Are kei trucks street legal in Indiana?

Yes, when titled and registered as a mini-truck. IC 9-13-2-103.1 defines the class, the BMV issues mini truck titles and plates, and the only statutory road-use restriction is the interstate prohibition in IC 9-21-8-46.

Is there a speed limit restriction like other states?

No posted-speed cap appears in the Indiana statutes for mini-trucks. This is what makes Indiana more usable than states such as Florida, which confine mini trucks to roads posted 35 mph or less. The restriction here is by road class — no interstates — rather than by posted speed.

Will my specific kei truck qualify?

Check all six criteria in IC 9-13-2-103.1. The two that catch people out are unladen dry weight of 1,600 pounds or less and a top speed of not more than 60 mph — some four-wheel-drive, crew-cab, or higher-geared kei trucks fall outside one or the other. Verify before you buy, not at the counter.

Can I do this at my local BMV branch?

Not for the first title. A vehicle being titled as a mini-truck in Indiana for the first time must be processed by BMV Central Office Title Processing by mail, including a vehicle already titled in Indiana as another vehicle type. Renewals and later transfers can be done at any branch.

Can I get a temporary plate while the title is processed?

IC 9-18.1-12-1 states that the temporary permit chapter does not apply to mini-trucks. Plan on the vehicle being off the road until titling and registration are complete.

Do I need an emissions test?

Indiana's testing program applies in Lake and Porter counties. The BMV notes that registration in an emissions-testing county requires proof of an emissions exemption at initial registration. Confirm the current exemption process with the BMV for your county.

What if my kei truck is already titled in Indiana as a truck or ORV?

The BMV requires it to be retitled as a mini-truck through central office processing. A vehicle titled as an off-road vehicle is in a class that may not be operated on a highway at all, so the retitle matters.

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Indiana · Kei truck guide

Indiana kei truck registration guide

Mini-truck class · no posted-speed cap · interstates excluded

Indiana is one of the more straightforward states for kei trucks. IC 9-13-2-103.1 defines a 'mini-truck' vehicle class that a typical kei truck fits, the BMV titles and registers them with a mini truck plate, and the only road-use restriction in statute is a prohibition on interstate highways — there is no posted-speed cap of the kind Florida and many other states impose.

Bottom line for Indiana

IC 9-13-2-103.1 defines a mini-truck by engine displacement, width, dry weight, top speed, and cab construction. Check your specific vehicle against all six criteria — they are not a formality.
Mini-trucks are titled and registered through the BMV like other vehicles, and receive a mini truck license plate.
IC 9-21-8-46 prohibits operating a mini-truck on any part of an interstate highway. That is the road-use restriction.
First-time Indiana mini-truck titles are processed by BMV Central Office Title Processing by mail, not at a branch. Later transactions can be done at any branch.
IC 9-18.1-12-1 excludes mini-trucks from the temporary registration permit chapter, so do not plan on a temp tag while the title is in process.

Last reviewed July 20, 2026

Classification

Does your kei truck meet the definition?

IC 9-13-2-103.1 defines a mini-truck as a truck that is powered by an internal combustion engine with a piston or rotary displacement of not less than 660 cubic centimeters; is 60 inches or less in width; has an unladen dry weight of 1,600 pounds or less; can achieve a top speed of not more than 60 miles per hour; is manufactured with a locking enclosed cab and a heated interior; and is operated on a highway.

The definition was clearly drafted with kei vehicles in mind — 660cc is the kei engine displacement ceiling — and a standard kei truck meets it. But two criteria are worth checking against the actual vehicle rather than assuming. Unladen dry weight must be 1,600 pounds or less, and some four-wheel-drive and crew-cab kei trucks sit close to or above that. Top speed must be no more than 60 mph, and some kei trucks are geared higher.

The 'locking enclosed cab and a heated interior' requirement is the reason a side-by-side UTV does not qualify, and it is one a kei truck satisfies comfortably.

