Vermont

As of July 1, 2026, Vermont registers kei vehicles the same way it registers any other pleasure car — and kei trucks used for property transport can register as farm trucks instead. There is no separate "kei" registration class or special permit.

Step 1 — Gather Import Documents

You'll need CBP Form 7501 (Entry Summary), EPA Form 3520-1, DOT Form HS-7, and your foreign title (translated if non-English) — the standard federal paperwork for any 25-year-plus import.

Step 2 — Choose Your Registration Class

Decide whether the vehicle will register as a pleasure car (full standard-car treatment) or, if it will be used primarily to transport property, as a farm truck. This choice determines which set of standard DMV rules apply — S.326 doesn't create a new class, it just confirms kei vehicles fit into the existing ones.

Step 3 — Title and Register

Submit Vermont's standard vehicle title application with your import documents at your local DMV office. Because this process is brand new, bring a printout of S.326 (or a link to it) in case front-line staff haven't seen it yet.

Step 4 — Pay Fees

Standard Vermont title and registration fees apply — there's no kei-specific surcharge under the new law.

Vermont requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 bodily injury per person / $50,000 per accident / $10,000 property damage, plus uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of $50,000/$100,000/$10,000 — Vermont is one of the few states where required UM/UIM exceeds the liability minimum. Since kei vehicles now register as standard pleasure cars or farm trucks, standard auto policies should apply with no special classification. Confirm with your carrier, since this is a very recent law change and some agents may not yet be aware of it.

Vermont went further than most states that have legalized kei vehicles — rather than creating a restricted "mini truck" category with speed or road-class limits, S.326 simply folds kei vehicles into the existing pleasure car and farm truck rules. That means no 35 mph cap, no interstate ban, and no special plate.

Because the law only took effect July 1, 2026, expect some inconsistency at individual DMV branches until staff become familiar with it. This guide will be updated as real-world registration experiences come in.