Checked against Michigan law, in plain words

Kei Trucks in Michigan

Street legal again at 25 years old: what changed in 2024 and how to register

Michigan cracked down on kei trucks in 2024, then reversed course. The Secretary of State now titles and registers kei trucks 25 years or older for the road.

Yes, street legal in MichiganKei trucks 25+ years old get an on-road title. Younger ones get an off-road title only.

Start my DMV checklist ↓

Truck age25+ years

PlatesRegular

Under 25 yearsOff-road only

2024 crackdownReversed

A Honda Acty work truck in the snow, in Canada.

Photo: Gogerr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons ↗

The law

What Michigan rules say about kei trucks

Michigan has no kei-truck law. The rule comes from the Secretary of State's own titles FAQ.

The key line (Michigan Department of State, Titles FAQ) ...can be titled and registered for on-road use if they were manufactured for on-road use in the U.S. or in another country.

That covers kei-class vehicles, including mini-trucks and microvans, 25 years or older.
Trucks never titled in the US need their import papers.
Under 25 years old: off-road title only.

In 2024 the state denied new kei registrations and revoked some, calling them off-road vehicles. It reversed that policy in November 2024.

2019A new "assembled vehicle" definition was later used against kei trucks.
2024Michigan denied new kei registrations and revoked some.
Nov. 2024The Secretary of State reversed course: 25+ year kei vehicles get on-road titles again.

Sources: Michigan Department of State Titles FAQ ↗, Car and Driver, The Autopian. Checked Nov. 9, 2026.

How to title and register a kei truck in Michigan

Six steps for kei trucks in Michigan, finished at a Secretary of State office.

Your Michigan DMV checklistTick each step as you do it.

1Check the ageMichigan’s road title needs the truck to be 25 years old, counted from the month it 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).
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 Michigan no-fault insuranceMichigan requires no-fault insurance before you can register.
4Visit a Secretary of State officeApply for an on-road title with your papers and proof of insurance.
5Got an off-road title in 2024?News reports in late 2024 said affected owners could get on-road titles back. Ask a Secretary of State office about switching yours.
6Pay and get platesMichigan has no regular safety or emissions inspections.

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Papers to bring to the Secretary of State office

Customs entry form CBP 7501
DOT form HS-7
EPA form 3520-1
Japanese export certificate, with an English translation
Your bill of sale
Proof of Michigan no-fault insurance

If the Secretary of State office isn't sure

After the 2024 crackdown, some clerks may still think kei trucks are off-road only. Calmly show them:

The state's own answer: Titles FAQ ↗, "Are Kei-class vehicles eligible for on-road registration?"
Your import papers, showing the truck is 25 years or older.
On paper:

Still stuck? Call the Information Center at 1-888-767-6424, or ask politely for a supervisor.

Sources: Michigan Department of State and news reports. Not legal advice.

Cost

What it costs to register one

What	Cost
Sales tax	6% of what you paid
Title	$15
Registration	Based on the truck's weight or value; the Secretary of State has a fee estimator
Inspection	None
Insurance	No-fault coverage is required; kei owners report about $200–$400 a year

Sources: Michigan Department of State and owner reports. Fees change; your office has current amounts.

Roads

Where you can drive one

No special road limits for a titled kei truck.

Michigan freeways run 70⁠–⁠75 mph, faster than most kei trucks, so owners use county roads and town streets. Before the reversal, some owners could only drive them between fields as farm vehicles.

Town streetsEasy at kei truck speeds.Good fit
County roadsWhere most Michigan owners drive.Good fit
Freeways (70⁠–⁠75 mph)Allowed for a titled truck, but most kei trucks top out at 50⁠–⁠65 mph.Too fast for most

Buy

Kei trucks for sale in Michigan

Michigan listings are rare, and prices vary wildly.

One Michigan dealer asked $34,900 for a 1992 Acty, far above the usual $6,000–$12,000. Compare with Ohio, Indiana and Illinois before you buy.

See trucks for sale in Michigan → Import cost calculator →

Prices in and near Michigan

1992 Honda ActyAsking · Michigan dealer · far above normal$34,900
1999 Honda ActyAsking · Indiana dealer$11,000
1996 Suzuki Carry 4WDAsking · 13,750 miles · Utica, Ohio$8,900
1997 Honda Acty Attack 4WDAsking · 42,203 miles · Illinois dealer$5,500

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

Michigan kei truck dealers we found

We haven't visited or checked these yet. Call before you drive out.

South-central Michigan

Quincy, south-central MichiganMini Truck Depotminitruckdepot.com
Spring Arbor, near JacksonMega Mini Trucks

We haven't found a dealer near Detroit or Grand Rapids yet.

Owners

What Michiganders say

3 stories from YouTube comments and a news story, told in our words.

Michigan viewerYouTube comment · see the video ↗

The new rule

Points out that kei trucks are now street legal in Michigan if they're 25 years old or older.

Michigan farmerYouTube comment · see the video ↗

Before the change

Says importing them used to be a pain and road use was nearly impossible. Farm use was the only way to drive between fields.

Owners caught in 2024The Autopian, Oct. 29, 2024 · see the original ↗

Titles restored

Trucks that already had Michigan street registration before the crackdown were reported restored.

Nearby

Kei truck rules next door to Michigan

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

Michigan questions

Are kei trucks street legal in Michigan?

Yes. The Secretary of State titles and registers kei trucks 25 years or older for the road.

Did Michigan ban kei trucks?

In 2024 the state denied and revoked some kei registrations. It reversed that policy in November 2024.

Can I register a kei truck under 25 years old in Michigan?

Only with an off-road title. Road use needs the truck to be at least 25 years old.

My truck got an off-road title in 2024. What now?

Ask a Secretary of State office about an on-road title. News reports in late 2024 said owners affected by the crackdown could get them back.

Does a kei truck have to be built for road use?

Yes. Michigan titles kei trucks 25 years or older for the road if they were manufactured for on-road use, in Japan or elsewhere. Off-road-only models get an off-road title.

Do kei trucks need an inspection in Michigan?

No. Michigan has no regular safety or emissions inspections.

Where can I buy a kei truck in Michigan?

There are few Michigan dealers. Mini Truck Depot in Quincy and Mega Mini Trucks in Spring Arbor are two we found; many buyers shop in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

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 →