Glossary

The vocabulary you will meet in listings, auction sheets and shipping paperwork.

Kei truck and Japanese export terminology
Term	Japanese	Meaning
Kei / keijidōsha	軽自動車	Japan's light vehicle class, defined by displacement and dimension limits. Kei vehicles receive tax and parking concessions in Japan.
Keitora	軽トラ	Colloquial Japanese for a kei truck — literally 'light truck'.
Shaken	車検	Japan's periodic compulsory vehicle inspection. Its cost is a major reason serviceable vehicles are sold on or exported rather than kept.
Export certificate	輸出抹消仮登録証明書	Issued when a vehicle is de-registered in Japan for export. The core ownership document for foreign customs and registries.
Auction sheet	出品票	The inspection document produced for each auction vehicle, recording condition grades, a damage map and inspector notes.
Jumbo cab	ジャンボ	An extended cab offering more seat travel and recline, at the cost of bed length. Most associated with the Daihatsu Hijet.
Tipper / dump	ダンプ	A bed that tips hydraulically. Three-way versions tip to either side as well as rearward.
PTO	パワーテイクオフ	Power take-off — an engine-driven output used to run bed hydraulics or other equipment.
Diff lock	デフロック	Locks both rear wheels to turn together, the single most useful traction option on a kei truck.
Hi/Lo transfer	副変速機	A two-range transfer case. Low range multiplies torque for steep ground and heavy loads.
Part-time 4WD	パートタイム4WD	Four-wheel drive that is engaged manually and must not be left engaged on dry pavement.
RoRo		Roll-on/roll-off shipping — the vehicle is driven aboard and parked on a vehicle deck.
FOB		Free On Board — price with the vehicle loaded at the origin port, excluding ocean freight.
CIF		Cost, Insurance and Freight — price including ocean freight and marine insurance to the destination port.
RHD		Right-hand drive. Standard for Japanese domestic vehicles.
Chassis code	型式	The manufacturer's model code, such as DA63T or S210P. It identifies generation and often drivetrain more precisely than the model name.