ARIZONA JAPANESE MINI (KEI) TRUCK LAWS 2025
TITLING, REGISTRATION, EMISSIONS AND STREET-LEGAL CHECKLIST
BY DYLAN NAIL - JUNE 1, 2025
Arizona DOES allow 25-year-old Japanese Kei trucks on public roads, provided the truck:
- Meets all safety items in ARS Title 28, Article 16
- Has an OHV/ATV or pickup title
- Displays the $25 OHV decal, current registration sticker, and carries insurance
What exactly is a kei truck?
A Kei truck (軽トラ, keitora) is a Japanese mini-utility pickup built under the <3.4 m length / <660 cc kei-class rules. Because every legitimate import is at least 25 years old, it is exempt from FMVSS and EPA certification—making Arizona’s state rules your only hurdle.
Step-by-Step: Titling & Registering as an OHV (ATV)
Arizona now titles all Kei trucks as Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs), even if you plan to drive them primarily on roads. This has caused confusion, but the good news is – once you declare primary on-road use, your Kei truck is fully street- and highway-legal, including use on freeways and city roads.
There’s no need to fight for a regular “truck” title or worry about emissions testing. As long as your Kei truck is under 2,500 pounds and meets basic safety requirements, it qualifies for street-legal use under Arizona’s current OHV system.
Here’s how the process works:
- Title the vehicle in Arizona
Submit import documents (CBP 7501, EPA 3520-1), a title translation, and complete a Level I VIN inspection at any MVD or authorized third party office. - Sign for Primary On-Road Use
When registering, you’ll be asked to fill out an OHV Vehicle Use Form. Check the box for “Primary Use – On Road.” This confirms your intent to drive on public roads and highways. - Purchase the $25 OHV Decal
Required annually for all off-highway vehicles under 2,500 lbs—even those used primarily on-road. - Make sure your truck is equipped for highway use
Arizona law (ARS Title 28, Chapter 3, Article 16) requires the following:
• Headlamps, tail lamps, brake lights, rear reflectors
• Brakes (service + parking)
• Mirrors
• Windshield and wiper
• Muffler and noise control
• DOT-rated tires - Carry insurance
Minimum coverage of $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage. - Complete the OHV Safety Course (as of 2025)
This is a new requirement beginning January 1, 2025. The free online course must be completed once per owner and is required to renew your decal. The course can be completed in office while obtaining your registration, or online beforehand in your Arizona MVD Now account. The course is very easy, and only takes around 20 minutes to complete.
WHERE YOU CAN DRIVE
Once titled and registered with on-road use declared, your Kei truck is legal on all paved and maintained roads in Arizona, including:
• City and neighborhood streets
• State highways (e.g., AZ-87, AZ-347)
• Interstates (e.g., I-10, I-17, I-40)
There is no 55 mph restriction when your vehicle is registered as “primary on-road use.” Freeway driving is completely allowed under this setup.
(https://azstateparks.com/ohv-registration#street-legal-registration)
FAQs
Not if they are titled as OHVs (with “ATV” listed on the title) or if they’re registered as classic vehicles with approved classic-car insurance.
If your Kei truck is titled as a regular truck, you will need to either switch the title designation to "ATV" (which can be done at any MVD office), or obtain classic car insurance to eliminate emissions requirement if you live in a non-emissions county.
There is no speed restriction in Arizona if your Kei truck is titled as an OHV with “Primary On-Road Use” selected on the registration form.
This setup allows use on all roads, including interstates.
Yes. Most major providers - including State Farm, Progressive, and American Modern - will insure Kei trucks for liability.
If you’re going the classic car registration route to avoid emissions, we recommend:
• Grundy (classic-only policies, high approval rate)
• American Collectors Insurance
Avoid Hagerty for now - many reports indicate they no longer insure Kei trucks in Arizona.
Yes - as long as you signed for “Primary On-Road Use” at registration and your truck has an OHV title, valid insurance, and the required safety equipment.
There is no freeway restriction for on-road OHV registrations.
The confusion comes from outdated references to OHVs being limited to roads posted 55 mph or less. That only applies to off-road-primary vehicles.
Yes. Arizona MVD can title and register vehicles with less than 17-digit VINs, as is common with Japanese domestic vehicles. The VIN is manually entered into the system after a Level I VIN inspection.
No. All Kei-class vehicles: including vans, flatbeds, dumps, and even micro fire trucks - follow the same titling, registration, and compliance rules in Arizona. As long as they meet equipment and weight requirements, they can be made street-legal just like a pickup.
If your vehicle is titled as a truck instead of “ATV” or “OHV,” you have two options:
• Switch to OHV/ATV title:
Visit any MVD or third-party office and request a title classification change. This process reissues the title under the OHV category, which allows you to avoid emissions and makes registration simpler.
• Keep it as a truck:
If you want to retain the truck classification (usually for resale or insurance purposes), you will need to obtain classic car insurance to bypass emissions requirements. Otherwise, your truck may be denied registration due to failure to meet U.S. emissions standards.
We recommend using Grundy or American Collectors Insurance, as they’ve proven more consistent for Kei-class vehicles. Hagerty has recently declined many Kei truck applications in Arizona.
*NOTE: Emissions are only required in some Arizona counties.
Ready to purchase a kei truck?
If you are looking for your very own imported Japanese Kei truck in Arizona, look no further than Arizona Kei Trucks! We are the most trusted importer of Japanese mini trucks in Arizona and almost always have vehicles in-stock or en route. Take a look at our Inventory to see what we currently have. We also offer Import by Request if you are looking for something we don’t currently have in stock or on the way. Any questions about this guide or purchasing a kei truck? Feel free to Contact Us, we would love to help!