Colorado Reverses Stance on Kei Car Registration Ban

Kei car and truck enthusiasts have been fighting the good fight over the last several years to keep these lovable miniature machines on the road across the United States. As of December 25th, Colorado Kei car owners can breathe easy, for now.

In August 2024, the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, introduced a new rule that stated that Japanese Kei vehicles and mini trucks “do not meet the definition of Motor Vehicle” under Colorado law because they weren’t designed for American roads or North American safety standards. The department had determined it would not title or register Kei vehicles for on-or off-highway use, but Coloradoans spoke out against the proposal and their voices were heard loud and clear.

Because of proposal 1 CCR 204-10, the state of Colorado almost joined the list of states, like Georgia, Maine, and New York, that have already banned Kei car registration. Other states, such as Alabama and Arkansas allow these vehicles under certain conditions, such as enforcing speed restrictions or banning highway usage. Others, like Massachusetts, once had Kei vehicle registration revoked but then backpedaled on the decision.

Most of the push to ban Kei cars reportedly comes from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), a non-profit, non-governmental agency that has been involved with almost all previous efforts to rid the U.S. of Kei cars. The Colorado proposal named the organization explicitly, sharing words from the AAMVA that describe Kei cars as “compact, low horsepower vehicles that were designed for use on foreign roadways.” While that claim is not wrong, aside from their tiny stature and generally slower speeds, Kei cars are no different than many other vehicles older than 25 years that are not required to meet the US Federal Motor Vehicle Standards (FMVSS), as per the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

The Colorado Register formally published the proposal’s cancellation notice on Christmas Day, December 25, with an official termination date of 12/11/2024:

The outcome of Colorado reversing its Kei car ban to once again accept legal Kei vehicle registrations is proof that public pressure can make a difference.

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