Kansas License PlatesPer Chapter 8-126a of the Kansas Statutes, a license plate, also called a number plate or tag, refers to any plate, tag, token, marker, or sign issued under the Automobiles and Other Vehicles Act for the purpose of identifying vehicles registered under the provisions of the Kansas motor-vehicle registration laws or otherwise carrying out the provisions of such laws.
In accordance with Chapter 8-127 of the Kansas Statutes, every owner of a motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, trailer, or semi-trailer intended to be operated on any highway must be registered with the Division of Vehicles of the Kansas Department of Revenue. In completing the registration process, the Kansas Division of Vehicles issues license plates to registered vehicles.
The Kansas Division of Vehicles typically issues the following types of license plates:
Per Chapter 8-133 of Kansas Statutes, a Kansas-registered vehicle must not have a license plate attached to the front of the vehicle. Number plates must be attached to the rear of the vehicle and displayed during the current registration year or years. However:
Kansas License Plate Design and FormatsGovernor Laura Kelly announced a new Kansas standard-issue license plate design in December 2023. The new design was chosen by a majority of the public in a voting process involving more than 250,000 residents in 105 Kansas counties. Standard Kansas license plates are rectangular-shaped with a 7-character alphanumeric combination embossed on them.
The new design features the Kansas Statehouse dome in a cutout of the state and a white, yellow, and blue gradient background. Paying tribute to the Kansas State motto, "Ad Astra per Aspera", the phrase "To the Stars" is inscribed across the bottom of the new plate design. The new license plate will be issued starting from March 1, 2024.
Kansas license plates issued between August 15, 2018, and September 7, 2023, contained a screened black alphanumeric serial and pre-printed county code on a light blue plate. The top half of the Kansas State seal is screened in white color at the bottom right, and "KANSAS" is screened in dark blue at the top of the plate. From September 8, 2023, to February 29, 2024, license plates issued in Kansas contained a 7-character serial format instead of a 6-character code.
A Kansas personalized plate allows for a total of 7 letters, numbers, and spaces for automobiles or trucks and up to 5 letters, numbers, and spaces for motorcycles. The state does not permit the use of any symbol. Personalized plates are issued for 5-year cycles. All disabled personalized plates, whether for automobiles, trucks, or motorcycles, are allowed a total of 5 letters, numbers, and spaces.
Standard license plates for automobiles, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles:
* Source: Kansas Department of Revenue
Kansas Vanity License PlateKansas vanity license plates offer vehicle owners a personalized means of expressing themselves or showcasing their interests through unique combinations of letters, numbers, or characters. These plates, also known as personalized plates, allow individuals to create a custom message or slogan that holds personal significance to them. Vanity plates may also be issued to disabled persons, military veterans, or military officials and may be issued to automobiles, motorcycles, and trucks registered for 20,000 pounds or less
To qualify for a vanity or personalized license plate in Kansas, you must:
To obtain a vanity plate, follow these steps:
Note that combinations for vanity plates deemed by the Director of the Division of Vehicles or designated agents to have a vulgar, profane, indecent, or lewd meaning will not be allowed. You may confirm the availability of the combination chosen for your vanity plate using the personalized plate availability search on the Kansas Department of Revenue website. It may take up to 30 days for the plate to arrive.
Most Popular Kansas Special Plate NumbersThe Kansas Division of Vehicles issues special plate numbers for educational organizations and military personnel. Common distinctive Kansas license plates include those issued in the following categories:
Kansas License Plate LookupLicense plate lookup refers to obtaining information about a vehicle, typically based on its license plate number. People may look up license plates for various reasons, such as vehicle purchases and accident investigations by law enforcement agencies. Prospective vehicle buyers may use license plate lookups to obtain information about vehicles considered for purchase, such as checking for liens or outstanding loans or reviewing the vehicle's history.
While the Kansas Department of Revenue does not allow users to conduct license plate lookups online, you can visit the Division of Vehicles in the DOR to perform a license plate search. Alternatively, you may use RecordsFinder website to perform a license plate search.
Note that according to Section 12 of Article 20 of the Kansas Statutes, all motor vehicle records relating to the mental or physical condition of any person that have been expunged or photographs or digital images maintained in connection with the issuance of driver's licenses are confidential and may not be disclosed except in accordance with a proper judicial order.
A reverse license plate lookup is used to gather information about a vehicle. While this method of obtaining information is effective in certain situations, information about license plate owners is sensitive and protected under the DPPA. Pursuant to the Driver's Privacy Protection Act, only a few entities, in certain circumstances, are allowed to access personal information associated with a license plate. Hence, it takes a verified business or agency with the required authority to access this type of data.
A reverse license plate number search can be conducted using RecordsFinder. To perform a reverse license plate number search, all you need to provide is a vehicle's license plate number.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Kansas?License plates are issued when vehicle owners complete a titling process with the Kansas Department of Revenue. An application for a certificate of title and registration for a vehicle must be made through the county treasurer's office where the vehicle is garaged.
The following are required at the local county treasurer's office when registering a vehicle:
A vehicle inspection must be conducted if the title for the vehicle was issued from another state or the Bill of Sale is from a non-Kansas owner. The vehicle and title must be taken to a Kansas inspection station for motor vehicles and examined. A motor vehicle examination (MVE-1) must be issued before applying for title and registration. The pink copy of the MVE-1 must be submitted to the county treasurer's office.
Within 3 weeks of submitting a completed vehicle titling application, a digital license plate will be printed and mailed to the vehicle owner. Prior to that, a paper license plate will be issued while the digital license plate is processed.
