Kansas car title transfer

At a glance

Seller's signature

No. Most title assignments completed in Kansas don't need a notary; lien releases do.

Buyer's signature

No. Most title applications completed in Kansas don't need a notary.

Bill of sale

Needed when the title assignment has no space for the price (page 2 of Form TR-12); most Kansas bills of sale don't need a notary.

Odometer

The back of the title carries the price, the sale date and the odometer reading.

Buyer's deadline

The buyer registers within 60 days of the purchase date.

Plates

The seller always removes the plates from a vehicle that's been sold.

Title fee

$10 title fee.

Agency

Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles

If you're selling

1. Find the title and clear any lien. Have the original title in hand. If a lender is listed, get the lien release or the lender's sign-off before the sale; the buyer can't title the car over an open lien.
2. Sign the title over. No. Most title assignments completed in Kansas don't need a notary; lien releases do. Don't sign until the buyer is ready, and write in the buyer's name and the sale date exactly.
3. Write down the mileage. The back of the title carries the price, the sale date and the odometer reading.
4. Give the buyer a bill of sale. Needed when the title assignment has no space for the price (page 2 of Form TR-12); most Kansas bills of sale don't need a notary.
5. Deal with the plates. The seller always removes the plates from a vehicle that's been sold.
6. Cancel insurance and keep copies. Once the car is gone and the plates are off, call your insurer. Keep a photo of the signed title, the bill of sale and any sale report.

If you're buying

1. Check the title against the car and the seller. The VIN on the title should match the car, and the seller's ID should match the owner's name on the title. Ask about any lien listed on it.
2. Watch the title get signed. Seller: No. Most title assignments completed in Kansas don't need a notary; lien releases do. Buyer: No. Most title applications completed in Kansas don't need a notary.
3. Get a bill of sale. Needed when the title assignment has no space for the price (page 2 of Form TR-12); most Kansas bills of sale don't need a notary.
4. Check the mileage entry. The back of the title carries the price, the sale date and the odometer reading.
5. Insure the car before you drive it. Most states require insurance to register. Arrange it before driving away.
6. Title it in your name in time. The buyer registers within 60 days of the purchase date.
7. Plates and fees. The seller always removes the plates from a vehicle that's been sold. Title fee: $10 title fee.

Sold on the first of a month? See the due date for a December 1, 2026 sale.

Your own checklist, marked step by step: seller · buyer.

In the agency's words

Seller

"does not require most title assignments, title applications and bills of sale completed within Kansas to be notarized"

Buyer

"does not require most title assignments, title applications and bills of sale completed within Kansas to be notarized"

Bill of sale

"a Bill of Sale (page 2 of Form TR-12) will also be required"

Deadline

"vehicle registration must be made within 60 days from date of purchase."

Plates

"Always remove the license plate(s) from a vehicle or trailer you have sold or disposed of."

Official sources

• Kansas Division of Vehicles: Titling a used vehicle (checked November 2026)
• Kansas Division of Vehicles: Frequently Asked Questions, Titling a Vehicle (checked November 2026)

General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Checked November 2026 against the official pages listed above. Forms, fees and deadlines change, a county office can add its own steps, and gifts, estates, liens and out-of-state titles follow other rules; the agency or an attorney can tell you how a rule applies to your sale. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with any motor vehicle agency.

Common questions

All states: car title notarization by state · Hawaii · Missouri