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Hello! New mini truck owner in Las Vegas

Discussion in 'Introductions' started by Ashnkooshe, Apr 24, 2017.

  1. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    Hey guys! I fell in love with these little trucks about a month ago and now I am the proud owner of a 1991 Honda Acty! I didn't know how to drive stick so it's been pretty fun and hilarious at times.

    The paint is bad, it's scratched n rusty, the seats are torn up and it has grease in it from the 90s but I love it!

    I have all the paperwork to make it street legal but was told by a DMV employee today, "I don't care what paperwork you have, I will not register this truck." Him and "his boss" are convinced that the trucks are not legal in Nevada because apparently some casino owner tried to have all of his made legal at some point. I'm kind of at a loss here because my paperwork and the law states it is exempt from emissions but they're demanding I go to the emissions place across town to have it done and they keep ignoring the 25 year rule stating that they don't know my truck is that old because it doesn't have a proper VIN.

    Luckily, my importer is going to another DMV tomorrow and I can meet him there.

    My insurance company had no issue with it at all and the agent was laughing his ass off picturing the little thing mobbin around town. Anyone else get the runaround from the DMV when you went to get plates?
     

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  2. Tuskano

    Tuskano Member

    Hey there! I've had a guy learn how to drive stick using mine as he was learning for his permit. His only issue was staying at a constant speed... other then that, shifting in these is pretty easy when you get the hang of it! Loving the Kanji and the faded art on the door there!

    I've had no issues when I went to a DMV in SoCal for mine. It was already plated and just had to change it from the old owner to me though...

    Good luck with the other DMV, if you have all the paperwork then you should not have no issues unless the guy there has a stick up his butt. Your importer should have the hookups.
     
  3. Acerguy

    Acerguy Moderator Staff Member

    Welcome! I love that your truck made it over with the original paint...a lot of them get a quick 'n dirty respray of generic white. And, since I work in the bicycle industry, it's especially intriguing. Other than using the left hand instead of the right, I would think these are fairly easy to learn to drive stick on; they are geared so low. I've given my youngest daughter some driving lessons in mine by putting into low range - you can pretty much just side step the clutch and it won't stall even at idle.

    There is a lot of info here on the forum but do check out the Facebook group "Japanese Mini Trucks of America" if you like.
     
  4. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    Hey there, Acer. I looked for the Facebook group when I saw it mentioned somewhere yesterday but came up no results. Maybe I have to try from the computer instead of my phone or if you have a direct link, that'd be cool!

    I feel bad about the original paint because a few people have said they like it and I've been trying hard to remove it! I didn't realize a lot of them got quick paintjobs but that makes a lot of sense now cause they all seem to look nice n bright in the photos. I chose this one only because it has AC.. well it supposedly did but "maybe needs a charge."
     
  5. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    I thought CA was the most strict so you lucked out just having to switch the plates! Awesome!

    The DMV guys were so nice at first until I wouldn't leave in defeat. They even told me to drive illeglly "on the back streets" to the DMV across town. I think they just really didn't want to work.. 2nd try today.

    Thanks for the warm welcome, guys!
     
  6. Tuskano

    Tuskano Member

    Funny thing is there is a bicycle shop right across the road from where I live. They've eyed both my truck and scooter when I ride that past lol. If anything, down the road you can get it cleaned and try to get that kanji on the side translated. Maybe that company still exists somewhere. I found out my Hijet was owned by a hardware store by the name of The Rudderless Turtle, all found by a parts form that was hid under my passenger seat. I looked up the number on there.

    Yea! That was one reason I got my truck. Used to be owned by a guy in the Airforce, had Cali plates and all. Drove it with no issues for like a year and half until I moved to WA. Since I daily drove it, I didn't do much except upkeep maintenance (everything worked!). I didn't start modding it till WA.

    Yea, sounds like they were being lazy... that is really too bad. I am guessing you have to physically take the truck to the DMV too for it to be inspected or something? Cali and WA I had no one walk out to "inspect" anything of mine.
     
  7. theguide

    theguide Member

    The Facebook page is called "Japanese mini trucks of America"
     
    Tuskano likes this.
  8. Wyo Keith

    Wyo Keith New Member

    Hey, I was wondering who your insurance company is? I am having a horrible time with mine trying to get it insured.
     
  9. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    Geico. I just added it to my policy and did liability.. it was like 35 bucks a month. Itll cover me like 25k/50k for hospital bills for myself or them but let's be real..
    anyone hits that truck I'll be the only one hurt lol.
     
  10. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    The people who translated my import certificate said it said "Omeda" and they both looked confused. I asked if it was a name instead of a word and they started laughing n didn't really answer me. Haaaha oh well

    Glad you had such an easy time registering. 2nd day at the dmv i got sent away again after 4 hours because someone blacked out a number on one of the papers. Have a new appointment on Monday. Ima throw this thing in a ditch if I get sent away again. Lol
     
  11. Wyo Keith

    Wyo Keith New Member

    Thanks for the insurance info. Nationwide seems to have no clue on how to insure it. They want to insure it as a commercial vehicle now because it's a "delivery truck", but even with that they are having trouble. Anyways, I'll try Geico.
    On the DMV side: I bought mine in the states, but I noticed the guy had it registered as MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) on the title. Have they tried titling it as MPV? It would be like the title for a side-by-side or a four-wheeler.
     
  12. Tuskano

    Tuskano Member

    Translator seems to not change Omeda, but only thing I found about it is it is a very rarely used American girl name. From names.org, it gave me this:
    • How many people with the first name Omeda have been born in the United States? From 1880 to 2015, the Social Security Administration has recorded 19 babies born with the first name Omeda in the United States.
    • What year were 5 or more babies first named Omeda? The name was first given to 5 or more babies in the year 1928 when it was given as a first name to 7 new born babies.
    • When was Omeda first recorded in the United States? The oldest recorded birth by the Social Security Administration for the first name Omeda is Wednesday, November 16th, 1881.
    • What year had the most people named Omeda born? The highest recorded use of the first name Omeda was in 1928 with a total of 7 babies.
    Sorry to hear things are bad with registering... mine was only easy because the people before me did that work already. Did your importer not have any other ideas? He/she has done kei trucks before right? Only other idea if no one at all is wanting to register it is to try another state, but that's not always easy.
     
  13. Tuskano

    Tuskano Member

    Mine is through USAA. Insured/titled as a commercial truck and includes it's weight and all. Back when I called USAA to insure it, the guy over the phone was more curious why I bought it in the first place lol.

    Never gone though the process for a MPV, but if so, I am sure you would be limited to driving around the block, side roads around town, or not on roads at all depending on local MPV laws in your area.
     
  14. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    Didnt wanna go that route cause I want to have unrestricted access to the streets and highways. Hopefully on Monday it can get tagged!
     
  15. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    I could be spelling it wrong since they only said it. Most of the characters are gone now and I'm trying to choose a color to paint it!

    The importer said he has better luck at a different DMV so I may have had a better outcome if I had gone there. Pretty sure he had registered some. I should finally have all correct papers on Monday. I've had good luck driving around without a tag so far though.. haha.
     
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  16. Wyo Keith

    Wyo Keith New Member

    I never thought about mpv restrictions in other states. I'm in Wyoming, so the only restriction would be interstates, unless your mpv can travel at highway speeds. 100 km per hour should be fine. If it can't, you have to straddle the shoulder and run with your hazard lights on (here in Wyoming).
     
  17. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    Haha that's awesome. I haven't taken it on the freeway yet since the lack of tag but fingers crossed it can make it!!
     
  18. Wyo Keith

    Wyo Keith New Member

    Thanks for the tip. I went with Geico. Took them about 10 minutes to hook me up (I was on the phone for over 2 hours with my former auto insurance with no resolution). Only cost $22 a month.
    I am not affiliated with Geico in any way (other than being a new customer).
     
  19. Ashnkooshe

    Ashnkooshe New Member

    Hey that's great news! I'm happy to hear it. Looks to be confirmed that Geico is a good option for mini trucks!
     

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