How To Sell a Car in Kansas

Selling a motor vehicle in Kansas requires adherence to specific state rules governing title assignment, ownership documentation, odometer certification, sales tax, and post-sale filing obligations. The Kansas Division of Vehicles, a division within the Kansas Department of Revenue, administers these requirements. Both the seller and the buyer bear distinct responsibilities in completing a lawful transfer.

What You Need To Know Before Selling a Car in Kansas

Kansas Title Law and Ownership Requirements

Under K.S.A. 8-135, it is unlawful to sell a vehicle required to be registered in Kansas unless a certificate of title passes between the parties at the time of delivery, or within 60 days of delivery if the parties agree in writing. A sale of a registered vehicle without assignment of the certificate of title is considered fraudulent and void under Kansas law. The seller must endorse the assignment section on the reverse side of the certificate of title and deliver it to the buyer. The assignment must include the purchase price, the date of sale, the odometer reading, and the printed names and signatures of both the seller and the buyer.

Kansas distinguishes between joint ownership designations for purposes of signing authority. If the title lists multiple owners connected by "and," all owners must sign the title assignment. If the names are connected by "or" or "and/or," only one owner's signature is required. When no connecting word appears between owner names, the Division of Vehicles interprets the listing as "and," requiring all parties to sign.

Vehicles Exempt From Title Requirements

Kansas law requires trailers, in addition to motor vehicles, to be titled and registered, but certain exceptions exist. Trailers with an operating weight of 2,000 pounds or less may be titled and registered at the owner's option and may be sold using a Bill of Sale (Form TR-312) instead of a certificate of title. Farm trailers hauling 6,000 pounds or less of agricultural product, and farm trailers used exclusively for transporting hay or forage that only incidentally travel on highways, are exempt from titling and registration.

Antique vehicles with a model year 60 years old or older may be transferred by bill of sale as prima facie evidence of ownership without requiring an MVE-1 inspection. Antique vehicles newer than 60 years but still 35 or more years old require an MVE-1 inspection before title can be obtained.

Satisfying an Existing Lien

A vehicle with a recorded lien cannot be freely transferred until the lien has been satisfied and formally released. If a lienholder's name appears on the certificate of title, a lien release must accompany the title assignment at the time of application for a new title. The lien may be released directly on the face of the title, through a notarized Lien Release (Form TR-150), or by a letter from the lienholder.

Under K.S.A. 8-1,157, upon full payment of the debt, the lienholder must execute and deliver a lien release within three business days if payment was made in cash, by intra-bank transfer, or by wired funds, and within 10 business days for all other forms of payment.

If the Kansas title is held electronically, the seller must obtain a lien release and a paper title before a standard title assignment can be completed. Without a paper title, the seller and buyer may use the Electronic Title Sales Agreement (Form TR-39A) together with a copy of the seller's current registration receipt to allow the buyer to obtain a 60-day temporary permit while the paper title is being processed.

No Safety or Emissions Inspection for Private In-State Sales

Kansas does not maintain a safety inspection or emissions testing program for motor vehicles. A Motor Vehicle Examination (MVE-1), conducted by the Kansas Highway Patrol, is required only in specific circumstances: when a vehicle is titled on an out-of-state title, when it is purchased out of state on a bill of sale, when certain antique vehicles are sold within Kansas on a bill of sale, or when a salvage or nonhighway vehicle is being retitled. A private sale of a Kansas-titled vehicle between Kansas residents does not trigger any inspection requirement.

Documents Required To Sell a Car in Kansas

Certificate of Title

The certificate of title is the primary instrument for the transfer of ownership. The seller must complete the assignment section on the reverse side of the title, entering the purchase price, the date of sale, and the current odometer reading, along with the printed names and signatures of both parties. Information on the assignment must match all supporting documents exactly. The Division of Vehicles will reject any title that has been altered, including the use of correction fluid or erasures.

If the title has been lost and no lienholder is on record, the owner may apply for a duplicate title by submitting the Application for Secured/Duplicate/Reissue Title (Form TR-720B) to any county treasurer's motor vehicle office or by mail to the Titles and Registrations Bureau, accompanied by the $10 title fee. A duplicate title cannot be issued while a lienholder remains on the vehicle record.

