I Just Moved to Kansas. How Do I Get My Driver’s License and Vehicle Registered?

by Jim on July 21, 2022

Tags: KS DOR, Kansas drivers license, kansas

You’re now home in the Sunflower State! Welcome to the Midwest. There’s a lot to see and do in Kansas, such as The Wichita Gardens, tons of museums, and a lot more. Before you start exploring your new home, you must make sure you transfer your out-of-state driver’s license and out-of-state vehicle registration. Here’s your guide to make sure you have everything you need to change your out-of-state documents.

Required Documentation to Transfer Your Out-of-State Driver’s License

You need to make sure you have the required documentation to correctly transfer your out-of-state driver’s license to the state of Kansas. The documents you need are as follows:

Out-of-state driver’s license
Proof of legal presence in the U.S. (which could be a U.S. birth certificate or valid U.S. passport)
2 documents that prove your identity
- Photo driver’s license
- U.S. birth certificate
- Valid passport
- Vehicle registration or vehicle title
- Health insurance card
Social security number or an affidavit stating that you do not have an SSN
Payment for the KS driver’s license fee of $40

Exceptions to Transferring Your Out-of-State Driver’s License to Kansas

There are some exceptions to transferring your out-of-state driver’s license to the state of Kansas. These exceptions are as follows:

If your driver’s license is current or expired for 31 days or less, you will not be required to retake the KS written or vision exam
If your driver’s license has expired for more than 31 days, you must retake the KS written and vision exams upon application, but you will not be required to take the KS driving (in-car) road test.
If your driver’s license has expired for more than 1 year, you must take all three Kansas exams, such as the written, vision, and driving tests.

Kansas Vision Screening

In the state of Kansas, you will be required to answer medical questions in addition to completing and passing the vision exam. In Kansas, if you fail the state vision standards of 20/40 in at least one eye, you must take a vision report form (Form DV-124V) to a vision specialist. If you fail to test 20/60 in at least one eye during your visit with the vision specialist, your vision report will be sent by the license examiner to the Driver Review Section.

Your field of vision must be better than 55 degrees in one eye, or 110 degrees in both eyes. If your visual acuity is 20/60 or worse, you may be required to have a vision screening performed annually. In the Kansas Vision Report, the optometrist will state whether they believe you can safely operate a motor vehicle. If restrictions are required, they will be present in the KS Vision Report. Any restrictions that are applied will be printed on your KS driver’s license.

Kansas Written Exam

The Kansas written exam has a total of 25 questions, 20 of which you need to answer correctly to pass the exam with a minimum passing score of 80%. The minimum age to apply to take the KS written exam is 14. The information on the KS written exam is based on the Official 2022 Kansas Driver Handbook.

To receive your Kansas learner’s permit or license and operate a motor vehicle on the roads and highways in Kansas, you are required to pass the KS written exam. You can receive your Kansas learner’s permit if you are at least 14 years old. You may be able to qualify for a restricted Kansas driver’s license at 15 years of age or older and a regular KS driver’s license if you are at least 16 years of age. You may be qualified for a farm permit if you are between the ages of 14 and 16, work on a farm, and meet other specific criteria.

The Kansas learner’s permit fee is $2, plus an $8 photo fee. The standard Kansas Class C driver’s license fee is $20 for individuals age 21 and $12 for individuals who are over the age of 21. Along with the license fee, you are required to pay an $8 photo fee and $3 testing fee.

Kansas Road Test (in-car)

The Kansas road test is performed to determine your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. You must provide the testing vehicle and it must be properly insured. You will be tested on your ability to park, turn, use turn signals, follow traffic laws, and other instances.

Now that you know how to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license to the state of Kansas, we can discuss registering your vehicle in the same state!

Transferring Your Out-of-State Vehicle Registration to Kansas

The vehicle registration process in the state of Kansas must be completed in person. You need to take your:

Proof of a valid KS auto insurance policy
Vehicle title
Driver’s license
Registration application
Payment for your vehicle registration fee

Obtaining a vehicle inspection depends on whether you purchased your vehicle in or out of state. All new residents of Kansas must register their vehicle with the Kansas Department of Revenue (KSDOR) whether the vehicle is used or new.

