How Sunshine Handles Registration and Title for Kei Vehicles in Austin, Texas

At Sunshine Imports, we take care of the full registration and title process for every kei truck, van, and car we sell in Austin, Texas. These Japanese mini trucks, like other JDM vehicles, require following a detailed and often-confusing series of steps before they are road legal in the state. Our team manages the entire process so customers can focus on the driving, modifications, and showing off—not the paperwork.

When a kei truck arrives in the U.S., we begin by handling all necessary import documentation. This includes filing customs paperwork and paying all applicable tariffs. We ensure that each vehicle has been properly imported and meets federal requirements.

Next, we coordinate with local authorities for a police VIN inspection. This is a required step for many imported vehicles and must be completed before the vehicle can be titled. We make sure the inspection is scheduled and documented correctly.

After the inspection, we prepare and submit the title and registration application to the local tax office. This part of the process can be particularly time-consuming. It involves collecting and organizing several documents, including the Bill of Lading, Customs Entry Summary, foreign title or de-registration certificate, translated export paperwork, and more. Every document must be submitted with accurate values based on currency conversion at the time of import. Even small errors—such as an incorrect exchange rate or mismatched date—can lead to a rejected application.

Because Sunshine Imports is a licensed Texas car dealer, we are able to submit these applications on behalf of our customers. This saves hours of work and prevents delays due to paperwork issues. Once the application is accepted and processed, we handle the transfer of title into the customer’s name.

Our customers do not need to make trips to the DMV, calculate tariffs, or manage exchange rates. We complete every step to ensure that the kei truck they purchase is road legal and fully registered in Texas. This is part of our standard process and one of the key services we offer when selling JDM mini trucks in Austin.

If you're considering a kei truck, Sunshine Imports takes care of the back-end work so you don’t have to.