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The bottom line: Kansas doesn’t require emissions testing or title notarization, which makes private sales simpler than in many other states.
Sign over the title, remove your plates, and file the Seller’s Notification of Sale within 10 days. The buyer handles registration and taxes at their county treasurer’s office after that.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Kansas doesn’t require it. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $10. Download Form TR-720B and submit it to your county treasurer’s office. Allow up to 40 days for processing.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 60 days to register the car and apply for title at the county treasurer’s office.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away.
- Release of liability: Kansas requires you to file the Seller’s Notification of Sale (TR-216) within 10 days of the sale.
- Bill of sale: Not required by Kansas law, but recommended for protection. Form TR-312 is the official Kansas form and doesn’t need to be notarized.
- No emissions testing: Kansas has no statewide emissions requirement, so no inspection is needed before you sell.
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Step-by-Step Process for Kansas
Step 1: Prepare Your Kansas Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Kansas driver’s license – Name must match the title exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form TR-720B and submit it to your county treasurer’s office with your ID and $10. Your replacement title will arrive within 40 days.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender holds the lien and must release it before you can transfer the title. Kansas accepts the lien release on the title itself, a notarized lien release, Form TR-150, or a letter from the lienholder releasing the lien.
Contact your lender to find out which method they use. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Research Your Asking Price
Use free tools to see what similar cars are selling for in Kansas before you set your price.
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Choose Your Selling Platform
Facebook Marketplace works well in Kansas, especially in Wichita, Topeka, and the Kansas City metro where buyer activity is highest. Autotrader and Cars.com are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states.
Kansas has no emissions testing, so older cars are easier to sell locally than in states that require a smog check. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana gives competitive offers if you have a newer car.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at the buyer’s bank for a wire transfer. For extra protection on a private sale, KeySavvy handles secure title transfer and payment in one step.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Kansas Title Transfer
Kansas has specific signing requirements that must be followed exactly. Print and sign your name in the seller/owner field exactly as it appears at the top of the title.
The back of the title must be completed with the purchase price, date of sale, odometer reading, and the printed names and signatures of both seller and buyer. Use blue or black ink only. Any corrections or white-out will void the title completely.
Odometer disclosure:
Kansas requires an odometer statement for most vehicles. If the title doesn’t have space for the odometer reading and purchase price, you’ll need to complete a Bill of Sale (Form TR-312) or an Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form TR-59) as a separate document.
Vehicles that are 10 model years old or older and trucks over 16,000 pounds gross vehicle weight are exempt from the odometer requirement.
Multiple owners on the title:
If “And” appears between names, all owners must sign. If “Or” appears between names, only one owner needs to sign.
Buyer’s deadline:
The buyer must apply for a title and register the car within 60 days of the purchase date at their county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. A penalty applies starting on the 61st day.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
A bill of sale isn’t required by Kansas law, but it’s recommended for protection. It creates a written record of the sale price, date, and both parties’ information that can protect you if a dispute comes up later.
It doesn’t need to be notarized. Use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes, or use the official Form TR-312 from the Kansas Division of Vehicles.
When it becomes required: If the title doesn’t have space for the purchase price or odometer reading, you’ll need Form TR-312 as a supporting document for the buyer’s title application.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Kansas License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Kansas, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer the plates to another vehicle you own, or return them to your county treasurer’s office. The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
File the Seller’s Notification of Sale online after you sell the car. You must do this within 10 days of the sale date.
This removes your name as the vehicle owner from state records and protects you from tickets, tolls, or accidents that happen after the sale. If you can’t file online, visit your county treasurer’s office to file in person.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Kansas DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Kansas Division of Vehicles — Title Information
- Kansas Vehicle Forms and Online Services
- Kansas has 105 county treasurer offices that handle vehicle titles, registration, and tags. Find your local office through the Kansas Division of Vehicles website above.
Phone Support:
- Kansas Division of Vehicles: (785) 296-3621
For a full list of state DMV websites and contact pages, see our List of 50 States DMV Websites.
Kansas Fees and Costs
| What You Pay | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $10 | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Seller’s Notification of Sale (TR-216) | $10 | Within 10 days of sale |
| Everything else (title fee, registration, sales tax) | $0 | Buyer pays at registration |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 60 days from the purchase date to apply for title and register the car at their county treasurer’s office. A penalty starts on the 61st day, so it’s worth letting your buyer know upfront.
If the deadline falls on a weekend or state holiday, the next business day applies.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Kansas?
No, Kansas doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary. Just sign in blue or black ink exactly as your name appears on the title, and the sale can proceed.
When is a bill of sale required in Kansas?
A bill of sale isn’t required by Kansas law for most private vehicle sales. It becomes a required supporting document when the title doesn’t have space for the purchase price or odometer reading.
Even when it’s not required, it’s a good idea to have one. Our bill of sale guide linked above covers everything you need.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Kansas?
Yes, but you need to coordinate the lien release with your lender first. As long as a lienholder is on the vehicle’s record, the Division of Vehicles won’t issue a clean title to the buyer.
Your lender can release the lien directly on the title, provide a notarized lien release, complete Form TR-150, or issue a letter releasing the lien. Coordinate with them before signing anything over to the buyer. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional Kansas forms do I need?
If the estate went through probate, you’ll need certified letters testamentary or letters of administration appointing you as the executor, along with the original title. If probate wasn’t required (small estate), Kansas allows an Affidavit of Heirship to transfer the title instead.
In both cases, you’ll need to transfer the title into your name before you can sell the car. Visit your county treasurer’s office with the paperwork to get this done.
Both my spouse and I are on the Kansas title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the names are listed on the title. If “And” appears between the names, both owners must sign. If “Or” appears between the names, only one owner needs to sign.
Check the top of your title carefully before the sale to avoid any problems at the county treasurer’s office.
What if I make a mistake on the Kansas title?
Don’t try to fix it with white-out or cross-outs. Any corrections void the title completely in Kansas.
You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form TR-720B, which costs $10 and takes up to 40 days to arrive. Take your time filling out the title in the first place to avoid this delay.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Kansas require anything special?
Your obligations as the Kansas seller stay the same. Fill out all Kansas paperwork correctly, including the title assignment and any required odometer disclosure. File the Seller’s Notification of Sale within 10 days just as you would for any sale.
The buyer will use the completed Kansas title to register the car in their home state. Their state may have additional requirements on their end, but that’s not your responsibility.
Do Kansas license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Kansas license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer drives away. You can transfer the plates to another vehicle you own, or return them to your county treasurer’s office.
The buyer gets new plates when they register the car. Don’t let the buyer leave with your plates still on the vehicle.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Kansas?
Yes. Kansas requires you to file the Seller’s Notification of Sale (TR-216) within 10 days of the sale. File it online or in person at your county treasurer’s office.
This removes your name from the vehicle’s record and protects you from any tickets, accidents, or violations that happen after the sale. Missing the 10-day window could leave you on the hook for someone else’s problem.
Ready to sell? Compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor and see what your Kansas car is worth today.
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