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Motor Vehicle

Show All Answers

1. What are your office hours?

Both Butler County Motor Vehicle Office locations are open between 8 AM and 4:30 PM, including lunch hour, Monday through Friday. Title work transactions must be at a clerks window by 4 PM. Commercial Motor Vehicle transactions must be at a clerk's window by 2 PM in order to be processed. Title work consists of changing the way a title reads. This can include, but is not limited to: registering a vehicle in your (or another person's name using a power of attorney) for the first time, adding or changing the listed lienholder, adding or changing a transfer on death designee, removing or adding an owner, or titling the vehicle as an antique for the first time (regardless of whether the vehicle's ownership is changing).

2. Where are you located?

Butler County has two Motor Vehicle Office locations. The main office is located on the second floor of the Historic Butler County Courthouse at 205 W Central, El Dorado, KS 67042. The Western Office is located near the Augusta Municipal Airport at 4800 W Beech Dr #10, Augusta, KS 67010.

3. How much will it cost to title and register my vehicle?

County Facility Fee: $5.00 per in-office transaction

Title Fees:

State: $10.00 per title

Registration:

Autos less than 4500 lbs: $42.25

Autos over 4500 lbs: $52.25

12M Trucks: $52.25

Motorcycles: $28.25

Motorbikes: $23.25

Trailers:
2,000-8,000 lbs. $47.25

8,001-12,000 lbs. $57.25

12001 lbs. and over $67.25

a. If the empty weight of the trailer and the load combined is less than 2,000 lbs. registration is optional. Our Office recommends registering and titling trailers at initial purchase time for proof of ownership. If a farm trailer hauling the farmer's own product has a load of less than 6,000 lbs. registration is optional. For fees on trucks with gross weight of over 16,000 lbs. call the Butler County Motor Vehicle Office at 316-322-4200.

b. Property tax is paid at the time of registration/title application and is determined by the State of Kansas. The exceptions are heavy trucks, non-recreational trailers, and mopeds, whose taxes are determined by the County Appraiser's Office.

c. Reflectorized standard plate fee is $0.50

d. Sales tax will be collected on the Motor Vehicle Office if the vehicle is purchased from an individual, purchased out of state, or if the sales tax paid to a dealer was less than the sales tax rate where the vehicle will be registered.

e. The fee to add an additional owner on a title is $20.50 plus the difference in the property tax.

f. Lien holder fee is $1.50

g. Plate transfer fee: $1.50

4. How can I pay for my plates?

You may purchase your plates through the mail, online, or in person at either of our Motor Vehicle locations. To renew your plate with our online option you may refer to the Motor Vehicle home page where a link is provided. Acceptable forms of payment are cash, check, credit card, money order, and cashier's check. There is a convenience fee retained by the credit card processing company if using a debit or credit card and the person whose name is on the front of the card must be present with identification proof in order to sign the receipt. If your license plate has already expired-you will need to come into our office to renew.

5. Do my plates expire on the first or the last day of the month?

Auto, truck, and motorcycle plates expire on the last day of each month, with the exception of heavy trucks (over 12,000 lbs.) and non-recreational trailers, which expire Dec. 31 of each year with a grace period until the last day of February of the following year.

6. What papers will I need to title a newly-purchased vehicle?

You will need the title or the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin signed over to you, the sales tax receipt or bill of sale, the car's current mileage disclosed on the odometer section of the titling document, and your current proof of insurance for the vehicle you are titling. If your newly purchased vehicle has an out of state title, salvage title or a non-highway title a VIN inspection is required. This must be done within 60 days of purchase. When transferring a plate between two vehicles, you need the current registration and plate from the previous vehicle and the name of the person or business to whom the vehicle was sold.

7. How can I renew my plates if I didn't receive a renewal notice in the mail?

Take your registration or plate number and current insurance card for the vehicle(s) to either of the Butler County Motor Vehicle Offices and they will be able to process your renewal. You may also reprint your renewal notice by referring to the Motor Vehicle home page on this website.

