Can I own one here
Owning one in Jefferson County.
On your own land
On private land closed to public traffic a kei truck needs no registration, because VTL 401(1)(a) requires registration only on public highways and the rules of the road in Title VII reach only highways, private roads open to public motor vehicle traffic and parking lots, VTL 1100(a).
On the farm
New York gives farm vehicles three exits from the registration rules, and none names a kei truck. Whether a farm kei truck fits one is not settled and is a question for the DMV before anyone drives one on a road.
To confirm.
No DMV page applying VTL 125 or 401(13) to a kei truck by name was found. Federal import terms for a truck brought in as off road equipment still apply.
A 25 year truck on the road
Closed to road use. The New York DMV will not title or register a Kei-class vehicle for the road unless it has been brought into full compliance with federal safety and emissions standards.
A newer governed truck
Private land only. None. The DMV does not title Kei-class vehicles without federal compliance proof.
Roads and towns
Roads and towns in Jefferson County.
Some routes. Jefferson County has opened a long list of named county roads to ATVs since 2001 and several towns open every town road, all for registered ATVs only, so a kei truck takes none of them.
This rests on New York law. No Jefferson County ordinance or resolution was read.
In town Some
- Open Champion. Every town highway is designated open for ATV traffic. Courts have struck down blanket openings like this elsewhere and this one has not been tested. Local Law No. 1 of 1999, filed with the Department of State 14 October 1999, read 28 October 2026
- Open Wilna. Every town highway is designated open for ATV traffic. Local Law No. 3 of 2000, filed with the Department of State 21 April 2000, which repealed Local Law No. 4 of 1998, read 28 October 2026
- Open Pamelia. ATVs are permitted on every town road. Local Law No. 3 of 2002, filed with the Department of State 14 November 2002, read 28 October 2026
- Some Le Ray. Martin Road north from Evans Mills for about 150 feet to Elm Ridge Road, Hall Road and on to the Philadelphia line. No other town road. Local Law No. 3 of 2001, filed with the Department of State 6 December 2001, read 28 October 2026
- Some Lorraine. Part of Bishop Road from the Gold Spike Trail, Brown Road, part of Hessel Road, Kate Hall Road, Marsh Road, Sharp Road and other named roads between county forest trails. Local Law No. 1 of 2008, filed with the Department of State 28 March 2008, read 28 October 2026
- Some Rodman. Jerusalem Road from County Route 95 to County Route 97, Dobbins Road, Loomis Road from County Route 189 to the Lewis County line, Lowe Road and Williams Road, to reach county forest land. Local Law No. 1 of 2009, filed with the Department of State 21 May 2009, read 28 October 2026
- Some Black River. East Remington, South Main and LeRay Streets as routes in and out of the village, with residents allowed the shortest way to a trail. Local Law No. 1 of 2002, filed with the Department of State 14 March 2002, read 28 October 2026
- Open Carthage. Every village street not specifically excluded, for entering and leaving the village to reach trails and not for riding up and down. Local Law No. 2 of 2003, filed with the Department of State 26 March 2003, read 28 October 2026
- Some Theresa. Village streets other than the parts of Main, Commercial and Mill Streets and NY 26 that are state highway. Local Laws No. 2 and 3, the second amending the first, filed with the Department of State 8 March 2001 and 14 January 2002, read 28 October 2026
- Some Evans Mills. ATVs and snowmobiles on the right side, shoulder or inside bank of village streets as the law provides, under its hours and rules. Local Law No. 2 of 2000, filed with the Department of State 30 August 2000, read 28 October 2026
- Closed Brownville. ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles and similar vehicles are prohibited on every village street, sidewalk, park and right of way. Local Law No. 2 of 2026, filed with the Department of State 7 April 2026, read 28 October 2026
County roads Some
County Road 3 from Black Creek Road to Graves Street, CR 10 from CR 5 to CR 181, 0.45 miles of CR 12 from NY 12, CR 16 and CR 46 inside Evans Mills, CR 20 and CR 41 and CR 45 their whole length, CR 21 from CR 193 to Chapels Corners Road, CR 28 from CR 194 to NY 26, CR 29 from CR 30 to Belile Road, CR 40 from NY 3 to CR 41, CR 42 from Carthage to CR 40, CR 46 to Theresa, CR 181 from Sylvester Road to Fox Hill Road and CR 194 from Bentleys Corners to CR 28. Since 2008 and 2009 the list adds CR 90, 92, 93, 95, 96 and 189 between county forest trails around Lorraine and Rodman. Local Law No. 3 of 2001, amended by Local Law No. 3 of 2008 and Local Law No. 2 of 2009, filed with the Department of State 16 July 2001, 11 August 2008 and 11 May 2009, read 28 October 2026
State highways Closed
Closed to OHVs.
Getting one here
From Japan to Jefferson County.
The nearest ports with a sailing from Japan on record
- The Port of Savannah, Georgia Ports Authority, about 1,000 road miles.
- The JAXPORT, Jacksonville Port Authority, about 1,200 road miles.
- The Port of Everett, about 2,700 road miles.
How to import a mini truck, step by step.
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
Jefferson County, counted.
Jefferson County averages 116 inches of snow a year. Jefferson County grows 431 acres of orchards and vineyards. 3 active surface mines and quarries work Jefferson County's ground.
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 Jefferson County?
Ask about a truck, a state or the papers, and we answer with what applies to you.
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