Kei Trucks in Rhode Island
Not street legal for new owners: the ban, the June 2024 cutoff, and the 2026 bill
Since 2021, the DMV has refused new kei registrations. A 2024 law lets kei vehicles registered before June 1, 2024 keep renewing, on roads posted 35 mph or less. A 2026 bill to reopen registration went to committee.
New platesNo
CutoffJune 1, 2024
2026 billH 8510
Kei vehicles platedAbout 30
Photo: TTTNIS, CC0, Wikimedia Commons ↗
Why kei trucks aren't legal in Rhode Island
The ban started as DMV policy. The legislature has since stepped in twice.
- The DMV says kei vehicles were never built to US safety standards.
- Starting in 2021, it refused new registrations and asked owners to turn in plates.
- The law (R.I. Gen. Laws 31-3-5) says a kei car or truck validly registered before June 1, 2024 can't be refused renewal for being a kei vehicle. Those registrations can't be transferred to a new owner.
- Those trucks may use roads posted 35 mph or less, and cross a road posted 35–45 mph only at an intersection with signals or stop signs.
- H 8510 (2026) would lift the registration ban for everyone.
- The ban uses the state's own definition of a kei car or truck (R.I. Gen. Laws 31-1-3(l)): four wheels, 660cc or less, 130 inches or less long, 78 inches or less tall and 60 inches or less wide. 1990s kei trucks are about 129.7 inches (3,295 mm) long; the generation sold from 1999 is 3,395 mm (133.7 inches). Whether a truck longer than 130 inches falls outside the ban is not settled, so ask the DMV in writing before you count on it either way.
- 2021The DMV began refusing kei registrations.
- May 2024The DMV asked remaining owners to turn in registrations again.
- June 28, 2024The 2024 law (S 2693, with House version H 8013) became law without the governor's signature.
- July 1, 2024The law took effect (the start date in the bill). Trucks registered before June 1, 2024 may keep renewing.
- May 1, 2026H 8510, to reopen registration, went to committee.
Sources: R.I. Gen. Laws 31-3-5 (official text) ↗, R.I. Gen. Laws 31-1-3(l) (definition), Rhode Island General Assembly (S 2693 of 2024, H 8510 of 2026) ↗, The Drive (May 2024), Jalopnik. Cutoff, road rules and definition re-checked Nov. 14, 2026.
What Rhode Islanders can do now
No new plates for kei trucks in Rhode Island. Here's what owners do instead.
- 1Registered before June 1, 2024?You can keep renewing, on roads posted 35 mph or less. The registration can't move to a new owner, so a truck you buy now can't use it.
- 2Use it on private landFarms and big properties. That's legal.
- 3Follow the next billH 8510 (2026) went to committee with no action we found. Ask your state representative about a new bill.
- 4Keep every import paperCustoms entry (CBP 7501), DOT form HS-7, EPA form 3520-1, the Japanese export certificate with an English translation, and your bill of sale.
Before you buy one in Rhode Island
- A kei truck registered before June 1, 2024 can keep renewing, but the registration can't be transferred: a newly bought one can't get plates. The law: R.I. Gen. Laws 31-3-5 ↗.
- A Massachusetts or New Hampshire title won't help if you live here.
- The 2026 bill to reopen registration: H 8510 ↗.
Sources: Rhode Island DMV and General Assembly. Not legal advice.
Can you drive one on Rhode Island roads?
Only if it was registered before June 1, 2024, and only on roads posted 35 mph or less.
The law lets those trucks cross a road posted 35–45 mph only at an intersection with traffic signals or stop signs. A newly bought kei truck can't get plates.
- Private landFarms and your own property, away from public roads.Yes
- Public roadsOnly trucks registered before June 1, 2024, on roads posted 35 mph or less.Not for new ones
Buying a kei truck near Rhode Island
The nearby dealers we found are in New Hampshire and New York.
Buy only for private-land use for now, unless you live in a state that registers them.
Prices nearby
1994 Subaru SambarAsking · Hopkinton, New Hampshire$7,749
1997 Honda ActyAsking · Hopkinton, New Hampshire$8,999
1996 Daihatsu HijetAsking · Goshen, New York$8,500
Seen Nov. 8, 2026. Not offers or guarantees. We're not paid by any dealer.
Kei truck rules next door to Rhode Island
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.
Rhode Island questions
Are kei trucks legal in Rhode Island?
Not for new owners. The DMV refuses new kei registrations. Kei vehicles validly registered before June 1, 2024 may keep renewing, on roads posted 35 mph or less, but those registrations can't be transferred.
Why did Rhode Island ban kei trucks?
The DMV says they were never built to US safety standards.
What is Rhode Island H 8510?
A 2026 bill to lift the kei registration ban. It went to committee on May 1, 2026; we found no action on it after that.
How many kei vehicles are registered in Rhode Island?
About 30 kei cars and trucks, according to 2024 reports.
Can I use a kei truck on my land in Rhode Island?
Yes, on private land, off public roads.
Can I register it in Massachusetts?
Only if you live there. You must register where you live.
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 →
