Importing a Kei Truck From JapanThe steps, the shipping and transit times, the cost breakdown and the paperwork
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How to Import a Kei Truck From Japan: Steps, Shipping, Cost and Documents
From here on it is the practical side, once you have chosen a truck: the steps, shipping and transit times, the cost breakdown, and the paperwork, in that order. Figures and lead times are general reference values, not a quotation.
1 · Check eligibility
The month of manufacture on the door-jamb plate is what the 25-year rule turns on.
2 · Export processing
De-registration, Export Certificate, transport to the port, booking the sailing.
3 · Ocean transit
RoRo, 2–3 weeks to the West Coast, 4–5 weeks to the East Coast.
4 · Customs and title
CBP entry with the EPA and DOT forms, duty and port charges, then your DMV.
How to import a kei truck from Japan to the USA: 2026 guide
Importing a Japanese kei truck is much easier to follow when you break it into steps. Confirm the date of manufacture and your state rules, choose a vehicle, estimate freight, prepare the federal import documents, clear customs, and title and register it in your state.
Check the date of manufacture
Confirm that the vehicle meets US federal import requirements. The NHTSA 25-year exemption uses the actual date of manufacture, not the model year.
Check your state kei truck laws
Confirm that you can title and register it for your intended use. Federal import and state road registration are separate requirements.
Choose a kei truck in Japan
Search by maker, model, year, price, mileage, drivetrain and transmission. Check condition, chassis number and seller information, then place your order.
Estimate shipping
Choose your destination and nearest port, then estimate the vehicle price plus ocean freight (varies by port and sailing).
Prepare US import documents
Export certificate of de-registration, English translation, invoice, B/L and US customs paperwork. Confirm the NHTSA / EPA / CBP filings.
Clear customs and register
Complete customs clearance, duty and port charges, collect the vehicle, then title and register it in your state. Check with your DMV early.
This section is general information compiled by UCARWORLD from public sources. It is not legal advice. Please confirm import eligibility and state registration yourself with the relevant authorities.
Shipping and delivery from Japan to the USA
Once payment is confirmed, the seller prepares the kei truck for export and arranges shipment from Japan. Ocean transport normally uses a RoRo vessel, where the vehicle is driven on and off under its own power. Schedules vary by sailing, departure port, destination port and where the vehicle is located.
As a guide, preparation in Japan takes about 2 weeks after payment, followed by roughly 4 to 6 weeks at sea. Actual timing varies with sailing availability, port congestion, weather and customs clearance.
The importer or a customs broker clears customs and pays duty, taxes, port charges and broker fees. After collection, you arrange domestic transport. Ocean shipping and final delivery are separate services.
Estimated ocean transit times from Japan (by US region)
| Region | Main ports (examples) | Estimated ocean transit |
|---|---|---|
| Guam & Saipan | about 1 week (7-10 days) | |
| Hawaii | about 2 weeks (about 13 days) | |
| US West Coast | about 2-3 weeks | |
| US East Coast | about 4-5 weeks | |
| US Gulf Coast | about 5 weeks |
Estimates include RoRo sailings and transshipment. They are based on published carrier schedules and vary with sailing, port, season and congestion.
US ports of call and ocean freight per cubic meter (m³)Reference range – not a quotation
These are the main US ports currently served from Japan, directly or via transshipment, with the freight range per m³. A kei truck measures roughly 9 m³ by volume, so the right-hand column is your per-vehicle ocean freight estimate.