8. I'm moving to Kansas from another state; how do I register my vehicle?

If you have the title, you need to bring in the title, the vehicle inspection, the current registration from the previous state, and current proof of insurance. The person who is named on the title is the only person who can register the vehicle unless a completed Power of Attorney (TR-41) is brought in by the Power of Attorney designee with the appropriate documents. If two names appear on the title with "and/or" or "or" between the names, only one person has to come in. If two names are on the title with "and," or no words between them whatsoever, both persons must come in. All vehicles coming in to Kansas on a title issued by any other state than Kansas must undergo a VIN inspection by the Kansas Highway Patrol. The cost is $20.00 in cash, $25.00 for vehicles with a salvage branding on the title. If you do not have the physical title because your lienholder retains it until the lien has been satisfied, please call our office at (316)322-4200 with the vehicle, owner, and lien holder information. We will send a request for your title, then contact you with further instruction.

9. Where can I get my vehicle inspected, and during what hours?

All Kansas non-highway, salvage, and out-of-state used vehicles require a VIN inspection. The fee is $20.00 CASH or $25.00 for salvage. The Kansas Highway Patrol requires the all of the following items and information for salvage vehicles filing for rebuilt salvage status:

* Printed pictures of the salvage vehicle prior to repair of damage from the auction ONLY.

* Original receipts for all parts and material used to reconstruct the vehicle.

* If the vehicle is repaired with used parts the original receipt needs to have the VIN number of the parts vehicle.

* Original receipts from the individuals should be in the Bill of Sale format and have VIN number for the parts vehicle.

Inspection Locations:

Kechi Center:

1900 E Tigua (HWY 254 & Rock Rd)

Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 3:15 PM

Fax: 316-744-8008

Phone: 316-337-7418

No Salvage/Rebuilt Salvage, Bill of Sale or Affidavit inspections after 2:00 PM.

Wichita Main Tag Office

Clean Out-of-State Titles Only

2525 W Douglas

Monday - Friday 7:30AM - 3:15PM

Fax:316-262-4761

Phone: 316-265-5644

10. Do I have to register my vehicle if I am going to sell it?

Yes, unless you have a valid Dealer License number issued by the state of Kansas allowing the vehicle to be reassigned.

11. I own businesses in several Kansas counties. Where do I register my vehicle?

Vehicles must be registered in the county in which they are garaged. If the business headquarters are located in one county but the vehicle is primarily garaged in another county the vehicle needs to be registered in the county where it is primarily garaged.

12. Can I get an extension on my sixty-day permit?

No. There are no extensions.

13. My plate &/or decal are missing. What do I do?

You will need to obtain a case number for the missing plate/decal from the law enforcement agency presiding over the area in which you live, or from the agency presiding over the area in which the event occurred. The registered owner, or Power of Attorney designee with proper documentation, will need to bring the plate number, current registration (if available), current insurance card, and case number in to either Butler County Motor Vehicle Office and the items will be replaced. A minimal fee applies.

14. How do I purchase a personalized plate?

The price for personalized plates is $45.50, in addition to other fees and personal property taxes. You will need to fill out a Personalized Plate Application which is available on our website under Motor Vehicle Forms and bring in your current license plate, registration, and insurance when ordering.

15. What will happen if I have delinquent taxes?

If an owner of a vehicle owes delinquent personal property taxes in ANY county in Kansas; they MUST be paid before any vehicles in that owner's name can be renewed.

16. Where can I find a Power of Attorney / Lienholder Consent / Bill of Sale, etc.?

These forms and many others are available on the Butler County website under motor vehicle forms as well as on the Kansas Department of Revenue’s website.

17. Can I receive a refund if I move out of Kansas?

Yes, send the plate, Kansas owner's registration, copy of new States' Driver's license and vehicle registration and the completed Butler County Out of State Refund Application to the Butler County Motor Vehicle Office located at 205 W Central Ave. suite 207 El Dorado, KS 67042. The refund application can be found on the Butler County Motor Vehicle Forms webpage.