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in KansasKansas issues passenger license plates to passenger vehicles and commercial license plates to commercial vehicles. The state defines a commercial vehicle as a self-propelled or towed vehicle engaged in the furtherance of commerce that is used to transport passengers or property when the vehicle:
Some critical differences between passenger and commercial license plates in Kansas include:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Use | For personal uses | For hire, profit, or furtherance of commerce purposes |
| Design and Color | A Kansas commercial license plate has a screened black serial on a white plate with "PWR" printed on the left-hand side, "KANSAS" at the top, and "COMMERCIAL" in purple at the bottom | The new license plate design has a screened black serial on a light teal, white, and gold gradient plate with a dark gray state-shaped border. The Kansas State Capitol dome is in dark gray at the bottom left, and the word "KANSAS" is printed in dark gray centered at the top. The words "To the Stars" are printed and centered at the bottom of the design |
| Requirements for obtaining the plate |
|
Commercial Motor Vehicle Office For more information, see the KCoVRS CMV guidance document |
How to Renew License Plate in KansasYour license plate will be renewed after you renew your vehicle registration with the Division of Vehicles in the Department of Revenue. Kansas law requires vehicle registrations yearly with a license plate showing the current year's decal. Note that you must pay personal property taxes and registration fees each year to renew your vehicle registration. Registration fees may cost between $39 and $49 per year, and property tax may be estimated using the Kansas Property Tax Calculator and entering the owner's last name, initial, make, year, and model of the vehicle. An additional fee of $5 applies to each vehicle that will be renewed in person.
Typically, you will get a courtesy notice 30 days before the vehicle registration expires. Alternatively, a print renewal notice may be printed using the print renewal feature on the Department of Revenue website. Vehicle registration renewals can be done online, by mail, using a self-service kiosk, or in person at the front counter at the local county motor vehicle office.
To renew your motor vehicle registration online (some vehicle registrations do not qualify for electronic renewals):
To renew by mail:
If there is a Kansas motor vehicle self-service kiosk in your area, you can renew your vehicle registration by:
To renew your vehicle registration in person at the front counter:
How to Transfer a License Plate in KansasIf you are looking to transfer a Kansas license plate to another individual, you must submit the following to your local County Treasurer's Office:
Note that the name assignment on the new vehicle title must match the name on the previous vehicle registration.
Kansas License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)The federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1999, also called the DPPA, restricts the information that may be made available in a public search using a license plate number. In compliance with the DPPA, K.S.A 45-220(c)(2) prohibits names and addresses obtained from a public record search to be given or sold. Additionally, the motor vehicle record website of the Kansas Department of Revenue makes it unlawful for personal information to be used for purposes deemed illegal under the DPPA.
However, you can use RecordsFinder and similar services to obtain non-personal information on over 269 million registered vehicles in the United States. In order to use RecordsFinder to get non-personal information, you must provide the license plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Usually, vehicle owners can obtain a replacement for their lost license plates in Kansas. If your license plate is lost or stolen, it is recommended that you report it to your local law enforcement agency and contact the Kansas Department of Revenue or your local motor vehicle office for guidance on obtaining a replacement plate.
Afterward, you may be required to provide the local motor vehicle office with the case number and proper ID, such as a driver's license, proof of insurance, and the vehicle registration or title. Also, a completed Form 211 and payment of the applicable replacement license plate fee will be required. For instance, Franklin County charges $4 as a replacement license plate fee.
Police or law enforcement personnel can routinely scan the license plates of vehicles encountered on the road. Some of the information obtained from running a license plate includes:
You can search license plates for free using RecordsFinder. Searching license plates is helpful when purchasing a used car to determine whether the car has a cloned VIN. Many vehicle buyers have fallen for the cloned VIN scam as countless vehicles are being sold in the United States with duplicated Vehicle Identification Numbers.
Using the free RecordsFinder license plate search, you can perform a quick license plate number search to find the actual VIN of a vehicle, the vehicle's make, model, manufacture year, body style, engine type, price, and gas tank size.
Kansas license plates are valid for 12 months since vehicle registrations are only valid for the same period. Therefore, motorists in the state are required to renew their vehicle registrations annually for a stipulated fee. Per Chapter 8-142 of the Kansas Statutes, driving vehicles in the state with expired registrations or license plates is unlawful. Violators risk paying fines of up to $500 if found driving vehicles with expired license plates.
If you own a vehicle in Kansas, you are not required to surrender the license plates upon selling the vehicle or moving out of Kansas. However, if you are applying for a property tax or vehicle registration refund, you must return your Kansas license plate to the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Revenue. Also, you may be required to return your license plate if you plan on replacing it with a different type of license plate, such as a personalized plate.
Yes, you may keep your Kansas license plate if you move to another state. However, Kansas license plates are not designed to be transferred to vehicles registered in other states, as each state has its own unique format and registration system for license plates.
Since 1956, Kansas license plates have maintained a 6 by 12 inch-dimension.
Pursuant to KSA 8-135(b), the state may issue a permit allowing a Kansas resident or out-of-state resident buying a vehicle from a Kansas dealer or resident to operate the vehicle for a period not exceeding 60 days from the vehicle's purchase date. The permit issued to the vehicle owner is not renewable. The state also issues other forms of permit with a lower validity period for trucks, truck tractors, and semi-trailers as outlined in the Temporary Vehicle Registration Information document of the Kansas Department of Revenue.
You can renew your license plate in Kansas by following these steps:
Alternatively, visit the Division of Vehicles in person at:
Kansas Department of RevenueYou can seek a replacement Kansas license plate if your current license plate is stolen or lost by following these steps: