Can I own one here
Owning one in Elko 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 Elko County.
Roads open. Elko County opens every road and unincorporated town street it maintains to registered OHVs at 25 mph or less and slower in its small towns, while Elko, Carlin, Wells and West Wendover allow OHVs only on routes their councils name and state highways are crossing only.
In town Some
- Some Elko. OHVs may run only on streets and trails the council designates by resolution as OHV routes or trail connectors, for trips to riding areas, no more than 2 miles on a highway. The route resolution was not read. Elko City Code 7-6, Ordinance 844 of 8 October 2019, read 28 October 2026
- Some Carlin. OHVs may run only on streets the council opens by resolution on its off highway travel map, at 15 mph from sunrise to sunset and no more than 2 miles on a state highway. The map resolution was not read. Carlin City Code 8-5, Ordinance 246 of 26 September 2018, effective 4 October 2018, read 28 October 2026
- Some Wells. OHVs may run only on streets, roads and trails the council designates by ordinance or resolution, at 25 mph or less. The designating resolution was not read. Wells City Code 8-24, Ordinance 213 of 12 November 2008, read 28 October 2026
- Some West Wendover. OHVs may run only on highways and trails the council designates by resolution as OHV routes or trail connectors, no more than 2 miles on a highway. The route resolution was not read. West Wendover City Code 5-2, Ordinance 2024-03 of 20 August 2024, read 28 October 2026
County roads Open
Every way, trail, street, road and highway Elko County recognises or maintains, unincorporated town streets included, at 25 mph or less unless posted lower. The limit is 15 mph in Jarbidge, Jackpot, Lamoille, Midas, Montello, Tuscarora, Contact, Mountain City and recorded subdivisions, within 500 feet of a home and on designated exit and entry routes. Homeowner associations and town boards may restrict OHVs further. A large all-terrain vehicle registered under NRS 490.0825 and equipped under NRS 490.120 may travel the posted speed. The commission is to adopt route maps by resolution, which were not read. Elko County Code 8-2, Ordinance 2014-09 of 5 June 2014, effective 19 June 2014, code current through Ordinance 2024-04 of 7 August 2024, read 28 October 2026
State highways Crossings only
- No segment opened. Elko County Code 8-2-4(E) says the county will seek NDOT permission to add state highway stretches to its routes, and none was found. Its 8-2-3(A)(1) reads NRS 490.110(d) as letting a registered large all-terrain vehicle travel state highways at the posted speed, a reading NRS 490.105 does not state. NRS 490.090 and 490.100, read 28 October 2026
Getting one here
From Japan to Elko County.
The nearest ports with a sailing from Japan on record
- The Port of Oakland, about 500 road miles.
- The Port of Tacoma, The Northwest Seaport Alliance South Harbor, about 700 road miles.
- The Port of Los Angeles, about 700 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
Elko County, counted.
8 active surface mines and quarries work Elko County's ground. Elko County averages 47 inches of snow a year. Elko County has 437 farms and 282 cattle operations, by the 2022 Census of Agriculture.
Areas
The areas Elko County is part of.
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 Elko County?
Ask about a truck, a state or the papers, and we answer with what applies to you.
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