Oregon is among a handful of states that don’t allow kei vehicles to be registered for use on public roads. However, there’s now a group that is advocating to have this changed. The group, JDM Oregon Advocates, is organizing for a move to allow kei cars to be road-legal there and to have a level playing field for vehicle registration.
Full disclosure: I am one of the Oregonians advocating for change and am the Admin of the JDM Oregon Advocates Facebook Group.
It’s long been known that Oregon doesn’t allow kei vehicles—those small, 660cc Japanese cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans—to be road legal. This is despite our neighbors to the north in Washington letting kei trucks be registered for the street. Similarly, California will allow kei vehicles to be registered, although it’s a more difficult process due to the state’s strict registration laws. But in Oregon, it’s a no-go no matter what. Now, the JDM Oregon Advocates are trying to change this.
Why Would You Want a Kei Vehicle Anyway?
There are a myriad of reasons someone might want to register a kei vehicle. For example, kei trucks, such as Tuan’s Suzuki “Carry Potter” are small workhorses that don’t use much fuel and can carry an impressive amount of payload. After all, not everyone needs a $70,000 full-size or even a mid-sized pickup truck. Kei trucks are compact and capable, affordable, and frugal. They’re a fraction of the cost of a new truck, and allow farmers, ranchers, landscapers, and gardeners to have an affordable, street-legal work vehicle.
Kei cars, vans, and SUVs are also frugal, fun, and compact. They’re easy to park, take up less space on the roads, and offer an affordable way to get around in all four seasons, unlike a motorcycle or scooter. Their light weight also reduces stress on the streets and less tire wear, resulting in reduced rubber pollution. They’re safer than motorcycles or scooters, as they’re fully enclosed.
The inherent risks of owning a tiny vehicle are no secret. But that doesn’t prohibit many other vehicles of the same (or smaller) size, weight, power, and safety from being registered. More on that in a moment.
Why Oregon Doesn’t Allow Kei Car Vehicle Registration
According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), “Though many kei-class vehicles can be imported, they cannot be titled or registered in Oregon because they were not manufactured for U.S. highways.”
This reasoning doesn’t make sense if you dig into it. There are plenty of other vehicles legally registered on the roads that “were not manufactured for U.S. highways.” Take, for example, the original Mini. With around 34 horsepower, these little runabouts were never intended for 65+ MPH speed limits on six-lane highways. Yet, there’s no reason you can’t register one. I know people with BWM Isettas who have registered these 12-horsepower vehicles. And you can’t tell me a Ford Model T was manufactured for U.S. highways. Many have wooden wheels! Additionally, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles that’ve been imported under the federal 25-year import rule that have come from other countries that were never “manufactured” for U.S. highways, yet they are able to be registered.
It Must Be a Safety Thing, Right?
Sure, Kei vehicles are small, lightweight, and not as powerful as a modern vehicle. Some may say their safety is a reason certain states won’t register them. But if we’re talking safety and road legality, why do states like Oregon allow motorcycles? Surely a motorcycle can’t be safer than a fully enclosed kei vehicle. I know what the naysayers are thinking: kei vehicles are too slow for the road. However, you can literally register a 125cc “motorcycle” that can be driven anywhere on the road. A Honda Grom has a top speed ranging from 65-70 MPH, but can be easily registered at any DMV. Many kei cars will do over 70 MPH, too.
Oh, crashes, right? Surely, kei trucks are far more dangerous than a car sold in the U.S. Again, I default to the motorcycle argument. How are they legal, but a vehicle with a fully enclosed cab not? And what about all the classic cars registered on the roads, vehicles without airbags, or other 25-year-old automobiles? Suddenly, the safety argument lacks common sense.
Some people worry that states will start deregistering classics, vintage microcars, and motorcycles, after hearing the argument about kei cars. But that’d entail losing tax revenue from thousands of registrations, and I don’t think any state wants that. In fact, by allowing kei vehicles to be registered, the state is only going to gain tax revenue, and I know Oregon could stand to have more of that.
JDM Oregon Advocates
Recently, the JDM Oregon Advocates group was established. This group is meant to help organize Oregonians who’d like to see kei vehicles legalized in Oregon. (I was recently made an admin of this group.) The organization encourages people to contact their representatives and express a desire to have kei vehicles legalized for road use.
Upon visiting, you’ll see the statement, “Advocates across the United States are taking action to reverse state bans on titling and registering JDM kei trucks, many which have been successful. Help us in our efforts to continue that trend here in Oregon.”
The group offers this email template for people to download so they can let their reps know to advocate for kei car legalization. The website offers an easy way for people to find their representatives, and there’s a very well-written document, A Case for Consistent Kei Truck Policy in Oregon, explaining why kei cars should be allowed on the roads. Also available in a downloadable PDF, this can be sent to representatives to help them understand why people, including myself, would like kei vehicles to be legalized for road use.
We Want a Level Playing Field For Vehicle Registration in Oregon
In the last eight months, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Colorado all reversed kei vehicle bans, and Oregon could be the next state. The blueprint is out there. The JDM Oregon Advocates are simply asking for a level playing field for vehicle registration in Oregon. A 25-year-old kei vehicle falls under the federal rules for importation, so long as they have the correct paperwork. And yes, the 25-year rule is federal, and vehicle registration follows a state’s own rules. But in looking at Oregon’s rules, it doesn’t make any sense as to why kei vehicles shouldn’t be able to be used on the street when other classics, microcars, and motorcycles can be legally registered. We’re simply asking for fairness and common sense.
What You Can Do
If you’re an Oregonian and are interested in joining in to help get kei cars legalized, here’s what you can do:
- Visit the JDM Oregon Advocates website
- Join the JDM Oregon Advocates Facebook group
- Download the email template here (PDF)
- Contact your Oregon representatives by email and phone
While I don’t expect this to be easy or to happen overnight, the move to legally register kei vehicles in Oregon must start somewhere. And, on the heels of recent victories in Texas and Colorado, perhaps Oregon can be the next state to allow these practical and fun vehicles to be driven without issue on the streets.
