選び方

Which Kei Is Right For You?

Truck, van or Jimny. Each one suits a different job. Here is the honest breakdown so you pick right the first time.

Need to haul stuff?

Dirt, mulch, coolers, boards, feed, anything you can throw in an open bed.

→ Kei Truck

Need dry, lockable space + seats?

Boards, tools, kids, and the occasional camp night on the west side.

→ Kei Van

Need highway + trails?

Long back-road drives, back-country hunting, daily-drive it too.

→ Suzuki Jimny

軽トラック

Kei Truck

The small-business workhorse. Small footprint, real capability.

Seats: 2 (crew cab: 4 tight)
Cargo: Flatbed, ~1,100 lb payload
Drivetrain: 2WD or selectable 4WD + low range
Typical budget: $8k–$14k landed, typical

Best for

Farms, ranches and lo‘i work
Landscapers, surfboard shapers, food trucks
Beach town errands and dump runs
Property caretakers on estates & resorts

Strengths

Flatbed dumps and drops, haul dirt, mulch, coolers, boards
Selectable 4WD and low range on most trims
Turns around anywhere, driveways, single-lane roads, trails
Sips fuel. Parts are straightforward to source

Trade-offs

Two seats only (some crew cabs seat 4 tight)
Open bed, cargo needs tarping in rain
Road registration rules vary by state, and by county in Hawaiʻi (see note below)

Road use: Legal to import, but registration depends entirely on your state, and sometimes your county. Get the answer in writing before you buy.

Purchase Inquiry See Kei Truck Inventory

軽バン

Kei Van

Enclosed cargo, real seating, camper-ready. The Swiss Army knife.

Seats: 4
Cargo: Enclosed, seats fold flat
Drivetrain: 2WD or selectable 4WD (model dependent)
Typical budget: $8k–$13k landed, typical

Best for

Surf & dive crews, boards inside, out of the sun
Small businesses needing lockable, dry cargo
Micro-campers and weekend van-life builds
Beach town families wanting 4 seats + gear

Strengths

Enclosed and lockable, protects tools and boards from sun, salt, rain
Rear seats fold flat for a queen-ish sleeping platform
4 real seats plus cargo
AC on most, better weather sealing than the truck

Trade-offs

No open bed, can't dump dirt or haul tall loads
Ground clearance lower than the truck or Jimny
Smaller engine, not built for sustained freeway pace

Road use: Legal to import, but registration still depends on your state, and sometimes your county. Confirm before you buy.

Purchase Inquiry See Kei Van Inventory

ジムニー

Suzuki Jimny

Tiny legend. Full highway-legal 4x4 that goes where trucks can't.

Seats: 4
Cargo: Small rear area, fold-flat seats
Drivetrain: Part-time 4WD + low range (ladder frame)
Typical budget: $12k–$22k landed, typical

Best for

Trail, hunting and back-road exploring
Daily driver you also want to take up Saddle Road or Kahekili
Anyone who needs regular highway access
Collectors and enthusiasts, values are climbing

Strengths

Real ladder-frame 4x4 with low range, punches way above its size
Registers as a normal passenger vehicle in most states
Iconic looks, nothing else drives like a Jimny
Holds value better than almost anything in the segment

Trade-offs

Tiny cargo area, not a hauler
Short wheelbase, bouncy on rough pavement
Higher entry price than trucks or vans

Road use: Legal to import, but registration still depends on your state, and sometimes your county. Confirm before you buy.

Purchase Inquiry See Suzuki Jimny Inventory

Side by side

	Kei Truck	Kei Van	Jimny
Best use	Farm / hauling	Cargo + seats + camper	Trails + highway
Seats	2 (or 4 crew)	4	4
Cargo	Open flatbed	Enclosed, lockable	Small rear area
4WD + low range	Most trims	Some trims	Standard
Road registration	Varies by state	Usually routine	Usually routine
Typical landed price	$8k–$14k	$8k–$13k	$12k–$22k

重要事項

Road registration, honestly

Importing a vehicle 25 years or older is legal everywhere in the US under the federal 25-year exemption. That part is settled. Whether you can register it for road use depends entirely on your state, and in some states your county. Some allow full registration, some restrict road class or speed, and some do not currently register Kei vehicles at all. Several have changed their stance in the past two years, in both directions, which is why we do not publish a state-by-state list.

If you are shipping to Hawaiʻi, registration there is decided county by county and the answers vary. Our Hawaiʻi page covers that destination in more detail.

If road use matters to you, contact your state DMV, and your county where that applies, describe the vehicle, and get the answer in writing before you buy. We will help you research the current rules and point you at the right questions to ask, but we cannot guarantee a registration outcome, and anyone who tells you they can is not being straight with you. Plenty of owners use these on farms, ranches, private property and job sites where a plate is not needed.

Many states also require a safety inspection before plates are issued. Registration and inspection are completed by you as the legal owner, and we help you research your state's exact requirements before you buy.

Kei trucks are small-business perfect

Low buy-in, tiny operating costs, and a footprint that fits tight job sites and alleys, and they're endlessly customizable. Flatbeds swap for dump beds, refrigerated boxes, food-truck builds, tool racks, wraps, lift kits, you name it. Kei vehicles mold to your business without eating into your margins.

A pair of Japanese Kei work trucks parked at a Kyoto jobsite, proof of daily commercial use

Farms & ranches

Haul feed, mulch, tools, and produce on back roads and farm tracks. 4WD and low range handle muddy fields with ease.

Surf & dive schools

Boards, tanks, coolers, and wetsuits in an open bed or lockable van. Park at the beach lot where full-size trucks won't fit.

Food trucks & catering

A compact van box is easy to wrap, easy to park, and cheap to run daily. Turn it into a mobile shave ice or coffee stand.

Trades & maintenance

Lockable cargo keeps tools dry, and the tight turning radius is perfect for resort properties, condos, and estates.

Landscaping & nurseries

Move plants, soil, pavers, and equipment between job sites without the fuel bill of a full-size truck.

Construction sites

Haul small loads, tools, and crews around the job. Fits through gates and narrow access roads bigger trucks can't use.

Still not sure?

Tell us how you'll use it, beach, farm, business, trail, and we'll steer you right. No hard sell, ever.

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