Stevens County FAQ

a. If the weight of the trailer and the load combined is less than 2,000 pounds, registration is optional. If a farm trailer hauling the farmer's own product has a load of less than 6,000 pounds, registration is optional. For fees on trucks with gross weight of over 16,000 pounds, call the County Treasurer's Office.

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

c. Reflectorized plate fee is $0.50.

d. Sales tax will be collected in the tag office if the vehicle is bought from an individual or purchased out of state. The sales tax rate is 6.3% plus a $0.50 collection fee. For out of state purchases, sales tax is according to where you live. State rate is 5.3 %, Hugoton city is 6.3 %.

e. The fee to transfer a tag is $14.50 plus the difference in the property tax.

Q. What do I need to know about transferring a tag from one vehicle to another?
A. The fee to transfer is $14.50 plus the difference in the property tax. The names on the two titles must be the same. If the old tag is expired, it can only be transferred if it is a personalized tag. If this is your renewal month, your fees will be the same as a new tag minus the $0.50 plate fee. The old vehicle must be sold or traded in, even if it is not running. As long as the title is still in your name, the plate must stay with it.

Q. I'm moving to Kansas from another state; how do I register my vehicle?
A. If you have the title, you need to bring in the title, the vehicle inspection, and the proof of insurance. The person who is named on the title is the only person who can register the vehicle. If two names appear on the title with and/or between the names, only one person has to come in. If two names are on the title with and between them, both persons must come in. All vehicles coming from out of state must have a VIN inspection from the Stevens County Sheriff's Office.The cost is $10.00 in cash.

If you do not have the title because the lienholder of that state keeps it until the vehicle is paid for, you will need to come to the Stevens County Treasurer's Office with your current out-of-state registration or a non-negotiable title. We will also need your proof of insurance. We will then title the vehicle. The State will write to your lienholder and request the out-of-state title. You will receive a letter to get an inspection done at the Stevens County Sheriff's Department. You will need to send the pink copy back to the State and the Kansas title will be held as an E-Title and will not be printed until the lien is paid off.

Q. What papers will I need to title a newly-purchased vehicle?
A. You will need the title or MSO (if it's a new car), signed over to you, the sales tax receipt or bill of sale, the car's current mileage, and your proof of insurance. When transferring a tag between two cars, you need the current registration or tag number of the old car and the name and address of the person to whom the vehicle was sold.

Q. What are your office hours?
A. The Tag Office is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., including lunch hour, Monday through Friday. The office stops doing vehicle business at 4:45 p.m. in order to run reports and balance the day's business.

Q. Where are you located?
A. The Tag Office is located at the Stevens County Courthouse at 200 E. 6th in Hugoton, Ks.

Q. Where can I get my vehicle inspected, and during what hours?
A. All out-of-state title for used vehicles (and Kansas Non-Highway vehicles) require inspection. The fee is $10.00 in CASH ONLY and can be done at the Stevens County Sheriff Department.

Q. How can I renew my tags if I didn't get a renewal notice in the mail?
A. Take your registration or tag number and proof of insurance to the Stevens County Treasurer's Office, and they will be able to process your renewal.

Q. How can I get a refund, and what forms will I need?
A. Bring in your tag, current owner's registration, Social Security number (for a personal vehicle) or Federal ID# (for business or lease vehicles), and name and address of the person to whom the vehicle was sold. Refunds are calculated from the month they are received.

Q. Where can I get a power of attorney / lienholder consent / bill of sale, etc.?
A. These tag forms and many others are available on this web page in the Vehicle Tag Forms section . You will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and/or print these forms. This is a free download, and the site can be accessed from the Vehicle Tag Forms section above.

Q. My tag was stolen. What do I do?
A. You will need to report the plate stolen to the Sheriff's Office. Bring the registration and proof of insurance, and we will replace the tag for $3.00. If registration is not available an additional .50 will be added.

Q. How do I get a personalized tag?
A. The price for personalized tags is $44.00, in addition to other fees and personal property taxes.

Q. What will happen if I have delinquent taxes?
A. If you have delinquent personal property taxes in ANY county in Kansas, they MUST be paid before vehicles can be tagged.

Q. How can I pay for my tags?
A. Acceptable forms of payment are cash, check, money order, cashier's check.

Q. Where can I go to renew my handicapped placard? Where do I mail it?
A. This is done at the Stevens County Treasurer's Office in the County Courthouse. It can also be mailed to Stevens County Treasurer, 200 E 6th, Hugoton, Ks 67591.

Q. Do my tags expire on the first day or the last day of the month?
A. Auto, truck, and motorcycle tags expire on the last day of each month, with the exception of heavy trucks (over 12,000 lbs.) and trailers, which expire Dec. 31 with a grace period until Feb. 15.

Q. Why aren't my tags good for a full year?
A. Tag renewals are good for a full year. Tags for vehicles bought new within the year will be good for the period between the purchase date and the expiration date; in some cases this will be for just a partial year. Tags are prorated from the month the title is notarized until the month your tag comes due, which is determined by your last name. See the Tag Schedule table on the Motor Vehicle Site.

Q. I am a military dependent. Shouldn't I be exempted from property taxes?
A. No. Only the active duty military member is exempt.

Q. Can I get an extension on my thirty-day permit?
A. No. There are no extensions.

Q. My doctor says I'm permanently handicapped. Why do I have to re-certify for handicap privileges?
A. Law requires re-certification every three years for verification of status of the handicapped individual.

Q. Why do I pay taxes on my leased vehicle when I'm in the military?
A. The leased vehicle is in the leasing company name; therefore, they are the legal owner of the vehicle and not exempt.

Q. I am in the military but a Kansas resident. Do I pay taxes on my vehicle?
A. If the military person and the vehicle are stationed in Kansas, the vehicle is taxable. If the military person is a resident of Kansas, but stationed in another state, the vehicle is exempt.

Q. I own businesses in several counties in Kansas. Where do I register my vehicle?
A. The vehicle should be registered in the county where the main business in located, or where the vehicle is housed.

Q. I am active duty military, but the vehicle is in my wife's name. Do I have to pay taxes of the vehicle.
A. Yes. The service member must be included on the title in order to be exempt.

Q. Do I have to get a Kansas driver's license if I have Kansas plates?
A. Yes

Q. Do I have to register my vehicle if I am going to sell it?
A. Yes. You first have to acquire a title in your name before it can be sold to another individual or business.

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