Title Transfers in Kansas

How to Complete a Car Title Transfer in Kansas

Buying a Vehicle

Buying from a Dealership

NOTE: When you purchase a new vehicle in Kansas, you're required to apply for a vehicle title and registration within 60 days of the purchase date. Late fees apply.

To get apply for a DMV title transfer for a new vehicle (and register the car), you'll need to take the following to your local Kansas county treasurer's motor vehicle office:

Buying from a Private Seller

Before you buy a car from a private seller in Kansas, you'll need to verify the seller has all the required documents for an auto title transfer.

To complete the DMV title transfer and vehicle registration, you'll need to bring the following to your Kansas county treasurer's office:

  • The title (properly signed and completed by the seller).
  • A Bill of Sale (Form TR-312) if:
    • The title does not have a space to list the purchase price.
      OR
    • You purchased from an individual or business from out of state.
  • Proof of car insurance.
  • A Motor Vehicle Examination (Form MVE-1) obtainable from an inspection station, if the title is from out of state.
    • Provide the pink copy of Form MVE-1 to the KS treasurer's office.
    • Contact your KS DMV office for a list of inspection stations.
  • A Title and Registration Manual Application (Form TR-212a).
  • Payment for the applicable title transfer fees and vehicle registration fees.

NOTE: If the seller did not provide a title or enough information on the assignment of title, you may need to seek the help of an attorney to obtain a court order to complete the car title transfer.

Out-of-State VIN Verification

If you're a Kansas resident currently out of state, you may be eligible to bypass obtaining the Motor Vehicle Examination (Form MVE-1) by completing a Kansas Resident/Business Out of State VIN Verification (Form TR-65). You'll need to meet any of the following criteria:

  • On active military duty in a different state.
  • A full-time student at an out-of-state college, university or school.
  • You're submitting an out-of-state title application for KS apportioned registration with a Motor Vehicle Examination (Form MVE-1) and the vehicle is outside of Kansas.
  • Your resident or business vehicle is "temporarily" out of state due to short-term employment, or seasonal residency.

NOTE: If claiming you're temporarily out of state, you'll ultimately be required to return to Kansas with the vehicle and obtain a Motor Vehicle Examination (Form MVE-1) before the title will be issued.

Selling a Vehicle in Kansas

NOTE: Be sure to have the proper signatures on the vehicle title. The title may reflect any of the following scenarios in the owner section:

  • AND - Each owner shown before or after “and" must sign.
  • AND/OR - Either owner can sign; only one signature required.
  • OR - Either owner on the title may sign.

To complete the vehicle title transfer on your used vehicle in Kansas, you must:

  • Complete all information on the vehicle title except for the buyer's printed name and signature.
  • Provide an Affidavit to a Fact / Bill of Sale (Form TR-12), if the title does not have a space for the purchase price.
  • Include a lien release document, if applicable.
  • Complete the Odometer Disclosure Statement on the title, if applicable.
    • Mandatory for vehicles that are 20 years old or newer.

To have your name removed from the Kansas DOR vehicle record:

  • Submit a Seller's Notification of Sale (Form TR-216) to the address listed on the form.
    • Include payment for the $10 fee.
  • Make a copy of the front and back of the vehicle title after it has been assigned.
  • Remove the license plates from the vehicle to transfer or surrender to the Kansas DOR.

For more details, contact the Kansas Division of Vehicles office directly.

New to KS Car Title Transfers

You must apply for a car title transfer if your vehicle has been or will be in Kansas for 90 days or longer. You'll need to:

  • Bring the vehicle and its title to a KS vehicle inspection station.
    • If the title is being held by a lienholder, they'll need to fax the front and back of the title to the Kansas DOR or inspection station.
  • Obtain a Motor Vehicle Examination (Form MVE-1) from the inspection station.
    • Contact your KS DMV office for your nearest inspection station.
    • You'll need to provide your county treasurer with the pink copy of the form.

After you've had your vehicle inspected, visit your Kansas county treasurer's office and:

NOTE: If there is a lien on your vehicle, the Kansas Division of Vehicles will obtain the current title and electronically hold the new Kansas title until the lien is released.

After you apply for your KS vehicle title, you should receive it within 40 days after the application date.

Electronic Title Transfers

Selling a Vehicle with an Electronic Title

If your vehicle title is held electronically in Kansas and you're going to sell your vehicle, you'll need to:

Provide the above documents to the buyer.

Buying a Vehicle with an Electronic Title

You will need to wait for the duplicate title to be assigned, in the interim you can obtain a registration permit for 60 days by submitting the following to your local Kansas county treasurer's office:

Once you receive the paper title, you will need to complete the vehicle title transfer. In addition to the documents listed above, you may also need a Power of Attorney, Purchase Price & Odometer Disclosure For Electronic Title (Form TR-40), if the seller cannot go with you to the KS county treasurer's office.

