If you’re unfamiliar with Kei cars, these compact, highway-legal Japanese city cars were first created in 1949. Not only are Kei cars lightweight, fun to drive, and surprisingly capable, but owning a Kei car offered various insurance and tax benefits to buyers.

Kei cars are wildly popular in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), but they also have a growing following in the import market thanks to their affordability and niche appeal.

Read on with the

car ownership experts

at Jerry to learn more about Kei cars and some of the best models to own in the U.S. today.

What is a Kei car?

According to

hotcars.com

, Kei cars must fit within the dimensions of 10.8 feet long, 4.6 feet wide, and 6.6 feet tall. For comparison’s sake, that’s 10 inches smaller than a Smart car by width.

Cars like the Toyota Supra or the Honda NSX tend to be among the most sought-after exports from the JDM, but Kei cars shouldn’t be underestimated. Because of their small size, Kei cars tend to be easier and cheaper to import than other foreign cars.

If you’re looking for a weekend cruiser or something that’s great for city driving, a Kei car could be the way to go.

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The best imported Kei cars to buy

If you want the tiniest truck on the market, look no further than the Honda Acty, which is short for Activity.

This pint-sized Kei car comes in both a truck and van configuration and is perfect for anyone who wants a compact car that still offers much of the practicality of a pickup truck or van.

Four-wheel drive makes it ideal for farming or even just the avid gardener. Want to get into furniture reselling? The Acty will be your best friend. The Acty can go up to 71 mph and accommodate a person up to 6’6” in height.

If the Honda Acty isn’t your speed, check out its competitor the Suzuki Carry/Every. The Carry/Every is one of the longest-running Kei cars on the market and for good reason. The most recent generation available for import is the 9th, which comes as a five-door van or truck.

Another great find is the Suzuki Jimny or the

Suzuki Samauri

. This car resembles a Jeep but still fits into the Kei-car qualifications. Look for the 1990s versions for the best in style and performance.

One of the most striking of all Kei cars you can get in the U.S. is the Mazda Autozam AZ-1. At an auction, the AZ-1 will be mid-tier in cost, but it will potentially be the most fun and interesting-looking car in your collection.

All AZ-1’s come equipped with noticeable gull-wind doors and a mid-engine setup, while the interior is sleek and cozy.

If you can find the extremely rare Mazdaspeed edition, you’ll get a new body kit, upgraded shocks, strut bars, a mechanical limited-slip differential, and alloy wheels.

MORE: A Japanese Classic: the Cappuccino

Getting insurance for a collector car

Finding insurance for a vintage collector car or import can be tricky. Let

Jerry

handle the paperwork, and we’ll find you the best deal out there.

A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

To ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will even send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.

This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.

MORE: What Are the Most Popular JDM Cars?

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