Can you drive on Kansas roads with an expired tag? See what the penalties could be

If it’s time to renew your vehicle registration, you won’t want to procrastinate.

In Kansas, every vehicle must have an up-to-date tag or a 60-day temporary tag to drive on the roads legally. Tags are required to be renewed every year on a staggered basis based on the vehicle owner’s last name. There is no grace period on enforcement when it comes to expired tags, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Military members do get a grace period if they are overdue on registration due to out of state deployment. The seven-day grace period begins the day they return to Kansas.

Previous reporting from The Eagle showed that 1,670 tickets were issued in Wichita in 2022 for tag violations. The fine for tag violations in 2022 was $106.50, and it can include other illegal tag violations like if it’s defaced, not illuminated correctly, used to register another vehicle, hidden or not affixed to the back of the vehicle.

How do I renew my registration in Kansas?

There are multiple ways you can renew your vehicle registration in Kansas.

You can do so online on kswebtags.org with your access code number from the renewal notice you should receive in the mail. You must also have an electronic form of payment to pay the property taxes and renewal fees that come with your vehicle. Military members cannot renew registration online.

Drivers renewing online in Sedgwick County have a 10-day grace period between when their registration expires and when they get the new registration decal in the mail, as long as they have a receipt to show they have renewed their registration to show law enforcement if needed.

Another option that does not require a trip to the tag office is via mail. You can mail your renewal form, check or money order, and your proof of insurance to the Sedgwick County Tag Office (P.O. Box 2909, Wichita, KS, 67201).

You can also go in person to your Kansas tag office. You’ll need to bring the previous year’s registration receipt, tag number, up-to-date insurance card, your driver’s license.

When will my car registration need to be renewed?

Here’s the staggered schedule for vehicle registrations, from Sedgwick County’s website:

• January/February: heavy trucks, trailers and antique vehicles
• February: A
• March: B
• April: C & D
• May: E, F & G
• June: H & I
• July: J, K & L
• August: M, N & O
• September: P, Q & R
• October: S
• November: T, V & W
• December: U, X, Y & Z

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.