Inherited, Gifted, or Donated Vehicles

Inheriting a Vehicle

Upon inheriting a vehicle, you'll need to complete a DMV title transfer with the KS Division of Vehicles. You'll need:

Bring everything to your Kansas county treasurer's office.

Gifted Vehicles

NOTE: The new owner must apply for title and registration within 60 days of taking delivery of the gifted vehicle.

If you're giving your vehicle as a gift in Kansas, you'll need to:

  • Complete the Vehicle Gift Certification portion of the Affidavit to a Fact (Form TR-12) and give the form to the person obtaining the vehicle.
    • Write the word “gift" in the “purchase price" space on the title, if available.
    • Complete the Affidavit of Relationship (Form TR-215) in lieu of the Affidavit to a Fact (Form TR-12), if you and the recipient are related.
  • Remove the license plates on the vehicle once the title is assigned and vehicle is delivered.
  • Complete a Seller's Notification of Sale (Form TR-216) and mail it (along with payment for the $10 fee) to the address on the form (optional).

If you've received a vehicle as a gift, submit the following to your local KS DOR office to complete the vehicle title transfer:

If you have any specific questions, contact the Kansas state DOR directly.

Donating a Vehicle

If you no longer need your vehicle, you can always donate it to a local non-profit organization in your area. You'll need to contact them directly to find out how to proceed with this type of vehicle title transfer.

For more information, you can read our page about Car Donation.

Fees for Kansas Title Transfers

  • Title transfer fee: $10.
  • Duplicate title fee: $10.

NOTE: You'll also pay car registration fees if you're registering your vehicle at the same time as applying for a car title transfer.

Change Your KS Vehicle Title

If you pay off your vehicle loan, change your name, or move to a different Kansas address, you need to update the vehicle information with the Division of Vehicles.

Release of Lien

Once you've satisfied a lien on your vehicle, the lienholder will send the Kansas county treasurer's office notification of your lien release. You will then receive the vehicle title showing the lien has been satisfied or a lien release document.

If you want a clean title, you'll need to apply for a duplicate title.

Correct an Error

If there is an error on your Kansas vehicle title, you'll need to apply for a corrected title. You'll need to visit your local KS county treasurer's office with:

  • Your current title.
    OR
  • The title and registration receipt, if the title is electronic.

This service is free if the state caused the error. Otherwise, normal title fees apply.

Add or Remove a Name

To add or remove a name on a vehicle title in Kansas, you must:

Once the Division of Vehicles updates the title record, you'll be issued a new registration receipt. If there was no lienholder or you attached a lien release to the application, a new title will be issued as well.

Name Change

If you need to change the name on your title due to marriage or court order, you'll need to process a vehicle title transfer into your new name. Visit your KS county treasurer's office in person with:

Visit our Name Change page for details on how to update your Kansas driver's license.

Address Change

If you've moved to a new address in Kansas, you'll need to notify the KS Division of Vehicles.

You can submit an address change online, by mail, or in person. For more details, visit our page about Address Changes.

NOTE: You'll need to visit your local county treasurer's office in person to update the address on your registration (license plates) so you can receive your renewal notice.

To receive a replacement copy with the updated information, you must apply for a duplicate KS title and replacement registration document.

Replace Your Kansas Title

NOTE: Neither the Kansas Division of Vehicles nor the county treasurer's office will issue a duplicate title if there is a lienholder on their records

If your KS vehicle title is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can apply for a duplicate from your county treasurer's office:

  • In person.
    OR
  • By mail.

For complete instructions, visit our Replacing a Lost Title page.

Forms

TR-212a
Title and Registration Manual Application
Apply for original, replacement, renewal, OR transferred Kansas title AND/OR registration.
TR-215
Affidavit of Relationship
Claim exemption from Kansas sales tax when transferring ownership of a vehicle between immediate family members.
TR-312
Bill of Sale
Use the Department of Revenue's bill of sale as a proof of purchase when transferring ownership of a vehicle in Kansas.
TR-83b
Claim of Heir and/or Beneficiary Affidavit
Claim ownership of a vehicle as an heir or beneficiary if the deceased's estate meets the criteria outlined on this DOR form.
TR-83a
Decedents Affidavit Form
KS DOR affidavit allowing heirs to obtain a title and registration for a deceased person's vehicle if the criteria on the form are met.
TR-39a
Electronic Title Sales Agreement
Use this DOR form to request a temporary KS driving permit, allowing you to drive recently-purchased vehicle while you wait for the paper title to arrive by mail.
TR-65
Resident/Business Out of State VIN Verification
This VIN verification form is required when transferring an out-of-state title to a Kansas title. Must be completed by a law enforcement officer.
TR-128
Lienholder's Consent to Transfer Ownership
Qualified lienholders use this form to give consent for a transfer of vehicle ownership. Must be notarized.
TR-150
Lien Release
Notify the Kansas DOR of a lien release on a vehicle title. Form must be notarized.
TR-216
Sellers Notification of Sale
Notify the Kansas Department of Revenue that you've sold a vehicle and are no longer liable for it.
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