Get a free online car check by entering a registration number below

Kei trucks and kei cars have not only been incredibly popular in Japan for close to eighty years, but kei trucks are arguably the literal driving force behind the country’s economic recovery after WWII and its ongoing progress.
In most of those eight decades, however, these small work vehicles didn’t see much use outside of Japan. Until now. But American and European users have been falling more and more in love with these Japanese mini trucks, and thousands of people are importing new and second-hand kei trucks from Japan into Western markets.
How about the UK, however? Can you import kei trucks into the UK today? And, if so, how suitable are these vehicles for the UK roads, and how can you maintain them properly?
Can you import kei trucks in the UK?
The short and simple answer is – yes, you absolutely can. In fact, importing kei trucks into the UK is substantially easier than in certain other countries, like the US, for example, as there are fewer restrictions on Japanese vehicle imports.

That being said, people who want to drive a key truck around the UK still need to be mindful of certain things:
- Kei trucks are made for Japan and with the intention of complying with that country’s laws and regulations, so there are still going to be certain legal factors you’d need to consider before your kei truck is legally road-ready in the UK.
- Japan’s roads are notoriously well-maintained, as anyone who has ever visited the country of the rising sun can attest. This matters for a vehicle, as not all cars are created for the same road conditions. So, if you want to drive a kei truck outside of Japan, it’s often good to consider how you’re going to prepare your kei truck for the road and how you're going to maintain it afterwards.
- As kei trucks have been pretty much Japan-only vehicles for decades, there aren’t many garages and repair services for kei trucks in the West. Finding kei truck parts from Oiwa Garage or from the few other suitable places in the UK is crucial for your kei truck’s maintenance, and you should research into that before you buy and import your kei truck.
What to consider when importing a kei truck in the UK
As with any other vehicular import, there are a few things to go over as you prepare for importing your kei truck:
1. IVA and GVT tests
As a Japanese vehicle, kei trucks don’t meet the same standard approval requirements as other cars in the UK, so, they have to go through an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test for a personal vehicle or a Goods Vehicle Test (GVT) if the kei truck is to be used as a commercial vehicle.
Standard kei trucks should meet both standards for emissions, safety, and roadworthiness if they are in good condition, but it’s important to make sure that’s the case before you import them into the country. If not, certain modifications may be required.
2. Commercial use requirements
Depending on the type of commercial use you have in mind, the UK has different load capacity and performance standards for vehicles. So, it’s important to check your kei truck’s specifications against those industry-specific requirements and make any modifications if necessary.
3. Other considerations
Road tax, insurance, DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) registration, and other factors should also be considered, especially for commercial vehicles, depending on the specific industry they are going to be used in.
How to maintain a kei truck in the UK?
Maintaining a kei truck in the UK isn’t much different from maintaining any other vehicle. These mini trucks are made to be as durable and sturdy as possible, and have demonstrated themselves as quite capable even outside of Japan’s near-perfect road conditions.

That being said, a kei truck’s longevity is tied to its maintenance, and the latter can be complicated if you don’t have a good source of spare kei truck parts near you. If you do have an Oiwa Garage or another good kei truck repair shop near you, however, it should be easy to stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance with standard maintenance tips, such as:
- Good tire maintenance
- Check brakes often
- Change oil and other fluids regularly
- Replace air filters when necessary
- Regular engine tuning
- Check battery health often
- Tighten parts regularly
- Heatsink preservations
With these and other maintenance must-haves and with the right garage nearby, keeping your kei truck road-ready for the UK shouldn’t be a problem.