Are kei trucks street legal in Nebraska?

Yes. Nebraska has a statutory minitruck class at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-121.01, and § 60-6,379 restricts minitrucks only from the Interstate system, expressways, and freeways. There is no posted-speed cap and no local opt-in requirement.

Does a 660 cc kei truck fit Nebraska's minitruck definition?

Comfortably. The statute allows up to 1,500 cc, up to 67 inches wide, up to 4,200 pounds dry weight, and a top speed of approximately 55 mph. A standard kei truck is well inside every one of those limits.

Where do I go to title it?

Your county treasurer, in the county where you reside. The Nebraska DMV states application must be made within 30 days of purchase. The titling fee is $10.00, with registration fees on top.

How many license plates do I get?

One. The Nebraska DMV states that one license plate is issued for minitrucks.

Can I drive on the highway?

On ordinary state and US highways, yes — the statute does not restrict by posted speed. What is off limits is the Interstate system, expressways, and freeways. Note that Nebraska also has minimum-speed and impeding-traffic rules that apply to all vehicles, so use judgment on high-speed rural highways.

Do I have to run the headlights during the day?

Yes. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,379(2) states that a minitruck shall be operated with its headlights and taillights on. That is not limited to hours of darkness.

What if my imported truck has no VIN plate Nebraska recognizes?

The DMV states that if your minitruck lacks a manufacturer's identification number, you must first obtain an assigned identification number from the Department of Motor Vehicles before the title can be issued.

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Nebraska · Kei truck guide

Nebraska kei truck registration guide

Statutory minitruck class · no posted-speed cap

Yes — Nebraska titles and registers kei trucks under a dedicated statutory 'minitruck' class, and the only road restriction is a ban on interstates, expressways, and freeways. There is no posted-speed cap, no local ordinance requirement, and no daylight-only rule, which makes Nebraska one of the most workable states in the country for an imported kei truck.

Bottom line for Nebraska

Nebraska legislated this deliberately in 2010 and the class has been on the books ever since.

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-121.01 defines a minitruck by reference to a foreign-manufactured import vehicle of 1,500 cc or less — a definition written broadly enough to cover kei trucks comfortably.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,379 imposes only two rules: no operation on the Interstate system, expressways, or freeways, and headlights and taillights must be on.
Titling is handled by your county treasurer, not a central DMV counter, and application must be made within 30 days of purchase.
One license plate is issued for a minitruck.
There is no state-imposed posted-speed limit and no requirement that a city or county opt in first.

Last reviewed July 20, 2026

Classification

A statutory class, not an agency workaround

Nebraska did not shoehorn kei trucks into a low-speed vehicle or off-highway category. The Legislature created a distinct 'minitruck' definition in 2010 through LB 650, codified at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-121.01 and amended in 2012 by LB 898. That matters practically: a county treasurer processing your application is working from an express statutory class rather than deciding whether an unusual vehicle fits somewhere.

The definition covers a foreign-manufactured import or domestic-manufactured vehicle that is powered by an internal combustion engine of 1,500 cubic centimeters or less, is 67 inches or less wide, has a dry weight of 4,200 pounds or less, travels on four or more tires, has a top speed of approximately 55 miles per hour, has a bed or compartment for hauling and an enclosed passenger cab, carries headlights, taillights, turn signals, windshield wipers, a rearview mirror and an occupant protection system, and has a four-speed, five-speed, or automatic transmission.

The 1,500 cc ceiling is worth noting. Kei trucks are 660 cc, so they sit well inside the class — Nebraska's definition is considerably broader than the kei standard itself.

Registration

Titling & registration steps

1
Clear federal import
Import a vehicle at least 25 years old and retain CBP Form 7501, DOT Form HS-7 (Box 1), EPA Form 3520-1, and the Japanese export certificate with certified English translation.
2
Apply within 30 days
The Nebraska DMV states that application for a Certificate of Title is made to the county treasurer in the county where you reside, and must be made within 30 days of purchase of the vehicle.
3
Present proof of ownership
A properly assigned title, Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, or bill of sale, together with an Affidavit for Verification of Ownership where the state requires it.
4
Complete a vehicle inspection
A vehicle inspection is required where the proof of ownership is not an existing Nebraska title — which will be the case for a freshly imported kei truck.
5
Handle the VIN if there is no manufacturer's number
If the minitruck does not carry a manufacturer's identification number, the DMV requires you to obtain an assigned identification number from the Department first.
6
Register and plate
Pay the $10.00 titling fee plus applicable registration fees. One license plate is issued for a minitruck.

