- With the passage of SB 1816, Texans can now legally title, register, and drive kei vehicles in the state.
- Kei cars are small vehicles that meet the Japanese government’s limitations on dimensions and engine output.
- Like other vehicles that weren’t sold new in the United States, keis have to be 25 years old or older to legally import and drive in this country.
Texas, a state known for its largeness and large number of big trucks, just passed a bill that allows some of the automotive world’s smallest vehicles to use public streets. Kei vehicles get their name from and fall under a Japanese government classification called kei-jidōsha that limits overall dimensions and output. While these cars were never sold here, they can be imported and driven legally, provided that they’re old enough.Like any vehicle 25 years old or older, kei vehicles—which include cute trucks, vans, sports cars, and SUVs—are legal to import to the United States under the 25-year import rule. The federal government exempts older cars like these from its regulations.The issue is that, while legal on the federal level, keis aren’t accepted with open arms in every state. This is due to differences in state-level vehicle classifications and can also be affected by a state’s inspection or emission requirements. Texas was one of the states that didn’t allow wee keis, but now that’s changing.Bring a TrailerMotor1 reports that a Texan named David McChristian was behind the push to get keis allowed in the state. Through an advocacy group he founded called Lone Star Kei, McChristian lobbied Texas legislators, first getting the state DMV to change its policy toward kei vehicles in April 2024 and now, with the passage of SB 1816, codifying their titling, registration, and use into law.The bill does not specifically mention the kei classification. Instead, the amendments it includes add a broader category of miniature vehicles, with the stipulations that they have four wheels, be self-propelled, comply with federal law—as 25-plus-year-old keis do—and that they not fall under the definition of a custom vehicle or street rod, neighborhood electric vehicle, golf cart, or off-highway vehicle. If a vehicle passes those tests, it can be titled, registered, and driven in Texas.David Gluckman|Car and DriverBecause the bill passed both houses with more than a two-thirds vote (there was only one nay vote between the two houses), the changes go into effect immediately. This is a better outcome than residents of Colorado recently saw, where a law legalizing keis in the state was passed with much excitement—Governor Jared Polis signed it into law sitting in the bed of a kei truck—but doesn’t go into effect until July 2027. Perhaps the appetite for little kei vehicles is bigger in Texas.More About Kei CarsEver since David was a wee Car and Driver intern, he has kept a spreadsheet listing all the vehicles he’s driven and tested. David really likes spreadsheets. He can parallel-park a school bus and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. After taking a break from journalism to work on autonomous vehicles, he’s back writing for this and other automotive publications. When David’s not searching for the perfect used car, you can find him sampling the latest in gimmicky, limited-edition foodstuffs.
Source: caranddriver.com
