Can I own one here
Owning one in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County.
Roads open. Lincoln County opens its roads inside Alamo, Panaca and Pioche for trips to riding areas and state law opens its unpaved county roads elsewhere, Caliente opened its streets by a 2006 ordinance whose text is not posted and the county code's state highway stretches conflict with a sheriff's page that says they are crossing only.
In town Open
- Open Caliente. The city's ordinance list says Ordinance 2006-1 created section 5.2050 to establish the lawful operation of OHVs upon the streets, alleys and roads of the city. The ordinance text is not posted and the 1997 code chapters the city posts do not carry it, so the routes and conditions were not read. No later ordinance on the list amends or repeals it. Ordinance 2006-1 (No. 155), adopted 16 March 2006, as described in the city's list of ordinances as of 29 August 2024, read 28 October 2026
County roads Open
Inside the unincorporated towns of Alamo, Panaca and Pioche every county highway and road is open to OHVs for trips to and from riding areas only (8-6-2). Outside those towns no county act opens or closes a road, so state law governs. Registered OHVs may use unpaved county roads unless closed, and registered and insured large all-terrain vehicles may use general and minor county roads. Lincoln County Code 8-6, Ordinance 2006-04 of 7 August 2006, code current through Ordinance 2023-04 of 16 October 2023 with nothing pending, and NRS 490.090 and 490.105, read 28 October 2026
State highways To confirm
- The county code designates US 93 from the northern to the southern town limits of Alamo, US 93 from the Airport Road intersection to SR 319 in Panaca, SR 319 from US 93 to the eastern Panaca town limits, SR 321 from SR 322 to the northern Pioche town limits and SR 322 from SR 321 to the eastern Pioche town limits. No NDOT approval was found, and the sheriff's office OHV page says driving on US 93 and SR 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322 and 375 is prohibited and that OHVs may only cross them. Lincoln County Code 8-6-3, Ordinance 2006-04 of 7 August 2006, against the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office OHV General Requirements page, read 28 October 2026
Getting one here
From Japan to Lincoln County.
The nearest ports with a sailing from Japan on record
- The Port of Los Angeles, about 400 road miles.
- The Port of Oakland, about 500 road miles.
- The Port of Tacoma, The Northwest Seaport Alliance South Harbor, about 900 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
Lincoln County, counted.
Lincoln County has 111 farms and 64 cattle operations, by the 2022 Census of Agriculture. 100 percent of Lincoln County's people live outside urban areas.
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 Lincoln County?
Ask about a truck, a state or the papers, and we answer with what applies to you.
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