7,900
1998 Subaru Sambar 4WDAsking · 71,080 miles · New Jersey dealer$6,900
1998 Honda Acty 4WDAsking · 54,142 miles · New Jersey dealer$5,700

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

Owners

What owners here say

2 stories from a YouTube comment and an official notice, told in our words.

Massachusetts viewerYouTube comment · see the video ↗

The reversal

Notes Massachusetts just started allowing kei trucks to be registered again, and points out Smart cars and Fiat 500s are everywhere here.

Owners caught in 2024Massachusetts RMV advisory · see the original ↗

Registrations restored

The RMV canceled registrations in mid-2024, then reinstated kei registrations from Sept. 18, 2024 after owners pushed back.

Nearby

Kei truck rules next door to Massachusetts

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

Massachusetts questions

Can kei trucks be registered in Massachusetts?

Yes. The RMV reinstated kei truck, car and van registrations on Sept. 18, 2024.

Did Massachusetts ban kei trucks?

In mid-2024 the RMV canceled kei registrations. After owners pushed back, it reversed that on Sept. 18, 2024.

What plate does a kei truck get in Massachusetts?

A passenger or commercial plate, depending on how you use it.

Do kei trucks need an inspection in Massachusetts?

Yes, the yearly safety inspection every Massachusetts vehicle needs.

Could Massachusetts ban kei trucks again?

It could. The reinstatement is RMV policy, not a law, and the RMV says its safety review continues.

How much does it cost to register a kei truck in Massachusetts?

A $75 title fee, 6.25% sales tax on the price or market value, and the registration fee for your plate type.

Next step

Pick your truck: compare the 5 brands

Carry, Acty, Hijet, Sambar or Minicab: see which fits your land, your height and your budget.

Compare kei trucks →