Checked against Vermont law, in plain words

Kei Trucks in Vermont

Street legal since July 1, 2026: what Act 153 says, and how to register one

Until 2026, DMV policy made kei trucks hard to register here, and owners got mixed answers. Act 153 settled it from July 1, 2026: the law sets rules for kei vehicles registered as pleasure cars and kei trucks registered as farm trucks, and towns can't treat them worse. Its kei definition has size limits, including 130 inches long, so measure your truck.

Yes, street legal in VermontSince July 1, 2026 (Act 153), as a pleasure car or a farm truck. The law's kei definition stops at 130 inches long: measure your truck.

Start my DMV checklist ↓

SinceJuly 1, 2026

Registers asCar or farm truck

Max length130 in.

Town bansNot allowed

A white Honda Acty 4WD kei truck parked in front of autumn trees — A 1992 Honda Acty SDX 4WD with Connecticut plates, in the fall.

The law

What the new Vermont kei law says

Act 153 (Senate bill S.326) added kei definitions to Vermont's motor vehicle law and a new section, 23 V.S.A. 1044.

The law (Act 153 of 2026, 23 V.S.A. 1044)

A kei vehicle registered as a pleasure car follows pleasure car rules; a kei truck registered as a farm truck follows farm truck rules.
The law's kei vehicle: four wheels, 660cc or less, 130 inches or less long, 78 inches or less tall, 60 inches or less wide. A kei truck is one built, used or kept mainly to carry property.
1990s kei trucks are about 129.7 inches (3,295 mm) long; the generation sold from 1999 is 3,395 mm (133.7 inches), over the limit. Ask the DMV how it treats a longer truck.
Towns may not stop them from going where other farm trucks or pleasure cars go.
Like other vehicles here, they need Vermont's safety inspection; ask your station how it handles kei trucks.

The law describes both categories; it doesn't say which one the DMV gives each truck. Ask the DMV which applies to yours before you buy.

Jan. 2026A Senate committee heard that the DMV gave owners mixed answers on kei trucks.
June 16, 2026Gov. Scott signed S.326, now Act 153.
July 1, 2026The kei rules took effect.

Sources: Vermont Legislature (S.326, Act 153), Vermont Statutes 23 V.S.A. 1044 ↗ and 23 V.S.A. 4 (definitions), WCAX (April 2026). Checked Nov. 9, 2026; categories and definition re-checked Nov. 14, 2026.

How to register a kei truck in Vermont

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

Your Vermont DMV 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 insuranceYou need liability insurance to register.
4Measure the truckVermont's kei definition stops at 130 inches long, 78 inches tall and 60 inches wide. Many 1999-and-later trucks are about 133.7 inches long.
5Ask which category appliesTell the DMV it's a kei vehicle under Act 153 and ask whether yours registers as a pleasure car or a farm truck. Bring your papers and the bill of sale.
6Get the safety inspectionVermont vehicles need a safety inspection soon after registration, then every year.

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Papers to bring to the DMV

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

If the DMV office isn't sure

The law is new. Calmly show them:

23 V.S.A. 1044 ↗, added by Act 153: kei vehicles registered as pleasure cars and kei trucks registered as farm trucks follow those rules, and towns can't restrict them beyond other such vehicles.
On paper:

Still stuck? Ask politely to speak with a supervisor.

Sources: Vermont DMV and Act 153. DMV procedures may still be catching up; ask first. Not legal advice.

Roads

Where you can drive one

Anywhere other farm trucks can go.

Towns can't add their own bans. Back roads and dirt roads suit kei trucks well; interstates run 65 mph and up.

Back roads and dirt roadsWhere kei trucks fit best.Good fit
State roadsAnywhere other farm trucks can go.Allowed
Interstates (65 mph and up)Allowed for farm trucks, but faster than most kei trucks go.Too fast for most

Buy

Buying a kei truck for Vermont

The nearest dealer we found is in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire prices run about $7,500 to $9,500 for 1990s trucks. Ask the seller for every import paper.

See trucks for sale near Vermont → Import cost calculator →

Prices nearby

1994 Subaru SambarAsking · Hopkinton, New Hampshire$7,749
1997 Honda ActyAsking · Hopkinton, New Hampshire$8,999
1996 Suzuki CarryAsking · Hopkinton, New Hampshire$9,499

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

Nearby

Kei truck rules next door to Vermont

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

Live somewhere else? Check your state

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Questions

Vermont questions

Are kei trucks legal in Vermont?

Yes, since July 1, 2026, under Act 153. The law covers kei vehicles registered as pleasure cars and kei trucks registered as farm trucks, within its size limits (130 inches long at most).

What is Vermont Act 153?

A 2026 motor vehicle law (S.326) that defines kei vehicles (with size limits), sets rules for kei vehicles registered as pleasure cars and kei trucks registered as farm trucks, and bars town bans.

Can my town ban kei trucks?

No. Act 153 says towns can't stop them from going where other pleasure cars or farm trucks go.

Do kei trucks need inspection in Vermont?

Yes, like other vehicles. The law also limits which problems can fail a kei truck.

Do I need a farm to register a kei truck in Vermont?

Not necessarily. The law also covers kei vehicles registered as pleasure cars. Ask the DMV which category fits your truck and how you use it.

Where can I buy a kei truck near Vermont?

A dealer in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, has a large stock of 1990s trucks.

Next step

Pick your truck: compare the 5 brands

Compare the Carry, Acty, Hijet, Sambar and Minicab for snow, dirt roads and hauling.

Compare kei trucks →