18. How can I receive a refund if I sell my car and what forms will I need?

Bring in your plate, current owner's registration, Social Security number (for a personal vehicle) or Federal ID# (for business or leased vehicles), the name and address of the person to whom the vehicle was sold and the completed In State Refund application. If the vehicle was leased, make sure to have a copy of the original lease agreement to confirm the lessee was responsible for paying all official licensing fees & taxes. Refunds are calculated from the month all necessary items are received and checks will be received in the mail within 2-3 weeks of turning in all necessary items.

19. I am in the military- do I pay taxes on my vehicle?

LEASE VEHICLES DO NOT QUALIFY FOR MILITARY TAX EXEMPTION

NON-KANSAS RESIDENTS

The Service Members Civil Relief Act (S.C.R.A. Title V 511) prohibits any state from taxing any personal property (this includes RV's) when at the time of application for registration all of the following criteria are met:

The individual does not claim Kansas as his/her permanent resident state with the military on their Leave and Earning Statement (LES):

• The individual's name and/or spouse's name is shown on the title as the legal owner of the vehicle(s);
• The individual is in the full-time regular military service of the United States;
• The individual is absent from his/her permanent resident state in compliance with their military orders and the personal property is located outside the permanent resident state;
• The personal property is not used in or arising from a trade or business.

KANSAS RESIDENTS

KSA 79-5107(e) provides an exemption for no more than two motor vehicles when at the time of registration the individual claims:

• Kansas as his/her permanent resident state with the military as indicated on their Leave and Earning Statement (LES)
• Individual's name is shown on the title as the legal owner of the vehicle.
• Individual is in the full-time regular military service or is a member of the national guard or reserves and meets the following criteria:
  • In the full-time regular military service stationed outside of Kansas and the vehicles are maintained outside of the state; or
  • In the full-time regular military service and deployed (due to military orders absent from the service member's usual duty station) regardless of where the service member is stationed and regardless of where the vehicles are garaged.
  • Who is a full-time member of the military service of the United States and is stationed in Kansas. Per KSA 79-5107(e)(C)

Kansas residents must apply to the Board of Tax Appeals for military exemption on any Kansas RV titled vehicle.

NATIONAL GUARD

A member of the national guard or reserves and is:

1. Mobilized (is in possession of military orders to report for active duty on a certain date) regardless of where the vehicles are garaged; or
2. Deployed (is absent from the service members' usual duty station due to military orders regardless of where the vehicles are garaged) 
3. Individual who is full-time active guard or reserve member (as determined by the Kansas Army or Air national guard as an active guard reserve "AGR"); or
4. Individual who is in a Kansas unit of the reserve forces of the United States under authority of title 10 or title 32 of U.S. code, and is stationed or assigned in Kansas.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1. *Military Personnel Affidavit for Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption (Form TR-601)
2. Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
3. Orders/ORB/ERB

*National guard must have completed Unit Commander's Certification on Form TR-601.

20. Where can I go to renew my disabled placard? Where do I mail it?

Renewing a disabled placard can be done at either Butler County Motor Vehicle Office. Mail renewal applications to the Butler County Motor Vehicle Office at 205 W Central Ave, El Dorado, KS 67042.

21. My doctor says I'm permanently disabled. Why do I have to re-certify for disabled privileges?

Law requires re-certification every five years for verification of status of the disabled individual.

22. What is the Kansas State Parks Passport?

The Kansas State Parks Passport is an annual park permit that covers the entrance fee to the 25 Kansas State Parks. The Kansas State Parks Passport matches the expiration month of the plate with which it was issued

23. How do I purchase/sell a vehicle with a lien?

Kansas no longer issues titles when there is a lien on a vehicle. The title is held electronically in Topeka until the lien is released. The vehicle seller should provide four items to the buyer:

1. A copy of the current vehicle registration.

2. A lien release from the seller's financial institution.

3. A completed and signed Electronic Title Sales Agreement (Form TR-39a)

4. A completed and signed Power of Attorney and Odometer Disclosure for Electronic Title (Form TR-40)

With these four items, the buyer of the vehicle can immediately obtain a temporary tag for the vehicle. When the buyer receives the title in the mail it will be in the previous owner's name. The buyer will return to the tag office and can use the Power of Attorney form to sign off on the title, completing the transfer of ownership.