Are Kei Trucks Legal in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts is one of the few states to have issued a public statement about kei vehicles by name, and the statement is a clear yes. The RMV's September 2024 advisory says owners of kei trucks, cars and vans can register them, that vehicles already registered keep their registrations and renewals without interruption, and that new registrations may carry an ordinary passenger or commercial plate depending on how the vehicle is used. You register and title at a local RMV Service Center like any other vehicle — there is no special class, decal or permit.

Two things about the form of that decision matter. First, it is a policy announcement, not a regulation or a statute. We checked and found no provision of 540 CMR and no amendment to M.G.L. chapter 90 that addresses kei vehicles or non-compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as a bar to registration. The RMV acted administratively, which means it can act administratively again. Second, the advisory says so itself: "The RMV intends to register Kei Vehicles while continuing to review safety implications of Kei Vehicles on the public roadways. Plans for conducting a formal study of this subject matter are under development and will be announced once complete." Massachusetts has not closed the question; it has opened the road while it keeps looking.

There has been legislative interest in putting the position beyond doubt. Two bills in the 194th General Court — House Bill 4053, "An Act to legalize Kei vehicles in the Commonwealth," and House Bill 3698, "An Act relative to federal motor vehicle safety standards compliance" — would do that. Both were referred to the Joint Committee on Transportation in early 2025, heard on 13 May 2025, and on 28 July 2025 each was reported favourably by committee and referred to House Ways and Means. Neither has become law. Until one does, the RMV advisory is the authority.

We confirmed the advisory is still published and unchanged. The mass.gov page rejects automated requests, so we read it through the Internet Archive's capture of the same official URL and checked that captures run continuously through 2025 and into 2026 with no reversal or replacement. We found nothing indicating the RMV has resiled from the position or published the promised formal study.

What you can do in Massachusetts

Register at an RMV Service Center in person, with the import file: the US Customs entry paperwork, the Japanese export certificate with a certified English translation, and the bill of sale. The advisory routes kei owners through a Service Center rather than online, and the import documents are what separate this from an ordinary used-car transaction.

Decide up front whether the plate should be passenger or commercial. The RMV says the class depends on intended use, and that choice follows through to insurance and to what you can lawfully carry.

Keep an eye on the promised safety study. The permission rests on an administrative policy that the RMV has said it is still reviewing, so a Massachusetts kei purchase carries a policy risk that a Massachusetts purchase of a domestic truck does not. That is not a reason to avoid it — it is a reason not to be surprised.

How this fits the national picture

Importing a vehicle twenty-five years or older is a federal matter and is settled. Registering one for the road is decided state by state, which is why the answer changes when you cross a line on a map. Our state-by-state guide covers all fifty, including why states disagree and the AAMVA guidance most restrictions trace back to.

We are based in Goshen, New York, and New York is one of the states that will not register these for road use. We say so on our own state's page because it is true, not because it helps us. We will not tell you a kei truck is street legal in the USA.

Common questions

Are kei trucks street legal in Massachusetts?

Yes. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles announced in a public advisory dated 17 September 2024 that owners of kei trucks, cars and vans would be able to register these vehicles effective 18 September 2024, and that newly registered kei vehicles may receive a passenger or commercial plate.

What plate does a kei truck get in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts RMV advisory states that newly registered kei vehicles may receive a passenger or commercial plate, depending on their intended use. There is no separate kei or mini-truck plate class in Massachusetts.

Where do I register a kei truck in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts RMV advisory states that owners who wish to register and title their kei vehicles may do so by visiting their local RMV Service Center.

Is the Massachusetts kei policy a law?

No. It is an administrative policy announced by the Registry of Motor Vehicles in September 2024, not a statute or regulation. The advisory states that the RMV intends to register kei vehicles while continuing to review safety implications, and that plans for a formal study are under development.

What happens to kei vehicles already registered in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts RMV advisory states that kei vehicles that are already registered may continue their existing registration and renewals, without interruption.

This page describes what we could establish from the source above on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and kei registration rules have moved in both directions every year since 2021 — confirm with the Massachusetts registering authority before you buy. Payment for an imported vehicle is by bank transfer and is not reversible.