Does Kansas require a vehicle inspection to apply for title and/or renew registration?
The following are the circumstances when a Motor Vehicle Examination (MVE-1) will be
required before making application for title:
1. Vehicle or trailer is titled on an out of state or another country’s title, regardless of age;
2. Vehicle or trailer was purchased out of state on a bill of sale, regardless of age;
3. 1950 or newer antique auto or truck purchased in Kansas on a bill of sale;
4. Vehicle is titled as non-highway for no liability insurance or as salvage due to any reason
and the vehicle has been repaired or insurance obtained and the owner wishes to make
application for a formerly non-highway or rebuilt salvage title and registration;
5. Boat trailer with a gross operating weight of 2,001 pounds or more that has never been
titled in Kansas and the current owner is using a Vehicle/Motor Ownership Affidavit,
Form TR-90.
Motorized bicycles and mobile or manufactured homes are NOT required to be inspected. A
vehicle or trailer along with the title or bill of sale must be taken to a Kansas motor vehicle
inspection station and after the inspection, be issued an MVE-1 receipt. The pink copy of the
MVE-1 is to be surrendered to the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office when you make
application for title and registration. Please review the Kansas Highway Patrol's website to find
the location and hours of operation of the inspection station in your county or area. Kansas
does not have a safety or emissions inspection requirement or program.
From Kansas Highway Patrol:
Inspection Requirements
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Inspections are required in Kansas if:
• A vehicle has a title from a state other than Kansas or a foreign country
• A vehicle has been assembled, reconstructed, reconstituted, or restored from 1 or more
vehicles
• The proper identification number of a vehicle is in doubt
This inspection must be completed before the Kansas Department of Revenue will issue a
license tag or title for the vehicle.
The VIN inspections are conducted by trained law enforcement personnel employed by the
Patrol or designated law enforcement agencies across the state. The majority of these
inspections are conducted at a fixed location in each county, but in special circumstances
inspections may be done at the location the vehicle is being stored.
Arrange an Inspection
To arrange for a VIN inspection of your vehicle, contact the appropriate Troop location for
information on inspection hours and locations
Antique Vehicles
Fees and Property Taxes
The fees for antique vehicles depend on whether or not you apply for a title only, or a title
and registration. If you apply for a title only you will pay $10.00. If you apply for
registration along with the title, you will pay an additional $40.00 registration fee, a
$5.00 county service fee, a $4.00 modernization fee, and a $0.50 reflectorized plate fee
for a total of $59.50. The $40.00 registration fee is a one-time fee. Sales tax may also be due at
the time you title and register the vehicle. Antique vehicles are taxed annually as personal
property just as any other vehicle. In most cases, the tax is fixed at $12.00. In addition, there is
a county registration fee of $5.00 for a total of $17.00. Typically, you will receive this tax bill
toward the end of the calendar year, or you may elect to pay the tax when you regularly renew
any of your other vehicle registration.
Vehicles that are model year 1949 or older may be titled and registered by the following
process:
• Kansas title, a title from another state, or a bill of sale may be used as the primary
ownership document. A bill of sale used as an ownership document does not need to
be notarized.
• If you are using a Kansas title or Kansas bill of sale as your primary ownership
document, take it to your local county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. The Kansas title or
bill of sale will be accepted, and your title and registration will be issued.
• If you are using an out of state title as your primary ownership document, you will
need to obtain a VIN inspection from the Kansas Highway Patrol. Once you have
obtained a VIN inspection, take the inspection report and out of state title to your local
county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. These documents will be accepted, and your title
and registration will be issued.
Vehicles that are model year 1950 or newer may be titled and registered by the following
process:
• Kansas title, a title from another state, or a bill of sale may be used as the primary
ownership document. A bill of sale used as an ownership document does not need to
be notarized.
• If you are using a Kansas title as your primary ownership document, take it to your
local county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. The Kansas title will be accepted, and your
title and registration will be issued.
• If you are using a title from another stateor a bill of sale as your primary
ownership document, you must obtain a VIN inspection from the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Once you have obtained a VIN inspection, take the inspection report and ownership
documents to your local county treasurer’s motor vehicle office. These documents will be
accepted, and your title and registration will be issued
If you have questions regarding whether or not your vehicle is an antique, assembled, or street
rod, contact the Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles, Titles and Registration Bureau at 785-296-
3621.