Free Kansas Vehicle Bill of Sale
Kansas transfers an ordinary titled vehicle on the assigned title, with the purchase price, date of sale and odometer reading written on the back. A bill of sale is required only when the title assignment has no space for the price — then KDOR asks for page 2 of Form TR-12, the Affidavit to a Fact — or when an untitled antique vehicle is sold on Form TR-312. Sales tax ranges from 6.5% in rural counties up to roughly 10% in Johnson County, paid by the buyer at the time of titling — not at the time of sale. You have 60 days from the date of purchase to apply for title and registration before a penalty applies.
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Kansas Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
6.5% state sales tax plus local option tax. Johnson County reaches ~10%, Sedgwick County ~7.5%, Douglas County ~9.3%. Tax is collected by the county treasurer at titling.
Inspection Requirements
No safety inspection required for in-state vehicles. Out-of-state vehicles require a VIN inspection before titling.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by County Treasurer's Office — not the same agency that handles cars in Kansas. Plan for separate filings.
Kansas Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Seller fills in the purchase price, date of sale and odometer reading on the back of the title; if the title has no space for the price, also complete the bill of sale on page 2 of Form TR-12 (ksrevenue.gov/pdf/tr12.pdf).
- Complete odometer disclosure on the back of the title (federally required for vehicles of model year 2011 or newer).
- Seller signs the title over to the buyer in the designated transfer section — use a pen, no white-out.
- If a lien appears on the title, obtain a signed lien-release letter from the lienholder before closing.
- For out-of-state vehicles, schedule a VIN inspection at a Kansas law-enforcement agency or DOV inspection station before visiting the county treasurer.
- Buyer takes the signed title (plus the TR-12 bill of sale if one was needed) and proof of insurance to the county treasurer's office within 60 days and pays 6.5%+ sales tax on the purchase price.
- Both parties keep a copy of the signed title assignment (and any bill of sale) for their records.
Common Pitfalls
- Skipping the lien release: a title that shows a lienholder cannot be transferred until the county treasurer receives written proof of payoff — buyers who ignore this end up with an untransferable vehicle.
- Missing the 60-day window: Kansas adds a penalty after 60 days. The buyer — not the seller — is responsible, but it sours deals quickly.
- Underreporting the sale price: Kansas law has the seller certify the purchase price on the title assignment, and the buyer's sales tax is figured on it — a false figure is a false certification.
- Forgetting the VIN inspection on out-of-state vehicles: without it, the county treasurer will turn the buyer away, requiring a separate trip to a law-enforcement agency.
- White-out or correction fluid on the title: Kansas county treasurers reject altered titles outright. Any error requires a court-ordered replacement title.
Pro Tip
For a clean Kansas vehicle sale: fill in the price, date and odometer on the back of the title (adding the TR-12 bill of sale only if there is no space for the price), resolve any lien on the title before the appointment, and confirm whether the buyer needs a VIN inspection ahead of time. Sellers are well-protected once the signed title leaves their hands — Kansas has no seller-notification requirement, so keeping your own copy is your only post-sale record.