How Much Do Kansas License Plates Cost?

If you buy a used car from a private seller in Kansas, you’ll need to get a new license plate when registering the vehicle. A standard Kansas passenger vehicle plate costs $45.50 on top of registration fees, which run up to $52.50.
Kansas also has a variety of specialty and personalized plates to choose from, which cost more. Additional taxes and fees apply to both new and renewal registrations.

Let’s explore how much the different types of plates cost in the great state of Kansas.

Kansas License Plate Types

Kansas offers the following plate options for passenger vehicles:

1. Standard passenger plates
2. Personalized plates
3. Distinctive plates

How Much is a Standard License Plate in Kansas?

A standard Kansas license plate costs $45.50. You’ll get a new Kansas standard plate in any of the following scenarios:

When you first register your vehicle
When replacing damaged, lost, or stolen plates
When downgrading from a more expensive or specialized plate (personalized or distinctive plates)
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How Much is a Kansas Personalized License Plate?

Want to make a statement? Personalized plates, also called message license plates, let you customize your ride with a unique letter and number combo. There's a personal property tax fee depending on the design you choose, plus the $45.50 standard plate cost. The Kansas county treasurer's office can walk you through getting a customized 7-character Kansas plate.

When selecting the lettering for your custom Kansas plate, there are some restrictions:

You are limited to 7 total characters and spaces
No special characters or punctuation can be used
Offensive or inappropriate words and phrases are prohibited

How Much is a Kansas Distinctive License Plate?

Kansas allows you to show support for specific causes and organizations with “distinctive plates.” Most Kansas distinctive license plates have a one-time base fee of $45.50 (same as a standard plate), plus annual donations or additional fees that vary by plate type.

For specific pricing details, click on the relevant organization link on the Kansas Distinctive License Plates page.

Kansas offers several types of “distinctive license plates”:

1. Educational license plates—supporting Kansas educational institutions
2. “Other organization” license plates—supporting various causes
3. Military license plates
4. “Other” distinctive plates

Other Organization Distinctive Plates

Kansas offers the following “other” organizations you can show your support for.

Agriculture in the Classroom
Amateur Radio Plate
Antique Vehicle Plates
Braden's Hope for Childhood Cancer
Breast Cancer Research Plate
Children's Trust Fund
Choose Life
Donate Life Plate
Ducks Unlimited Plate
EMS Plate
Firefighter Plate
Gadsden Flag Plate
I'm Pet Friendly
In God We Trust Plate
Kansas Horse Council
Kansas Freemasons
Love, Chloe
Shriner Plate
State of the Arts

Kansas Military License Plates

Kansas offers several military license plates to honor service.

Some key options include:

U.S. Veteran Plate
National Guard Plate
Military Branch Plates
- Army
- Marine Corps
- Navy
- Coast Guard
- Air Force
- Space Force
Combat Wounded Plat
Disabled Veteran Plate
Ex-Prisoner of War Plate
Gold Star Mother Plate


To apply for a military license plate, you need to mail the following:

Completed application for military plates (Form TR-102).
Official military documentation.
Payment for the license plate and registration fee (if applicable).

Other Distinctive License Plates

Antique Vehicles
Families of the Fallen
Special Interest
Street Rod

Kansas Educational License Plates

Kansas allows you to show your support for the following educational institutions.

Benedictine College
Emporia State University
Fort Hays State University
Friends University
Kansas State University
Kansas University
Pittsburg State University
Washburn University
Wichita State University

How Much is a Kansas Handicap License Plate?

Kansas offers a disability license plate for $5.50 to accommodate individuals with disabilities. This plate provides designated parking access and other privileges to better serve disabled residents.

To apply for the disability license plate in Kansas:

1. Complete the Disabled Placard and/or Plate Application (Form TR-159). A licensed healthcare professional must sign this.
2. If the vehicle already has regular plates, bring those plates along with current registration and insurance proof to the county treasurer's office to be replaced with the disability plate.

How Much is a Commercial Plate in Kansas?

In Kansas, a commercial vehicle plate costs anywhere from $150 to $400 depending on the vehicle weight and type. The lowest fees start around $150 for light commercial pickups and trailers. Heavy semi trucks can cost up to $400 annually.

How Much is a Motor Home Plate In Kansas?

In Kansas, motorhome (RV) license plates cost from $24 to $70 annually.

How Much is a Trailer Plate in Kansas?

In Kansas, a trailer plate costs $10.

How Much is a Motor Home Plate In Kansas?

In Kansas, motorhome (RV) license plates cost from $24 to $70 annually.

How to Apply for a Kansas License Plate

Here are the steps for getting a new license plate in Kansas:

1. Gather required documents like vehicle title, insurance, and ID.
2. Visit your local county treasurer's office.
3. Submit the vehicle registration application.
4. Pay applicable registration fees, plate fees, and taxes.
5. Get your new Kansas plate and registration from the county treasurer when approved.
6. Attach your new Kansas plate to the rear of your vehicle. Kansas requires a rear license plate only.

License Plate Trivia

Here are some interesting facts about Kansas license plates:

Kansas requires a rear plate only, unlike some states that also require a front plate in addition to the rear.
Kansas license plates measure 6 by 12 inches, which is a standard across the US.
A motorcycle license plate is a bit smaller, measuring 4 by 7 inches.
The Kansas license plate has up to seven characters. (Across the US, license plate formats range from 6 to 8 characters.)

How Much Does Motor Vehicle Registration Cost in Kansas?

The registration fee for passenger vehicles is based on vehicle weight. Registration fees range from $42.50 to $52.50, plus a personal property tax.

In Kansas, the whole vehicle registration process is done at the county treasurer’s office rather than the Department of Revenue (the Kansas DMV equivalent). The treasurer's office is in charge of collecting vehicle property taxes and issuing vehicle registration certificates.

To register your vehicle bring the following documents:

Proof of ownership
Proof of insurance
Proof of residency
Proof of VIN inspection
Payment for motor vehicle registration fees
Payment for Kansas’s sales tax: 6.5% of the vehicle purchase price

What do I do With My Old License Plate in Kansas?

When you receive a new Kansas license plate, either during renewal or for a new vehicle registration, you will need to properly dispose of your old plate.

Here are your main options:

Return: you can return your old plate to the county treasurer's office when getting a new plate issued.
Recycle: you may remove any registration stickers and recycle the aluminum plates through your local recycling program, if available in your area.
Keep: some individuals choose to retain their old plate as a souvenir or decor. Just be sure to invalidate any active registration stickers first.
Transfer: in Kansas, a plate can be legally transferred between vehicles registered to the same owner. Proper paperwork must be filed with the county treasurer's office.

How Much Does a Kansas Title Transfer Cost?

The standard title transfer fee in Kansas is $10.

To transfer a vehicle title to your name, you will need the following:

The current vehicle title certificate, signed over to you by the previous vehicle owner
A completed application for a certificate of title
Lien information (if applicable)
Receipt for paid Kansas vehicle sales tax
Payment for the vehicle title fee
Payment for the repossession title fee: $3
Valid ID or driver's license

Read our complete guide to a Kansas title transfer for more info on the subject.
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License Plates FAQ


What does PWR mean on Kansas plates?

In Kansas, the vertical PWR appears on certain commercial license plates. The plates are missing a yearly registration decal that indicates the month and year the plates expire and identifies vehicles registered as "power units."

What is a quiet title in Kansas?


How does Kansas handle tag renewal by last name?


How far in advance do I get a tag renewal notice in Kansas?