Registration

Titling & registration steps

1
Clear federal import
Import a vehicle at least 25 years old and retain CBP Form 7501, NHTSA Form HS-7 (Box 1), EPA Form 3520-1, and the Japanese title or export certificate with certified translation.
2
Confirm the vehicle meets IC 9-13-2-103.1
Verify displacement, width, unladen dry weight, top speed, and the locking enclosed cab with heated interior against the statutory definition before applying.
3
Submit the Mini-Truck Title Application Packet by mail
A vehicle being titled as a mini-truck in Indiana for the first time must go through BMV Central Office Title Processing, not a branch. This applies even if the vehicle is currently titled in Indiana as some other type, such as a truck or an off-road vehicle.
4
Register and obtain the mini truck plate
Once titled, register the vehicle and obtain a mini truck license plate. Expect the annual registration fee, vehicle excise tax, any county and municipal excise taxes, and the Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee.
5
Handle emissions if your county requires it
Registration in an emissions-testing county requires proof of an emissions exemption at initial registration. Indiana's testing program covers Lake and Porter counties.
6
Insure the vehicle
Carry financial responsibility as required for registered vehicles in Indiana. Later title transactions and renewals can be handled at any BMV branch.

First-time mini-truck titling is a mail-in central office process. Budget time for it rather than expecting a same-day branch visit.

Road use

Where you can drive

Permitted

Indiana sets no posted-speed ceiling for mini-trucks in statute, so a registered mini-truck may generally use:

City streets
County roads
State highways

Not permitted

Any part of an interstate highway — expressly prohibited by IC 9-21-8-46
Operation without a valid title, registration, and plate

Official sources

Indiana law & agency links

Indiana BMV — Titles: Mini-Trucks
Official sourceAgencyin.gov
The controlling agency page for mini-truck titling, including the definition the BMV applies and the central office processing requirement.
Indiana BMV — Mini-Truck Title Application Checklist (packet)
Official sourceOfficial formin.gov
The official application packet and document checklist for a first-time Indiana mini-truck title.
Indiana BMV — Mini truck registrations
Official sourceAgencyin.gov
Official registration guidance, the mini truck license plate, and the annual fees and excise taxes that apply.
Indiana Code Title 9 — Motor Vehicles (official compilation)
Official sourceStatutein.gov
State-published text of Title 9. IC 9-13-2-103.1 defines 'mini-truck' (added by P.L.180-2015); IC 9-21-8-46 prohibits mini-truck operation on interstate highways; IC 9-18.1-12-1 excludes mini-trucks from temporary permits.
Indiana General Assembly — Indiana Code
Official sourceStatuteiga.in.gov
Current searchable Indiana Code, for checking IC 9-13-2-103.1 and IC 9-21-8-46 against the latest version.
Indiana BMV — Off-road vehicles and snowmobiles
Official sourceAgencyin.gov
The separate ORV framework. Useful for confirming that a mini-truck is not an ORV, since ORVs may not be operated on a highway.

FAQ

Common questions

Are kei trucks street legal in Indiana?: Yes, when titled and registered as a mini-truck. IC 9-13-2-103.1 defines the class, the BMV issues mini truck titles and plates, and the only statutory road-use restriction is the interstate prohibition in IC 9-21-8-46.
Is there a speed limit restriction like other states?: No posted-speed cap appears in the Indiana statutes for mini-trucks. This is what makes Indiana more usable than states such as Florida, which confine mini trucks to roads posted 35 mph or less. The restriction here is by road class — no interstates — rather than by posted speed.
Will my specific kei truck qualify?: Check all six criteria in IC 9-13-2-103.1. The two that catch people out are unladen dry weight of 1,600 pounds or less and a top speed of not more than 60 mph — some four-wheel-drive, crew-cab, or higher-geared kei trucks fall outside one or the other. Verify before you buy, not at the counter.
Can I do this at my local BMV branch?: Not for the first title. A vehicle being titled as a mini-truck in Indiana for the first time must be processed by BMV Central Office Title Processing by mail, including a vehicle already titled in Indiana as another vehicle type. Renewals and later transfers can be done at any branch.
Can I get a temporary plate while the title is processed?: IC 9-18.1-12-1 states that the temporary permit chapter does not apply to mini-trucks. Plan on the vehicle being off the road until titling and registration are complete.
Do I need an emissions test?: Indiana's testing program applies in Lake and Porter counties. The BMV notes that registration in an emissions-testing county requires proof of an emissions exemption at initial registration. Confirm the current exemption process with the BMV for your county.
What if my kei truck is already titled in Indiana as a truck or ORV?: The BMV requires it to be retitled as a mini-truck through central office processing. A vehicle titled as an off-road vehicle is in a class that may not be operated on a highway at all, so the retitle matters.

Whether a particular kei truck meets every element of the IC 9-13-2-103.1 definition — especially the 1,600 pound unladen dry weight and 60 mph top speed limits — depends on the individual vehicle, and the BMV makes that determination. Statutes and BMV procedures are amended periodically. Confirm current requirements with the Indiana BMV before purchasing. This page is informational only and not legal advice.

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