Bill of Sale

A bill of sale is not required for every private vehicle transaction in Kansas if the purchase price has been entered on the title assignment. However, a bill of sale becomes necessary when the title assignment does not include a space for the purchase price or when the buyer seeks a sales tax deduction under House Bill 2098 (2024) for selling a used vehicle within 120 days of purchasing a replacement.

The Bill of Sale (Form TR-312) or the bill of sale on page 2 of the Affidavit to a Fact (Form TR-12) may be used. A valid bill of sale must include the printed names and addresses of the seller and buyer, the vehicle year, make, and vehicle identification number (VIN), the purchase price, the date of sale, and the signatures of both parties.

Odometer Disclosure Statement

Under K.S.A. 50-652, a completed odometer statement is required for an application for a motor vehicle title, except for motor vehicles that are 10 model years or older and trucks with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 16,000 pounds. The odometer reading is typically certified on the title assignment itself, within the space provided on the reverse side of the certificate of title.

If the title does not contain space for acknowledging the odometer certification or if the title is an electronic title, a separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form TR-59) must be completed and signed by both the transferor and the transferee. The seller must certify that the odometer reading represents the actual mileage, exceeds the odometer's mechanical limits, or does not reflect the actual mileage.

Lien Release

When a lien is recorded on the certificate of title, a lien release must be presented to the county treasurer at the time of application for a new title. Acceptable forms of lien release include a release executed on the title itself, a notarized Lien Release (Form TR-150), or a letter from the lienholder confirming full satisfaction of the debt.

Power of Attorney for Electronic Title Transfers

If the Kansas title is held electronically and the seller cannot be present at the time the buyer applies for a new title, the seller may execute the Power of Attorney, Purchase Price & Odometer Disclosure for Electronic Title (Form TR-40), authorizing the buyer to complete the assignment after the lien release is processed and a paper title is received.

How To Transfer a Car Title in Kansas

Step 1: Review the Title Before the Sale

The seller should examine the certificate of title to confirm that the ownership information is up to date and that all names listed on the face of the title are accurate. If a lien is recorded, the seller must arrange for payoff and obtain a lien release before proceeding. If the title has been lost and no lien exists, the seller should apply for a duplicate title through the county treasurer's office or by mail using Form TR-720B.

Step 2: Complete the Title Assignment

The seller must complete the assignment section on the back of the certificate of title, entering the purchase price, the date of sale, the odometer reading (if applicable), and the seller's printed name and signature. The buyer must also print and sign in the designated spaces. If multiple owners appear on the title and the names are connected by "and" or no connecting word, all owners must sign. The assignment should not be left partially blank or open; delivering a title without the buyer's name completed constitutes a violation of Kansas law, which requires a complete chain of ownership.

Step 3: Prepare the Bill of Sale and Disclosure Paperwork

If the purchase price is not recorded on the title assignment, a bill of sale on Form TR-312 or page 2 of Form TR-12 must be completed and signed by both parties.

For vehicles not exempt from odometer disclosure, the seller must certify the mileage either on the title assignment or on a separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form TR-59).

If the vehicle is a gift between non-immediate-family members, the Vehicle Gift Certification section of Form TR-12 must be completed. If the vehicle is a gift between immediate family members (defined as lineal ascendants and descendants and their spouses), an Affidavit of Relationship (Form TR-215) may be filed to exempt the transaction from sales tax.

Step 4: Deliver the Documents to the Buyer

At the time of sale, the seller must deliver to the buyer the properly assigned certificate of title, any applicable lien release, and the bill of sale and odometer disclosure documents if prepared separately. For vehicles with electronic titles, the seller should provide the buyer with a completed Electronic Title Sales Agreement (Form TR-39A) and a copy of the seller's current registration receipt.

Step 5: Remove the License Plate

Upon transfer of ownership, the registration and the right to use the license plate on the sold vehicle expire immediately under K.S.A. 8-135(a). The seller must remove the license plate before delivering the vehicle. It is unlawful for any person other than the person to whom the plate was originally issued to possess the plate. The seller may transfer the plate to a newly acquired vehicle by visiting the county treasurer's office and paying a $1.50 transfer fee.

Step 6: Buyer Submits the Application Through the County Treasurer

The buyer must apply for a new certificate of title and registration at the county treasurer's motor vehicle office in the county where the vehicle will be garaged. To avoid a penalty, this application must be submitted within 60 days of the date the title was assigned. A $2 penalty is added if the application is filed after the 60-day deadline.

Title Transfer Fee Schedule in Kansas

The following fees apply to title transactions processed through the county treasurer's office, as established under K.S.A. 8-135:

County treasurers may collect additional local fees for processing. All title applications are held by the state computer system for 35 days from the date of purchase to allow for any notices of security interest to be filed before a lien-free title is issued.

Sales Tax on Private Vehicle Sales

A private-party vehicle sale in Kansas is classified as an isolated or occasional sale. The seller is not responsible for collecting or remitting sales tax on such a transaction. Instead, the buyer pays the applicable Kansas retailers' sales tax to the county treasurer at the time of vehicle registration.

The state sales tax rate is 6.50%. In addition, cities and counties throughout Kansas impose local sales taxes that vary by jurisdiction. The county treasurer collects the higher of the rate in effect where the sale took place and the rate at the buyer's registration address. The tax base for an isolated or occasional sale is the actual selling price as entered on the title assignment or bill of sale. If the stated selling price is unknown or bears no reasonable relationship to fair market value, the Kansas Director of Taxation may compute the tax based on the vehicle's fair market value.

Sales between immediate family members — defined as lineal ascendants and descendants and their spouses — are exempt from sales tax when accompanied by a completed Affidavit of Relationship (Form TR-215). Bona fide gifts in which no consideration is exchanged are also not subject to sales tax, though a vehicle transferred with an assumed lien is not considered a gift.

Effective January 2025, a buyer who sells a used motor vehicle and purchases a new or used vehicle of greater value within 120 days before or after the sale may deduct the amount received for the sold vehicle from the purchase price of the replacement vehicle for purposes of calculating sales tax, provided completed bills of sale accompany the registration application.

What To Do After Selling Your Car in Kansas

Remove and Retain the License Plate

The license plate must be removed from the vehicle immediately upon transfer of ownership. Kansas law prohibits anyone other than the original registrant from possessing the plate. If the seller acquires a replacement vehicle, the plate may be transferred to that vehicle at the county treasurer's office. If the seller does not intend to transfer the plate, it may be surrendered at the county treasurer's office, which will cancel the vehicle's registration record under the seller's name.

File a Seller's Notification of Sale

To establish a legal presumption that ownership has been transferred — and to limit potential liability for the vehicle's future operation — the seller may file a Seller's Notification of Sale (Form TR-216) with the Division of Vehicles. Filing this form creates a rebuttable presumption that the title was assigned and shields the seller from damages arising from the new owner's operation of the vehicle if the buyer fails to apply for registration.

Alternatively, if the seller transfers or surrenders the registration (license plate) at the county treasurer's office, the vehicle record will be updated to reflect that the seller is no longer the current owner, and filing the TR-216 is not necessary.

Retain Copies of All Sale Documents

The seller should make and retain copies of the front and back of the assigned title, the bill of sale, and any odometer disclosure or lien release documents. These records may be needed to verify the transfer in the event of a future tax inquiry, insurance claim, or liability dispute.

Cancel or Transfer Insurance Coverage

After the license plate has been removed and the sale is complete, the seller should contact the automobile insurance provider to cancel coverage on the sold vehicle or transfer the policy to a replacement vehicle. Kansas law requires proof of insurance at the time of vehicle registration and renewal, and maintaining a policy on a vehicle no longer owned may result in unnecessary premium charges.

Contact Information

Kansas Department of Revenue — Division of Vehicles
300 SW 29th Street, Topeka, KS 66611
Phone: (785) 296-3621
Official Website: Kansas Division of Vehicles