Kansas Vehicle Bill of Sale

Kansas offers one of the few states with an official TR-12 "Bill of Sale" form, which simplifies private vehicle sales and is accepted at every county treasurer's office in the state. 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 to complete the transfer before late fees accrue.

Kansas Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form

TR-12

Bill of Sale

Agency

Kansas DOV

Kansas Division of Vehicles, Department of Revenue

Primary ID Field

VIN

Sales Tax

6.5%

Title Required

Yes

Title must be transferred within 60 days of sale. County treasurer's office — not a DMV — issues the title.

Inspection

Not required

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

Obtain and complete Kansas TR-12 Bill of Sale (available at ksrevenue.gov/pdf/tr12.pdf) with VIN, year, make, model, odometer, sale price, and both parties' names and addresses.
Complete odometer disclosure on the back of the title (federally required for vehicles under 20 years old).
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, TR-12, 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 signed copy of the TR-12 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 charges escalating late fees after 60 days. The buyer — not the seller — is responsible, but it sours deals quickly.
Underreporting the sale price: the county treasurer will assess tax on fair market value if the stated price is suspiciously low. This is particularly scrutinized on newer vehicles.
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: use the TR-12 form, 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 and a copy of the TR-12 leave their hands — Kansas has no seller-notification requirement, so keeping your own copy is your only post-sale record.

Kansas Vehicle Bill of Sale — FAQs

Do I have to use the Kansas TR-12 form, or can I write my own bill of sale?

TR-12 is the official Kansas form and is strongly recommended because county treasurers accept it without question. A privately drafted document is technically acceptable if it contains all the required fields (VIN, sale price, date, odometer, both parties' full names and addresses, and signatures), but some clerks may request the TR-12 anyway, so it is easiest to use the official form.

Who pays sales tax in a Kansas private vehicle sale?

The buyer pays the tax — this is called a "casual sale" in Kansas. The seller has no obligation to collect or remit it. The buyer pays the county treasurer directly when titling the vehicle, at a rate of 6.5% state tax plus applicable local tax.

I bought a car from an out-of-state seller. Do I need a VIN inspection?

Yes. Any vehicle being titled in Kansas for the first time with an out-of-state title must have a VIN inspection performed by a Kansas law-enforcement officer or a DOV-authorized inspection station. Bring the out-of-state title and the bill of sale to the inspection. Once the inspection form is issued, take it along with all other documents to your county treasurer.

What happens if I miss the 60-day title-transfer deadline?

Kansas imposes a late fee of $2 per day after the 60-day window expires, up to a maximum of $100. The fee is the buyer's responsibility. Beyond the fee, the title process is the same — but paying $100 on top of sales tax is an avoidable cost.

Free Kansas Vehicle Bill of Sale

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Vehicle Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty