Hi guys. I have done a search on the forums, and found a source from back in 2008 saying that kei trucks are street legal in PA. However, that was of course 13 years ago. I've scoured the PENNDOT and PA DMV websites for a couple hours now and haven't found anything. Anyone here have a kei truck registered to be street legal in PA? Just want to make sure I can register it as a street going vehicle before deciding on purchasing one.
To answer your question, yes, including me. Mine is registered/titled/tagged as of last 'Nov 2020. I also went to a reputable notary, NOT the DMV since they usually don't know what's going on.
This was just sent to me, and is probably really pertinent. https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/.../Bulletin 21-12 Special Edition-Short VIN.pdf Looks like PennDOT is basically making it impossible to get these things registered for street legal use. Hoping mine is grandfathered in (Titled and Reg'd last year), and I'll be pissed if they rescind it.
I'm in the same boat, got mine all done last year. I'm a little reassured since I just the got annual renewal registration paperwork in the mail for it.
Hey, thank you for getting back to me. I didn’t try it yet cause they asked for a compliance letter from Honda and they say they won’t issue it. I also heard from Amir from Boeki that it’s not possible. I will give it a shot tho. Won’t they just flat out deny me ?
Who asked for a compliance letter, I'm not even sure what that is. Amir is also based in NJ, so he may not be current on PA laws. The only problem I see you running into, is the fact that our fantastic Gov. Wolf just decided to get heavy-handed with all this mini-truck business and has pretty much shut down the registration process.
https://www.dmv.pa.gov/Pages/Mini-Trucks-FAQ.aspx Latest is basically registration as Antique only if you use it occasionally. If registered before December 1st 2021 you are grandfathered in with regular registrations. If you sell it you loose that registration and it doesn't transfer. I have been looking for the last 2 years and haven't pulled the trigger on a truck, so now I missed out on the regular registration. Reading that the Vermont loop hole is pretty much closed as well. Luckily I will only use my truck locally and occasionally, so antique registration is fine for me. Only wish I could get the older purple antique plate! https://jalopnik.com/here-is-the-organization-behind-the-many-states-banning-1848104429
I'm sure the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators is just looking out for my best interest. I'm 100% certain there is no industry influence afoot. I think nameless bureaucrats and NGO's are just swell. EDIT: Just did some digging on the AAMVA. They have long been in favor of "standardizing" driver's licenses across the US. And, oh yeah, putting us all into a single database. No risks there, right Comrade? EDIT #2: Wow, these AAMVA guys are scummier than I thought: https://papersplease.org/wp/2021/03/18/laundering-federal-funding-for-the-national-id-database/ https://papersplease.org/wp/2021/04/21/dhs-wants-to-put-real-id-drivers-licenses-on-smartphones/
It's just as safe as my '91 CRX and way safer than a Grom. How does a Smart Car pass then.... I also received that letter regarding my Acty. Basically said, "we don't like it, but since you have a regular title, we'll allow it."
So I have no paperwork with my kia metro. The only thing I have is a bill of sale from the guy I bought it from last year. How do I go about getting the correct info for a title?
Hey guys, just coming back to this because I can't keep my mind off of a Honda Acty van. Anyone find out a loophole for registering these things for street use in PA, or are we still just SOL?
Your best bet is just to register it as an "Antique" and drive it. They recently changed the rules more leniently on what you can and can't do regarding antique tag restrictions.
Oh okay awesome thank you I had no idea that was available for them now. Sounds good enough to me, it won’t be a daily anyway so thats fine. Just wish they would leave our trucks alone anyway…I dont see the logic behind this…come on PA!
The Metro MicroTruk AKA Kia Towner is not road legal in the US. They were imported new for off-road use only, so they don't fall under the 25 year import rule. You could import a 25 year old Kia Towner from Korea and get it registered, but all the ones imported by Metro Utility Vehicles are off-road only.
Alright guys so my Sambar should be here in a few weeks from Japan. Been a long wait since I first started this thread, lol. Anyone recently register as an antique? Still good to go, or are they giving you crap for it? Want to make sure I can minimize as many headaches as possible.
I haven't, but saw a Daihatsu Midget 2 for sale recently here in SE PA that had antique tags. No idea how many hoops they had to go through, but they did it.
Daihatsu Midget's were sold in the US in the late 60's, so it's totally possible it has a legit title from its original sale. Much like I have a 1968 Subaru Sambar with original title from when they were also sold in the US during the late 60's. Believe it or not, there was a time when you could buy and legally drive a new kei vehicle or microcar in the US.
Pretty much have to register as Antique, if you want to drive on the street. I use mine a couple times a month to once a week. I have never had any trouble. Technically you are not supposed to drive at night, but I have never had an issue. Also supposed to only drive occasionally. Once registered as an antique, you never have to have inspection/registration, so no real way to check up on you, unless you get pulled over for something else. If getting a truck, you will have to get the weight of the truck for registration. At lest I did, because I couldn't find the listed gross vehicle weight on any fixed plate or marking on my Hijet. I went to my local commercial dump and paid them $10 to weigh it and print out a form. Brought it back to AAA and they finished my registration there. I was told weigh stations on the highway would also weigh the truck, but there weren't any close or easy to get to, for me. Took 5-6 weeks for my plate to arrive from Harrisburg. https://www.dmv.pa.gov/Pages/Mini-Trucks-FAQ.aspx
I just did a Sambar truck and a van at the ROC in Harrisburg. You will need 5 pictures, front, rear, both sides and a VIN pic. Also, for the weight I believe it is listed on your title in kilograms, I just multiplied by 2.2 and that will give you the weight.
Thanks guys! Sounds like it’s still possible. Do I need to have the weight notarized or something, or do I just verbally tell them “it weighs XXXX pounds”?
The lady I was dealing with at the counter just asked me to fill it the blank spot on the MV11c or whatever form it was. I asked for my title so I could look at the gvw and multiplied by 2.2. She was good with it.
Well after many rejections registering in PA is impossible. I just sent paper work back to Harrisburg and am going to settle on Antique plate. Which is ok for me as I don't plan on going on highway and only running around in my rural area. I am likely going to sell my truck though. Regards
I was able to get antique for mine and its been fine. I have a Miata registered as antique as well, what kind of problems were they giving you?
