1) How much will it cost to register my vehicle?

a. If the weight of the trailer and the load combined is less than 2,000 pounds, registration is optional.
If farm trailer, hauling the farmers own product, has a load of less than 6,000 pounds, registration is optional.
For fees on trucks with gross weight of over 16,000 pounds, call the Kansas County Treasurers Office
Property tax paid at time of registration/title application (exceptions Heavy Trucks, Trailers and Motorcycles). Call Appraiser’s Office for estimates.

b. Title fee is $8.00, tag fees vary according to type of vehicle.

c. For your property tax amount refer to County Treasurer.

d. Sales tax will be collected in the tag office if the vehicle was bought from an individual or purchased out of state. The sales tax rate varies by County.

e. Contact your County Treasurer for an closer estimate of costs.

f. The fee to transfer is $12.50 plus the difference in the property tax. To get the difference you will need to contact the County Treasurer and give them the year, make and model of the new as well as the old vehicle and tell them you need to know the difference in the taxes.

g. Names must be the same when you transfer, i.e. Sandra Jones was on the old title and the new title reads Sandra and/or Robert Jones. They would both need to come in to do the transaction because we would be adding Robert to an existing registration.

h. If the old tag is expired it can only be transferred if it is a personalized tag.

i. If this is your renewal month, your fees will be the same as a new tag minus the 50¢ plate fee.

j. The old vehicle must be sold or traded in. Even if it is not running. As long as the title is still in your name the plate must stay with it.

2) I’m moving to Kansas from another state, how do I register my vehicle?

You will need to take the vehicle and the title*/** for the vehicle to a Kansas motor vehicle inspection station and obtain a Motor Vehicle Examination (form MVE-1) before going to the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. Contact the county treasurer’s office or check the Kansas Highway Patrol’s website concerning the location and hours of operation of the inspection station. Take the title*, the pink copy of the MVE-1 and proof of insurance with you to the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office to make application for a Kansas title and registration.

** The process at * is at each individual county’s discretion. Please contact your local county treasurer’s office for their local process.

*If the title is being held by your lienholder or if the vehicle is being leased, the lienholder or leasing company will need to fax the front and back of the title to the county treasurer’s office or the motor vehicle inspection station. The faxed copies will be used to complete the motor vehicle examination resulting in the issuance of an MVE-1. Take proof of insurance, the pink copy of the MVE-1, the copies of the front and back of the title, and a current valid registration receipt from the state in which the vehicle was last registered to the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office and make application for title and registration. If the paperwork is complete, (the treasurers office will not accept an expired registration) a license plate will be issued at that time. The Titles and Registrations Bureau will send a letter to the lienholder or leasing company requesting they surrender the title they are holding to the State of Kansas. A new Kansas title will be issued and mailed back to leasing company, if there is no lienholder. If there is a lien on the vehicle, the Kansas Division of Vehicles will hold the title electronically until the lien is released. If the lienholder or leasing company will not surrender the title, the applicant and the lienholder or leasing company will need to work out a way for the title to be surrendered, or the registration will not be renewed. The vehicle cannot be operated without valid/current registration.

If the title is being held electronically by another state, the current valid registration receipt from the state in which the vehicle was last registered will be used as proof of ownership for accepting the application for title and registration. The Titles and Registrations Bureau will correspond with the lienholder and/or the other state to request the title be surrendered to the Kansas Division of Vehicles. If the title is not surrendered, the applicant and the lienholder or leasing company will need to work out a way for the title to be surrendered, or the registration will not be renewed. The vehicle cannot be operated without valid/current registration.

NOTE: You will have 60 days from the date the letter is sent to the lienholder requesting the title to complete the application for title. (If there are other issues with the application, a letter will be mailed to the applicant to resolve the problem(s).) After 60 days, the registration (license plate) will not be renewed until the title application is completed (all requested information is received). It is the applicant’s/owner’s responsibility to ensure the title is surrendered to the division by the lienholder.

3) What papers will I need to title my vehicle?

