Can I own one here
Owning one in Washoe County.
On your own land, yes
Owning a kei truck and working it on a ranch, a farm, a mine or private property does not depend on a road title. Some states still ask for a title or an off road registration.
A 25 year truck on the road
Road use unclear, to confirm. Nevada has no kei truck law. The DMV's title guide lists the documents to register and title a gray market vehicle with a Non-US Vehicle brand, while DMV compliance staff told a state advisory committee in April 2025 that kei vehicles should not be registered.
A newer governed truck
Off highway vehicle. Nevada titles and registers off-highway vehicles through the DMV. NRS 490.060 counts any motor vehicle used on public lands for recreation as an off-highway vehicle.
Roads and towns
Roads and towns in Washoe County.
Roads open. Washoe County opens every county road posted 35 mph or less outside Reno and Sparks for trips to riding areas, Reno and Sparks open no street and state highways are crossing only.
In town Closed
- Closed Reno. No street is opened to OHVs. Title 6 has no OHV chapter and Title 8 touches motorized vehicles only in parks. In a city of 100,000 or more NRS 490.110 keeps OHVs off every highway the city has not designated. Reno Administrative Code Titles 6 and 8, codified through Ordinance No. 6740, adopted 6 May 2026, read 28 October 2026
- Closed Sparks. No street is opened to OHVs. Title 10 has no OHV chapter. In a city of 100,000 or more NRS 490.110 keeps OHVs off every highway the city has not designated. Sparks Municipal Code Title 10, Municode version of 30 September 2026, read 28 October 2026
County roads Open
All county highways posted 35 mph or less in the unincorporated county, for OHVs reaching a riding area (70.3862). The county's OHV definition names utility terrain vehicles (70.074). Unpaved county roads are also open under NRS 490.090(3) unless closed. Washoe County Code 70.074, 70.3861 and 70.3862, Ordinance No. 1507 (Bill No. 1689), passed 23 April 2013, effective 3 May 2013, code codified through Ordinance No. 1746 of 18 November 2025, read 28 October 2026
State highways Crossings only
- No segment opened. 70.3862 designates for OHVs any state highway NDOT designates now or later, and none was found. NRS 490.090 and 490.100, read 28 October 2026
Getting one here
From Japan to Washoe County.
The nearest ports with a sailing from Japan on record
- The Port of Oakland, about 250 road miles.
- The Port of Los Angeles, about 500 road miles.
- The Port of Tacoma, The Northwest Seaport Alliance South Harbor, about 600 road miles.
How to import a mini truck, step by step.
A newer off road truck never lands in California. It comes in through Tacoma or by way of Houston.
Trucks travel in containers, one to a 20 foot box with room for parts or three to a 40 foot box.
Road miles are an estimate, the straight line times 1.2.
The ground
Washoe County, counted.
5 active surface mines and quarries work Washoe County's ground. Washoe County averages 17 inches of snow a year. Washoe County has 314 farms and 111 cattle operations, by the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
Importing a kei truck
The essentials, in short.
A truck under 25 can come in only as governed off road equipment, and only if its engine family held an EPA nonroad certificate for that model year. No kei engine family was certified for mini trucks before model year 2010, so a truck built after 31 October 2001 and before model year 2010 has no federal door until its 25th birthday.
Two lanes
A road truck must be 25 years old by its own build date. A newer truck comes in only as governed off road equipment with a certified engine.
The 25 percent duty
Every kei truck pays the 25 percent truck duty at the port, whatever its age.
The paperwork
The customs entry and the two federal declarations, DOT Form HS-7 and EPA Form 3520-1, travel with the truck to your title office.
The title
Keep every stamped paper with the truck. Your state title office asks to see them.
Contact
A question about the law in Washoe County?
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