Kansas Title Transfer Cost
Transferring a car title in Kansas costs $10 in title fees, and you have 60 days to do it. Buying a used car privately for $15,000, you'd pay about $1,015 in total, with $975 of that in tax and the rest for title and registration.
Kansas title fees
These are the title-related fees in Kansas's official schedule (source). Most buyers pay only the standard title fee, plus a lien fee if the car is financed.
| Title | $10 |
|---|
Example: buying a used car from a private seller in Kansas
A 4-year-old car bought from a private seller for $15,000, worked out with the Kansas car tax calculator:
| Title | $10 |
|---|---|
| Tax on the sale | $975 |
| Registration (if you register it now) | $30 |
| Estimated total | $1,015 |
Local taxes, county fees and inspections aren't included. Run your own numbers in the calculator.
Deadline and late fees
In Kansas the buyer must apply for the new title within 60 days of the sale.
Transferring a title to a family member or as a gift
| Gifts and family sales | No general exemption; isolated sales are generally taxable |
|---|
Inherited vehicles
| Inheritance | Generally no sales tax; title and tag still due |
|---|
Other cases that change the cost in Kansas
| Manufacturer rebate | Taxable; does not reduce the base |
|---|---|
| Dealer doc fee | Taxable; no statutory cap |
| Private sale within 120 days of selling another vehicle (K.S.A. 79-3697) | Tax only on the price difference |
| Out-of-state / new resident | Kansas tax minus tax paid elsewhere |
| EV / hybrid registration | Category fee replaces the standard passenger fee |
How Kansas works out what you owe
- Taxable base = price - trade-in + doc fee (rebate not subtracted)
- Tax = taxable base x (6.5% + higher-of local rate)
- Total = tax + title + registration + property tax + lien fee + doc fee
What to bring
The title signed over by the seller (with the odometer reading), a bill of sale, proof of insurance and your ID. If the car still has a loan, the lender must release the lien first.
Official sources checked for Kansas: www.ksrevenue.gov, kslegislature.gov.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Kansas?
The title fee is $10. For a used car bought privately for $15,000, the title, tax and registration come to about $1,015.
Do I pay sales tax when a title is transferred in Kansas?
Usually yes. On a $15,000 private sale, Kansas charges about $975. Gifts, family transfers and inheritances can be treated differently (see below).
How long do I have to transfer a title in Kansas?
60 days from the sale.
How do I transfer a car title to a family member in Kansas?
Gifts and family sales: No general exemption; isolated sales are generally taxable.
What happens to a car title after a death in Kansas?
Inheritance: Generally no sales tax; title and tag still due.