License Plates & Placards in Kansas

There are many ways to show your colors, your support, your hobbies, and even your career, on the highways and byways of Kansas. One of the favorite ways for Kansas drivers is through personalized and specialized license plates.

Disabled Parking License Plates and Placards

If you have a disabling condition that interferes with your ability to walk, you may be qualified for disabled parking plates and placards.

Use the Disabled Parking Application form to request your disabled parking placard or license plates. The Kansas DMV will send you your choice of either two separate placards, or a placard and a license plate. Having an extra placard can come in handy if you drive or use different vehicles from time to time.

Temporary and Permanent Disabilities

Disabled parking is available for those with disabling conditions, both permanent and temporary. If your disability is temporary, you will be issued placards only, which are valid for six months. Disabled parking license plates are only issued to those with permanent disabilities. When you complete your application, be sure to check the proper place as indicated for disabled license plates. The fee for disabled license plates is 50 cents. If you need more information on disabled parking placards, please see our section on drivers with disabilities.

Kansas Personalized License Plate

If you want to purchase your own personalized license plates, you will need to start the process with a visit to your local county treasurer's office. You'll need to order and pay for the new plates at least four months before your vehicle's registration renewal is due.

Automobile plates are limited to seven letters, numbers and/or spaces, motorcycle plates five.

Fee: $46 for auto or truck, $45.50 for motorcycle.

Five-year Cycle

Kansas issues its personalized license plates in a five-year cycle. Personalized plates are available in only one plate style, which is unique to personalized plates only. The current artwork is of a brown buffalo on a tan background, which was introduced in 2005.

Recycling Personalized Plates

The five-year cycle allows plates that are no longer in use to be cycled back into use for other drivers. This way, if a personalized phrase or set of letters or numbers is recycled, it will be printed on a plate with different artwork and therefore will be unique to the current owner.

Acceptable Messages

You may personalize your license plate with a total of seven letters, numbers and spaces for a passenger vehicle, and five letters, numbers and/or spaces on a for a motorcycle or disability personalized plate. You may use any available combination as long as the message does not contain a profane, vulgar, lewd, or indecent meaning, symbol, or connotation.

Personalized Plate Fees

Personalized plates cost $46, which is a one-time fee for the plate's five-year cycle. At the end of each cycle, you must renew the personalization, but you will not be charged a fee. Please note that this fee is in addition to your normal vehicle registration fees, personal property taxes, plate fees, and county service fees.

Specialty Plates

Specialty plates are those with artwork that displays a logo or symbol for a cause, association, group, or club. Each plate is priced separately and each link will give you information on where you may obtain the plate and the fees involved.

Here is a list of some of the specialty plates available in Kansas:

• Amateur Radio Operator: can be assigned with radio call letters

• Antique Vehicles: to be used on an antique vehicle

• Children's Trust Fund: for supporters of this cause

• Kansas Firefighter: plates for firefighters and their families

• Universities throughout Kansas have specialty plates available

• Special Interest/Street Rod: plates for your custom hot rod

• Military Plates: for a variety of military, and former military drivers

Antique Plates

Kansas has several types of plates available for older vehicles.

• Antique plates are for vehicles that are at least 35 years old. Owners may opt to use the original model-year Kansas plate, as long as the plate is in good condition. Either way, the one-time plate fee is $40, payable at your local county treasurer's office. Read the state law concerning these plates for more detailed information.

• Special-interest plates are for vehicles that are at least 20 years old and have not undergone significant modification from the manufacturer's specifications. You can make safety changes for better operability and to meet modern safety standards.

• Street-rod plates are for vehicles made before 1949 that have undergone changes.

To apply for either the special-interest or street-rod plates, complete an application and take it to your county treasurer's office. The plates costs $26, and must be renewed annually.

Special-interest or street-rod vehicle owners must own another vehicle with a standard registration that is used for everyday transportation.

Surrendering License Plates?

The state requires Kansas residents to return their license plates after relocating to another state. Learn more on our KS License Plate Surrender page.

Your Opinion Matters To Us!