Title or MSO signed over to the buyer, sales tax receipt or bill of sale, current mileage, proof of insurance. When transferring tag you need: current owner’s registration or tag number and name and address of whom the vehicle was sold to.

4) What are your office hours?

The Kansas County Treasurers Association hours are from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday.
For a specific county, visit our service directory section.

5) Where are you located and which office can I go to?

For a specific county location, visit our service directory section.

6) Where can I get my vehicle inspected, and what are their hours?

All out of state titles for used vehicles (and Kansas Non-Highway vehicles) require inspection. The fee is $20.00, cash only, at any Inspection location.

For specific county information, visit our service directory section.

7) How can I renew my tags if I didn’t get a renewal notice in the mail?

Take your owner’s registration or tag number and proof of insurance to the tag office and they will be able to process your renewal.
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8) How can I get a refund and what forms will I need?

Bring in tag, current owner’s registration, Social Security number (personal vehicle) or Federal ID# (business or lease vehicles) and name and address of whom vehicle was sold to. Refunds are calculated from the month they are received, not the date sold.
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9) Where can I get a power of attorney / lien holder consent / bill of sale, etc.

Bill of Sale; Power of Attorney, Affidavit of Relationship, Dealers, Affidavit to a Fact, Duplicate Title, Handicap Placard and Tag, Personal Property Affidavits, Lienhold Consent, Request for Public Records, Sellers Notification of Sale are all available to download from our web site Adobe Acrobat ® Reader is required to view these forms.

10) My tag was stolen, what do I do?

You will need to report the plate stolen to the police or sheriffs office. Bring the tag number and proof of insurance and we will replace the tag for $3.00. (The price at a substation would possibly have an additional transaction fee.)

11) Personalized tags.

The price for personalized tags will be $44.00 for both plates. NOTE both plates (front & back ) do not have to be put on the vehicle, the owner has the option to display the back plate only.

12) Delinquent Taxes

If you have delinquent Personal Property Taxes in ANY county in Kansas, they MUST be paid before vehicles can be tagged.

13) How can I pay?

Acceptable forms of payment are cash, check, money order, cashiers check. Credit and Debit cards accepted varies by County.
For specific county information, visit our service directory section.

14) Where can I go to renew my handicapped placard? Where do I mail it?

Visit our service directory section for specific county information.

15) Do my tags expire on the first day or the last day of the month?

Auto, trucks and motorcycles expire on the last day of each month with the exception of heavy trucks (over 12,000) and trailers which expire Dec. 31st, with a grace period up to Feb. 15th.

16) Why aren’t my tags good for a full year?

Tag renewals are good for a full year. Tags for vehicles bought new within the year will be good for the period between the purchase date and the expiration date, in some cases this will be for just a partial year.

17) I am a military dependent, shouldn’t I be exempted from property tax?

No, only the active duty military member is exempt.

18) Can I get an extension on my 60 day permit or tag?

No, there are no extensions.

19) My doctor says I’m permanently handicapped, why do I have to re-certify for handicap privileges?

Law requires re-certification every 3 years for verification of status of the handicap individual.

20) Why do I pay taxes on my leased vehicle when I’m in the military?

The leased vehicle is in the leasing company name, therefore they are the legal owner of the vehicle and not exempt.

21) I am in the military but a Kansas resident, do I pay taxes on my vehicle?

If the military person and the vehicle are stationed in Kansas, the vehicle is taxable.
If the military person is a resident of Kansas, but stationed in another state the vehicle is exempt.

22) I own businesses in several counties in Kansas, where do I register my vehicle?

The vehicle should be registered in the county where the main business is located.

23) I am active duty military but, the vehicle is in my wife’s name, do I have to pay taxes on the vehicle?

Yes, the service member must be included on the title in order to be exempt.

24) Do I have to get a Kansas driver’s license if I have Kansas plates?

Yes.

25) Do I have to register my vehicle if I am going to sell it?

Yes, you first have to acquire a title in your name, before it can be sold to another individual or business.

For more information please contact your local county treasure’s office. To locate your county, you can find their information here: https://www.kansastreasurers.org/index.php/directory/