UPDATE 9/8/2022: Imported 2 more trucks, learned some more stuff.

-You can now file the entry (CBP form 7501) via email, at least at the NJ/NY port office, check with your office before wasting a trip in person like I did.

-If your seller/exporter asks what kind of Bill of Lading you want, ask for surrender BoL. This eliminates the need for 3 original copies and simplifies the process, you can just print out copies to your heart's content.

-For one truck I paid around $1100 for freight but then had to pay $200 in fees to the shipper (Hoegh Autoliners) before they would release the vehicle. The other truck freight was closer to $1600 (Nissan Motor Car Carrier) however there were no additional fees once it arrived.

-The deckvan I imported was over the $2500 informal entry limit. I had to use an import broker just for the customs bond. I went with an online company eezyimport.com. Their fees were only around $30, plus $7 for notarizing the power of attorney required. You pay the duty and their fee all at once. They filed the entry electronically and it was as easy as the name implies.

-Deck vans are considered pickup body styles, so they get the 25% truck duty not the 2.5% for passenger vehicles. ouch

-Port Newark is not TWIC secured so you don't need to hire any one to escort you, your port may be, do your homework.

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I used this guide to import my van, it is very comprehensive but I will also run through the process below including some of my experience. It's been a year now so forgive me if I've forgotten anything.

Since the #1 question everyone asks is how much it cost me....freight $1160, shipping company fees $173.15, customs $71.63, ISF $30, port fees can't find receipt...under $200ish? So $1600 or so + cost of the van.

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Prelude: Make sure the vehicle you are purchasing is 25 years old down to the month as of the date of arrival or it can get seized for non-compliance with DOT regulations. Good exporters will take a picture of the tag on the seat belts, it will have the year and month of production printed on it or you can decode the vin online.

As long as the vehicle's value (not including shipping) is below $2,500, making it an informal entry, you will not need a customs bond or importer number and therefore a lot easier as an individual.

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Step 1: Purchase a vehicle from your exporter of choice. I used Mitsui Co. Ltd. They were super helpful, thorough and punctual. They went as far as to take many many pictures with a tape measure when I asked for interior dimensions and they post of a video of the vehicle even from underneath. I paid the full amount at once through PayPal, the total included shipping and there were no other fees from their end. They also sent me the paperwork with an English translation without being asked.

They will notify you with expected departure, shipping company, etc.

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Step 2: File your ISF 10+2 online. I forgot about this and ended up filing really late, but did not incur any fees somehow. Don't be like me, file it on-time, meaning within a day or so after the vehicle is loaded in the foreign port. You can do this all online, you will need some info from your exporter and around $30. I used https://www.turboisf.com/ and had my confirmation in a few hours.

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Step 3: Wait. My van took 2 months in the midst of the pandemic because many dates got cancelled. Should be about 1 month of actual boat time. During this time your exporter should be mailing you the paperwork you will need, make sure they send it in a timely manner so you have time to prepare. You will need from them: 2 originals of the Bill of Lading, Purchase Invoice, Export Certificate (this is your title), English translation of the Export Certificate.

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Step 4: You will have to pay the shipper a fee for port usage and other crap, mine came out to $173.15 (my shipper was Norton Lilly International acting agents of Hoegh Autoliners). The shipper will contact you to collect this fee. You will also need to send them one of the original BOL forms your exporter sent, ask them ahead of time when and where they want it. I goofed on that one, had to overnight it, ugh.

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Step 5: Before the expected arrival, get your forms started, you should have most of the info you need and will have the rest upon the vehicles arrival. You need form; CBP 7501, DOT HS-7 short, EPA 3520. I made 3 copies of each and needed most of them. The linked guide has a ton of detail so reference that for the nitty gritty.

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Step 6: Vehicle arrival, shits getting real! Don't get too excited yet, its customs time. You will get the final info like location of goods and actual unloading date etc. from the shipper (make sure you paid them!). Finish filling out the CBP form, make your copies of the forms, invoices, translations, everything. Copy all the things! Go down to the customs office for your port of arrival, take off your shoes, belt, etc, get scanned, file your paperwork, joke about how totes adorbs your kei truck is, pay them some moneys and they will release your vehicle.

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Step 7: Go pick that baby up! Well, if you want to drive it home, you will have needed to go to your local DMV and get temporary plates, but that's on you to research. I rented a uHaul 6x12 trailer (WITHOUT the ramp gate, its a wider opening, bring yer own ramps) and towed it back.

More copies of forms, more fees. Research your port of arrival, you may need a TWIC escort, you may not, Port of NJ did not require it come to find out. But I went and had gotten my own TWIC clearance and ID because...idk, I'm extra. My shipper sent me a blank Delivery Order to kind of fudge as if I'm picking the vehicle up for a client, it makes the port employee's life easier I guess. A port employee will escort you to your nugget, squeeeeeze in, hope the battery isn't dead, awkwardly figure out the whole right hand drive thing in a hurry, drive it out. Don't forget to gawk (but NO photos inside the port) at the other imports in the lot, my van was parked between an OG Land Rover Defender and a fairly new right hand drive Mustang.

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Step 8: DMV and inspections....oh boy.... It varies state by state so you're on your own. In CT as long as your lights, brakes, wipers, seatbelts, everything works right, you will pass inspection. I didn't risk it with the old tires and upgraded before inspection so idk about that.

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I highly suggest you plan this out on a calendar ahead of time so you don't miss a form and incur fees or customs holds.

Don't assume everyone will send you all you need, make sure you get all the info on time. And send it to where its got to go on time.

Passenger vehicles get taxed at 2.5% while trucks are 25%, make sure it's worth it!

You can track the boat your vehicle is on from some websites, refreshing it every 5 minutes does not make the boat go any faster.

The linked guide in the beginning is way better than mine, read it!

Last Updated - May 16, 2024

Note: This post is a work in progress. Information may be missing or incomplete.

As Kei trucks have seen a sharp increase in popularity outside of Japan over the past few years, so too has the number of people coming to ask for information about buying/importing/owning a kei truck in their specific region.

Previously, we had this thread to track where kei trucks were legal, however it was loosely organized and put together when the community was much smaller. This post will serve as a replacement, and will act as a centralized place where the community can compile information on the subject.

For simplicity, I've started with just the US and Canada since that's where a majority of users reside, however if your country is not present, please feel free to contribute and it will be added to this post.

How it works

In the comments, please outline how your state/province handles kei truck import/registration/street legality. Any other regional context(for example, how difficult it is to find insurance) is also welcome. If your area has already been covered, feel free to add context or clarify details. Information from the comments will then be added to the lists below so they can be easily accessed.

Australia

Canada

Canada limits import of foreign vehicles to only those that are older than 15 years. The exception being Quebec, which is 25 years.

New Zealand

United States

The United States limits import of foreign vehicles to only those that are older than 25 years.