Kansas Buying a Vehicle

Obtaining a Title and Registration For a Vehicle Bought from a Car Dealership

If you purchase a vehicle from a car dealership in Kansas, you will pay sales tax to the dealer, and the dealer will provide you with a receipt, bill of sale, and temporary tags. You will take this to the county treasurer’s office, where the vehicle is garaged, along with a properly signed manufacturer’s statement of origin and proof of insurance.

You must complete the titling process within 60 days of buying the vehicle.

Obtaining a Title and Registration For a Vehicle Bought from a Private Party

Typically, a vehicle purchased from a private party is a used car. To title a used car, you must take the properly signed title, proof of insurance, proof of property tax payment, and sales tax payment to the county treasurer. A properly signed title includes the purchase price, date of sale, odometer reading, and print and signatures of the seller and buyer. The seller also must have assigned the vehicle to the buyer. The seller may complete a Power of Attorney, Form TR-41, allowing the buyer to complete the assignment.

If a lienholder is recorded on the title a notarized lien release, you must bring a Form TR-150 or a letter from the lienholder releasing the lien.

If the title for the vehicle was issued from another state or the bill of sale is from an out-of-state owner, you’ll have to have a Kansas motor vehicle inspection before applying for a title and submit a copy of the motor vehicle examination to the treasurer.

For Titles Being Held Electronically (E-Title)

If the title is held electronically, you’ll still need to pay sales tax and property taxes and prove that you have insurance on the vehicle. You’ll also need to bring an Electronic Title Sales Agreement, Form TR-39A, and a copy of the Seller’s Current Registration Receipt. You’ll need a lien release, if applicable, to obtain a clear paper title. Once the clear title is received, you’ll need to have the seller complete a Power of Attorney, Purchase Price & Odometer Disclosure for Electronic Title, Form TR-40 so that you can apply for the title.

Transferring License Plates

If you wish to transfer license plates from an old vehicle, you may do so by bringing the current registration receipt of the vehicle you’d like to transfer. You’ll also need to have already disposed of the old vehicle or do so within 60 days. If you’ve disposed of the vehicle already, you’ll bring the name and address of the buyer. Also, the name on the title of the new vehicle must match the name on the old vehicle registration.

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