Road use

Where you can drive

Permitted

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,379 restricts minitrucks only as listed opposite, so operation is otherwise open:

City streets and county roads at any posted speed limit
State and US highways that are not expressways or freeways
Day or night, provided headlights and taillights are on

Not permitted

The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways
Expressways
Freeways
Operating without headlights and taillights on — the statute requires them lit at all times

What to watch

The realistic friction points

Nebraska's rules are permissive, but the process is decentralized: 93 county treasurers handle titling, and a treasurer who has never processed a minitruck may not immediately reach for the right classification. Bringing a printout of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-121.01 and the DMV's own minitruck page is a low-effort way to shorten that conversation.

The other item to confirm locally is the always-on headlight and taillight requirement in § 60-6,379. It is easy to overlook, it applies in daylight, and it is the kind of thing that turns into a traffic stop.

Official sources

Nebraska law & agency links

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-121.01 — Minitruck, defined
Official sourceStatutenebraskalegislature.gov
The statutory definition: 1,500 cc or less, 67 inches or less wide, 4,200 lbs dry or less, top speed approximately 55 mph, enclosed cab, hauling bed, and listed equipment. Enacted by LB 650 (2010) and amended by LB 898 (2012).
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,379 — Minitrucks; former military vehicles; restrictions on use
Official sourceStatutenebraskalegislature.gov
The complete road-use restriction: no operation on the Interstate system, expressways, or freeways, and headlights and taillights must be on. No posted-speed cap is imposed.
Nebraska DMV — Minitruck titling
Official sourceAgencydmv.nebraska.gov
The agency page for minitruck titling: county treasurer application within 30 days, $10.00 title fee, required documents, inspection, and assigned identification numbers.
Nebraska DMV — Low-speed vehicles
Official sourceAgencydmv.nebraska.gov
Useful for contrast: Nebraska treats low-speed vehicles as a separate 20–25 mph class, which is why a kei truck is titled as a minitruck rather than an LSV.
Nebraska Legislature — Revised Statutes Chapter 60, Motor Vehicles
Official sourceStatutenebraskalegislature.gov
The full motor vehicle chapter, including the Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title Act and the Motor Vehicle Registration Act.
Nebraska DMV — County Treasurer's Registration Manual
Official sourceAgencydmv.nebraska.gov
The manual county treasurers work from — worth having if a counter disputes the minitruck classification or plate issuance.

FAQ

Common questions

Are kei trucks street legal in Nebraska?: Yes. Nebraska has a statutory minitruck class at Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-121.01, and § 60-6,379 restricts minitrucks only from the Interstate system, expressways, and freeways. There is no posted-speed cap and no local opt-in requirement.
Does a 660 cc kei truck fit Nebraska's minitruck definition?: Comfortably. The statute allows up to 1,500 cc, up to 67 inches wide, up to 4,200 pounds dry weight, and a top speed of approximately 55 mph. A standard kei truck is well inside every one of those limits.
Where do I go to title it?: Your county treasurer, in the county where you reside. The Nebraska DMV states application must be made within 30 days of purchase. The titling fee is $10.00, with registration fees on top.
How many license plates do I get?: One. The Nebraska DMV states that one license plate is issued for minitrucks.
Can I drive on the highway?: On ordinary state and US highways, yes — the statute does not restrict by posted speed. What is off limits is the Interstate system, expressways, and freeways. Note that Nebraska also has minimum-speed and impeding-traffic rules that apply to all vehicles, so use judgment on high-speed rural highways.
Do I have to run the headlights during the day?: Yes. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,379(2) states that a minitruck shall be operated with its headlights and taillights on. That is not limited to hours of darkness.
What if my imported truck has no VIN plate Nebraska recognizes?: The DMV states that if your minitruck lacks a manufacturer's identification number, you must first obtain an assigned identification number from the Department of Motor Vehicles before the title can be issued.

Nebraska titling is handled by 93 individual county treasurers, and offices that rarely see minitrucks may apply the classification inconsistently. We could not verify the exact registration fee schedule for the minitruck class from a state source; the $10.00 figure above is the titling fee stated by the Nebraska DMV, not the total cost. Confirm current requirements with your county treasurer or the Nebraska DMV before purchasing. This page is informational only and not legal advice.

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