You’re ready to put your money to work in a mini truck.

But before you drop your hard-earned bucks into one, there are a few things you’ll want to check out when deciding which importer/dealer to buy from . . .

First off, buying a mini truck is quite a bit different than getting say, a Tahoe, from your local Chevy dealer. With a traditional truck purchase, you can find the model you’re looking for at any authorized dealer. Your biggest decisions are normally what color to get and your choice in options.

With a mini truck, however, you’re limited to the vehicles that are available with each importer/dealer, unless you want to import a specific mini truck directly from Japan.

And one dealer may carry different makes and models than another dealer. This adds a little “spice” to the process, but once you know the ropes, you’ll find that buying a mini truck (used or new) is actually pretty straightforward.

If you’ve read our blog article then you know that most Japanese mini trucks (“kei” trucks) available for sale are used vehicles.

This is due to import restrictions and federal DOT and EPA standards for mini trucks.

New models of mini trucks can be purchased, of course, but there are fewer to choose from than with used models. If you want a new mini truck that you can’t find in stock in the U.S., most importer/dealers can order you a new Japanese mini truck from Daihatsu or Suzuki, for instance, directly from Japan. The importer/dealer will walk you through the steps. Usually it involves a 50% deposit (cashier’s check) and the balance upon delivery (2-4 weeks). Some importers require full payment up front.

On the other hand, if you’ve got your eye set on a Chinese mini truck, there’s more to choose from in new models, either through [link to Vantage] or [link to Tiger Trucks].  You can also get used Chinese mini trucks from these dealers, as well as through ads on the Internet from individual owners, such as on Craigslist.

1. Importer or Dealer?

Most companies selling Japanese mini trucks keep a modest inventory on hand. A few are strictly importers, which means you’ll be looking at 2-4 weeks for delivery once you’ve decided on your mini truck. The upside to going the import route is that you have more options, since the importer has access to the entire mini truck market in Japan!

In the states, larger mini truck dealer/importers typically have 10-20 vehicles in stock (most are used). Smaller companies and “mom-and-pop-shops” carry fewer mini trucks, perhaps 4-8 vehicles at any time.

We recommend that you go through the list of dealer/importers at the end of this blog post and check out the individual websites to see what mini trucks are offered for sale. Keep in mind that inventories are not always updated timely on some websites, so you’ll need to contact the companies by phone or email to find out if a particular mini truck is available.

2. Buying In-Person vs. Buying via the Internet

It goes without saying that when you’re buying a vehicle, you want to kick the tires, check the engine, and take if for a quick spin around the block.

But because there are only a dozen or so primary mini truck dealer/importers in the entire U.S., you could be looking at traveling hundreds of miles to inspect your future mini truck. If you have to travel to another state to physically look over your mini truck before buying it, you could rack up $500 or more in travel costs.

This is why some people buy their mini truck “sight unseen” as it were. By asking a lot of questions of the dealer/importer, and having them send you a bunch of photos showing every part of the mini truck, inside and out, you should be able to get a good handle on its value.

You can also ask the dealer/importer to allow you to take possession of the mini truck, and then if you’re unhappy with it, ship it back for a pre-agreed-to fee. Not too many dealer/importers are willing to do this, but it never hurts to ask!

Beyond this is the shipping cost. Since it’s illegal to drive a mini truck on interstate highways, your mini truck will likely need to be shipped to you. This could cost as little as $100 if you live only a few miles away from the dealer/importer. But if you live hundreds of miles away, shipping your mini truck could make you dip into your pocketbook a $1,000 or more.

Be sure to ask this in advance, so you know ALL of your costs beforehand.

Have the dealer/importer send all information and costs surrounding your mini truck to you via email so you have a record.

3. Warranty, Service & Parts.

Each Importer/Dealer has its own level of sales support. As a general rule, don’t expect much in the way of warranty! You may find a 30-day warranty on parts from one dealer, a 30-day warranty on the entire vehicle with another dealer, and no warranty at all with yet a different dealer.

Since parts are sometimes hard to come by in the Japanese mini truck market, be sure to ask the dealer/importer about any repair service and access to parts that they offer.

4. Paperwork & Licensing.

Japanese mini trucks can have confusing vehicle identification numbers, which may create problems at your DMV when you’re registering it (particularly older models). Ask the dealer/importer about all relevant documentation you will need, and be sure to get it by email prior to your purchase. That way you can verify whether or not you can register and insure it in your state.

Japanese Mini Truck Dealers and Importers (USA):

Duncan Imports & Classic Cars

2300 Prospect St.

Christiansburg, VA 24037

(540) 808-6433

http://www.duncanimports.com

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Star Truck Enterprises, LLC

12432 4050 Road,

Paonia, CO 81428

• 261-0438

email:  startruckenterprises@gmail.com

http://www.coloradominitruck.com

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G&R Imports (Eaton Mini Trucks)

155 Bamboo Ln.

Jackson, MO 63755

855-484-8342

contactus@grimports.com

https://www.grimports.com

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Bogue Innovations Group

(America’s Mini Truck Center)

202 S. 19th St.

P.O. BOX 487

Beresford, SD 57004

(605) 763-2945

http://www.americasminitruckcenter.com

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Cape Portable Buildings

902 S. Kingshighway

Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

(573) 321-8110

http://capeportablebuildings.com

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Mayberry Mini Trucks, Inc.

North Carolina

• 337-5725

email: mayberryminitrucks@gmail.com

https://mayberryminitrucks.com

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Fremont Mini Trucks

960 State Route 300

Gibsonburg, OH 43431

• 308-8622

email: sales@fremontminitrucks.com

http://www.fremontminitrucks.com

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Weatherford Mini Trucks

1899 NW Ric Williamson Memorial Hwy 

Weatherford, TX 76088 

(817) 565-6103

http://www.weatherfordminitrucks.com

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Houston Mini Trucks

726 Herkimer St.

Houston, TX 77007

(281) 660-8270

http://www.houstonminitrucks.com

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Super Mini Trucks

Oklahoma City, OK

(580) 443-5500

https://www.superminitrucks.com

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http://twinriversatv.com

Twin Rivers Mini Trucks

1763 US Hwy 70 East / US Hwy 71

De Queen, AR 71832

• 642-8701

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West Coast Mini Trucks

7055 Speedway Blvd. Building E. Ste. 102

Las Vegas, NV 89115

(702) 823-5033

sales@westcoastminitrucks.com

http://www.westcoastminitrucks.com

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Magic Valley Mini Trucks, LLC

5421 US Hwy 93

Jerome, ID 83338

(208) 410-0280

http://magicvalleyminitrucks.com

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Bluegrass Mini Trucks

Elizabethtown, KY

(270) 737-1889

http://bluegrassminitrucks.com

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West Main Sales

10405 West Main Road

North East, PA 16428

(814) 725-5864

http://www.westmainsales.com

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Yamagin Corporation (import direct from Japan only)

310-498-4465 (CA)

email Contact: info@minitruckdealer.com

http://www.minitruckdealer.com  (strictly importer)

 

 

 

Chinese Mini Truck Authorized Dealers:

 

Tiger Truck International

(Authorized US dealer of Chinese mini-trucks made by ChangAn)

100 Tiger Drive

Poteau, OK 74953

(918) 647-4000

(918) 649-0226

email: info@tigertruck.com

 

http://tigertruck.com

 

 

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Vantage Vehicle International, Inc.

1740 N. Delilah Street

Corona, CA 92879

(951) 735-1200

email: info@vantagevehicle.com

 

https://www.vantagevehicle.com