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Kansas title transfer fees

How much is the title fee in Kansas?

$10

In plain English

The title fee in Kansas is $10, and a repossession title carries an additional $3 application fee. The statute says the $10 comes in addition to the fee for registering the vehicle. For a vehicle subject to a lien (a lender's claim), a $1.50 service fee is collected for processing and mailing a copy of the title application to the lienholder.

“The title fee in Kansas is $10. There is an additional $3 application fee for a repossession title.”

The official words for the rest

“The fee for each original certificate of title shall be $10 in addition to the fee for registration of such vehicle, trailer or semitrailer.”

“For any vehicle subject to a lien, the county treasurer, division or contractor shall collect from the applicant a $1.50 service fee for processing and mailing a copy of the title application to the lienholder.”

Worked example

Example: a $12,000 used car bought from a private seller in Kansas. Title fee: $10. Tax is left out of this example. Not included: registration and plates, a lien fee, an out-of-state inspection, county or office add-ons, and late fees.

A made-up price; every other figure is from the quotes on this page. It is an illustration, not a bill.

What other fees come with it?

What are the steps in Kansas, and by when?

In plain English

  1. The application for title is made within 60 days of the purchase date, at the county treasurer's motor vehicle office in the county where the vehicle will be located or garaged.

    The official words

    “Application for title must be made within 60 days of the purchase date in the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office in the county in which the vehicle will be located / garaged. Penalty will be assessed on and after the 61st day.”

  2. Property tax must be paid at the time of registration unless the application is for a temporary plate.

    The official words

    “Property tax must be paid at the time of registration unless applying for a temporary plate.”

What if the car comes from another state?

In plain English

A vehicle inspection is required when the vehicle's title was issued by another state, or when the bill of sale is from an out-of-state owner.

The official words

“If the title for the vehicle was issued from another state (not a Kansas title) or the Bill of Sale is from an out of state owner, a vehicle inspection is required.”

The agency's wording is that an application for Kansas title and registration is required when a vehicle has been located in Kansas for up to 90 days or more, including frequent absences such as leaving for weekends with the intent of returning.

The official words

“When a vehicle has been located in Kansas for up to 90 days or more, including frequent absences (leaving for weekends with the intent of returning) application for Kansas title and registration is required.”

What about tax on the purchase in Kansas?

In plain English

The purchaser pays the sales tax due to the County Treasurer when registering the vehicle in the Kansas county of residence. The state's general sales tax statute, which is not specific to vehicles, sets a rate of 6.5%. If sales tax was paid to another state and there is a difference, the buyer is responsible for paying the difference.

The official words

“the purchaser is required to pay the sales tax due to the County Treasurer when registering the vehicle in the Kansas county in which he or she is a resident.”

“there is hereby levied and there shall be collected and paid a tax at the rate of 6.5%.”

“If the sales tax was paid to another state and there is a difference, you will be responsible for paying the difference.”

We don’t work out tax for Kansas.

What does a gift or family transfer change in Kansas?

In plain English

To qualify as a tax-free gift, the vehicle must be given without any consideration and with the donor's intent that the transfer be a gift. For a gift, the Vehicle Gift Certification portion of the Affidavit to a Fact (TR-12) must be completed.

The official words

“To qualify as a tax-free gift, the transfer of the vehicle must be given without any consideration, and given with the intent of the donor that the transfer be a gift.”

“If the vehicle is being given as a gift, the Vehicle Gift Certification portion of the Affidavit to a Fact (TR-12) , must be completed.”

What happens if the transfer is late in Kansas?

In plain English

This is about late titling. The title application is due within 60 days of the purchase date, and a penalty is assessed on and after the 61st day. The quote does not give the amount of the penalty.

The official words

“Application for title must be made within 60 days of the purchase date in the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office in the county in which the vehicle will be located / garaged. Penalty will be assessed on and after the 61st day.”

What the pages we read do not cover

The quotes we hold do not give the amount of the late penalty.

The quotes we hold do not say whether local sales tax is added to the state rate.

The quotes we hold do not say who performs the vehicle inspection or what it costs.

How Kansas compares

The title fee quoted for Kansas is $10. Of the other 37 states with a figure, 7 states quote less, 25 states quote more and 5 states quote the same. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.

LowerHigher

The states whose flat title fee sits closest to Kansas’s. Each figure is copied from the quote at the top of that state’s page, with its source and read date. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.

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Anything else?

Reference only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the agency. Full statement

Sources

12 quoted lines from 6 official sources, each matched word for word on November 12, 2026. The state’s own titling page is ksrevenue.gov.

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