New Residents of Kansas

As a new resident of Kansas, you are required to register your vehicle within 90 days of establishing residency in the state. Before you apply for a Kansas vehicle registration certificate, you must take your vehicle to a vehicle inspection station. Vehicle inspection exams are conducted by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

During the Kansas vehicle inspection, your vehicle’s identification number (VIN) will be verified. You need to take the following documents with you to your local KS DMV branch:

Your current driver’s license
The vehicle’s title (if you can’t find the vehicle title, you need to replace the lost title)
Payment for the inspection fee of $20 (you need to check with the inspection station you plan to visit to determine accepted forms of payment. Some inspection stations only accept cash while other stations accept credit and debit cards, cash, and checks.

Once you complete the VIN inspection, you will be given a Motor Vehicle Examination Certificate (MVE-1), which is available at a KS DMV office. Now you can apply for a Kansas vehicle registration certificate.

You need to visit your local KS county tag office and present:

Proof of a valid KS auto insurance policy
Your Motor Vehicle Examination Certificate (Form MVE-1)
The vehicle’s title (the person that is named on the vehicle is the ONLY person who can register the vehicle. If there is more than one name on the vehicle’s title separated by “and/or”, both named individuals are required to be present. If one or more of the vehicle owners can’t be present, the absent vehicle owner is required to present a Vehicle Power of Attorney (Form TR-41), and only the original copy is available. If the vehicle title has a lien, the lien holder must fax a copy of the vehicle title to the KS county treasurer.
A completed Title and Registration Manual Application (Form TR-212a)
Payment for the KS registration fees and personal property tax (if required)

A KS vehicle registration certificate is valid for 1 year, excluding new vehicles. New Kansas vehicle registrations are valid from the time of purchase to the time of your required registration or renewal, which is based on the first letting of your last name. In these instances, your fee is prorated.

Registering a Vehicle in Kansas

You have 60 days from the time of purchase to register your vehicle in Kansas. If you purchased a vehicle from the dealership, whether it’s new or used, the dealer will submit your Kansas vehicle registration documents to the KS DMV on your behalf.

If you purchased a vehicle from a private party, you must visit your KS county treasurer’s office and provide:

Proof of a valid KS auto insurance policy
The vehicle’s signed over title or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin
A Motor Vehicle Examination Certificate (Form MVE-1) - if the vehicle was purchased out-of-state or has an out-of-state vehicle title
A bill of sale or Kansas sales tax receipt
A completed Title and Registration Manual Application (Form TR-212a)
Payment for all applicable KS registration fees and the personal property tax (if required)

Keep in mind that your Kansas vehicle registration certificate is valid for 1 year, except for new vehicle registrations. New vehicle registrations are valid from the time you purchase your new vehicle to the time you’re required to renew your vehicle registration, which is based on the first letter of your last name. In this scenario, your fee will be prorated.

Temporary Kansas Vehicle Registration

If you need to drive your vehicle before you apply for your permanent vehicle plates, you can obtain a 60-day permit from your county treasurer.

To obtain a temporary Kansas vehicle registration, you need to present:

Proof of a valid Kansas auto insurance policy
The assigned vehicle title
A bill of sale
Payment for the temporary Kansas vehicle registration of $13

Be advised that a temporary 60-day Kansas vehicle registration can’t be extended, and you will only be issued one permit per vehicle.

Transferring Vehicle Registration

You can transfer the license plates of a current vehicle you own if the plates are current and the name on the current KS vehicle registration certificate remains the same.

If you qualify to transfer your Kansas vehicle registration, you must visit your county treasurer’s office and present:

The vehicle’s title
The current Kansas vehicle registration receipt (if you can’t find the registration receipt, you can replace your lost registration).
The sale date of the vehicle you’re transferring the plates from with the name of the buyer (the vehicle you’re transferring the license plates from is required to be sold or traded within 30 days of the purchase date of your new vehicle. Be advised that the name on the vehicle’s title must match the name on the vehicle registration receipt.

Kansas DMV Locations

You’ll find multiple DMV locations in Kansas where you can take care of your vehicle titling and registration needs. Here’s a few Kansas DMV locations.

Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles - Olathe Branch

782 N Ridgeview Rd

Olathe, Kansas 66061

(913) 826-1800

Monday - Friday (7:30 AM - 4 PM)

Saturday and Sunday (Closed)

Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles - Witchita Branch

2120 N Woodlawn St

Ste 370

Witchita, Kansas 67208

(316) 660-9110

Monday - Friday (8 AM - 5 PM)