| Port of call | Region | Per m³ | Per kei truck (about 9 m³) | Estimated ocean transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guam | Guam | $120–160 | about $1,080-1,440 | about 1 week |
| Honolulu, HI | Hawaii | $130–170 | about $1,170-1,530 | about 2 weeks |
| Long Beach / Los Angeles, CA | US West Coast | $130–170 | about $1,170-1,530 | about 2-3 weeks |
| Tacoma, WA | US West Coast | $130–170 | about $1,170-1,530 | about 2-3 weeks |
| Baltimore, MD | US East Coast | $155–195 | about $1,395-1,755 | about 4-5 weeks |
| Newark / New York | US East Coast | $155–195 | about $1,395-1,755 | about 4-5 weeks |
| Newport News, VA | US East Coast | $155–195 | about $1,395-1,755 | about 4-5 weeks |
| Jacksonville, FL | US East Coast | $155–195 | about $1,395-1,755 | about 4-5 weeks |
| Freeport, TX | US Gulf Coast | $155–195 | about $1,395-1,755 | about 5 weeks |
How many m³ is one kei truck?
The kei vehicle size limits are 3.40 m long x 1.48 m wide x 2.00 m tall or less. The measured volume used for freight is calculated from those outside dimensions, and a standard kei truck comes to roughly 8.5-10.0 m³, averaging about 9 m³. The per-vehicle figures above are calculated at 9 m³. High-roof vehicles, trucks with bodywork on the bed and camper conversions measure larger, so freight is higher. The exact volume is fixed by the carrier's measurement.
What these figures do not include
The table above covers ocean freight (RoRo) from a Japanese port to a US port only. It does not include US import duty, customs and broker fees, port handling charges, or trucking from the port to your home or farm. Duty rates differ by vehicle classification, and the truck classification is higher than for passenger cars. Always confirm your total landed cost with a customs broker. → See the import cost breakdown
Freight varies with carrier schedules, bunker prices (BAF), exchange rates and congestion. The ranges above are as of September 2026; firm figures are confirmed with your quote.
How much does it cost to import a kei truck from Japan?
The total cost of importing a kei truck is more than the listed vehicle price. Landed cost includes the vehicle price in Japan, transport to the port, export processing, ocean freight, US import duty, customs and broker fees, port charges, and transport from the US port to your final destination.
FOB is the total up to loading in Japan (vehicle price, transport to the Japanese port, export processing). Ocean freight is not included).C&F / CIF is the total to the US port (Japan to US ocean freight is included, but US import duty, customs and broker fees, port charges and transport from the US port to your address are not). Deals with Japanese exporters are most often C&F or CIF.
1. Vehicle
The vehicle price in Japan (FOB) plus export processing.
2. Freight
Ocean freight (RoRo) from a Japanese port to a US port.
3. US import
Import duty, customs and broker fees, port handling charges.
4. Domestic delivery
Transport from the US port to your home, farm or business.
Pick a destination on UCARWORLD and an estimated vehicle + shipping total is shown. This is a reference figure calculated from the vehicle price set by the seller and the freight range published by the shipping lines. For a binding figure, please obtain a quotation from the seller.
Documents you need to import a kei truck from Japan
Accurate paperwork is essential when importing a Japanese kei truck into the USA. The exact documents depend on the vehicle and the import situation.
Export certificate of de-registration
The vehicle's de-registration (export) certificate.
English translation
An English translation of the de-registration certificate for US procedures.
Invoice
A commercial invoice showing the transaction price of the vehicle.
B/L (Bill of Lading)
The shipping document issued for the ocean carriage.
US customs clearance normally also requires federal forms: CBP Form 7501 (entry summary), EPA Form 3520-1 (emissions declaration) and DOT Form HS-7 (safety / DOT declaration). A customs broker usually files these, and the 25-year exemption is claimed on the EPA and DOT forms. Most states also accept right-hand drive (generally fine for vehicles 25 years or older) and require proof of auto insurance before registration.
See the documents section of the Buying Guide →
This section is general information compiled by UCARWORLD from public sources. It is not legal advice. Please confirm import eligibility and state registration yourself with the relevant authorities.
UCARWORLD is a platform connecting Japanese sellers with overseas buyers. We are not the seller; the contract of sale is formed between buyer and seller. Vehicle information is supplied by the seller. Payment is received by UCWORLD Co., Ltd. as a collection agent. About UCARWORLD’s role →