Checked against Utah law, in plain words

Kei Trucks in Utah

Street legal as a novel vehicle: the 50 mph rule, the $1 fee and how to register

Since 2025, Utah registers vehicles that don't fit a normal class, like kei trucks, as "novel vehicles". The state counted 231 kei vehicles registered that way in 2025.

Street legal on some roadsRegistered as a novel vehicle: 50 mph max, no interstates.

Start my DMV checklist ↓

Speed limit50 mph max

InterstatesNo

Yearly fee$1 + $1

First inspectionYes

A white 1992 Subaru Sambar 4WD kei truck parked on fallen leaves — A 1992 Subaru Sambar 4WD: the kind of truck Utah registers as a novel vehicle.

The law

What Utah law says about kei trucks

HB 441 (2024) created a "novel vehicle" class for vehicles that don't fit any other category. It took effect on Jan. 1, 2025.

The 2024 bill's title (HB 441) Registration of Novel Vehicles

A novel vehicle fits no other class, or a reasonable person couldn't clearly place it in one.
A street-legal novel vehicle gets a safety inspection the first time it's registered.
It may not go faster than 50 mph and may not use interstates.
Fees: $1 a year to register, plus $1 in place of property tax.

Utah's 2025 report on the law counted 231 kei vehicles registered as novel vehicles.

March 2024The governor signed HB 441.
Jan. 1, 2025Novel vehicle registration began.
2025Utah reported 231 kei vehicles registered as novel vehicles.

Sources: Utah HB 441 (2024) enrolled text ↗, Utah Code 41-6a-1509, the 2025 novel vehicle report (le.utah.gov). Checked Nov. 9, 2026.

How to title and register a kei truck in Utah

Six steps for kei trucks in Utah, through the Utah DMV.

Your Utah DMV checklistTick each step as you do it.

1Check the ageThe truck must be 25 years old, counted from the month it was built. In November 2026, that means built by November 2001.
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 insuranceYou need liability insurance before you can register.
4Fill out Form TC-656The Vehicle Application for Utah Title, with your import papers.
5Get the inspectionsA safety inspection the first time a novel vehicle is registered, and a VIN check because it's new to Utah.
6Ask about emissionsIf you live in Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Weber or Cache County, ask the DMV whether your truck needs an emissions test.

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Papers to bring to the DMV

Vehicle Application for Utah Title, form TC-656
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 insurance
Your passed safety inspection

If the DMV office isn't sure

Novel vehicle registration is fairly new. Calmly mention:

The 2024 law that created it: HB 441, Registration of Novel Vehicles ↗.
Utah's own 2025 report counted 231 kei vehicles registered as novel vehicles.
On paper:

Still stuck? Ask politely to speak with a supervisor.

Sources: Utah HB 441, Utah DMV and Tax Commission. Not legal advice.

Cost

What it costs to register one

What	Cost
Registration	$1 a year as a novel vehicle
Fee in place of property tax	$1 a year
Title	About $6
Safety inspection	First registration only; inspection stations set the price
Sales tax	Due on what you paid; the rate depends on where you live

Source: HB 441 fiscal note (le.utah.gov). Confirm current fees with the Utah DMV.

Roads

Where you can drive one

50 mph max and no interstates.

A novel vehicle may not go faster than 50 mph, or the posted limit if that's lower, and never on interstates. That still leaves town streets, county roads and slower state routes.

Town streetsAllowed.Allowed
Roads up to 50 mphYou may not go faster than 50 mph, even where the limit is higher.50 mph max
InterstatesNever, for a street-legal novel vehicle.Never

Buy

Kei trucks for sale in Utah

We found no kei truck dealers in Utah yet.

The nearest listings we found are from dealers in Arizona and Washington. Keep the HS-7 and customs entry papers: you'll need them for the Utah title.

See trucks for sale near Utah → Import cost calculator →

Prices from nearby dealers

1999 Subaru Sambar 4WDAsking · 42,875 miles · Scottsdale, Arizona$10,000
1999 Honda Acty 4WD44,000 miles · Mesa, Arizona (sold)$8,700
1997 Honda Acty 4WDAsking · 46,262 miles · Ferndale, Washington$7,995

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

Nearby

Kei truck rules next door to Utah

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

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Questions

Utah questions

Are kei trucks legal in Utah?

Yes. The state registers them as street-legal novel vehicles. They're limited to 50 mph and may not use interstates.

What is a novel vehicle in Utah?

A vehicle that fits no other class, or that a reasonable person couldn't clearly place in one. Utah created the class with HB 441 in 2024.

How fast can a kei truck go in Utah?

No faster than 50 mph as a novel vehicle, even where the posted limit is higher.

Can I drive a kei truck on the interstate in Utah?

No. Street-legal novel vehicles may not use interstates.

What is Form TC-656?

The Vehicle Application for Utah Title. You fill it out to title a kei truck.

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

About $1 a year to register plus $1 in place of property tax, a title fee of about $6, a first-time safety inspection and sales tax.

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 →