Vehicle registration plates of Kansas


The U.S. state of Kansas first required its residents to register their vehicles and display license plates in 1913. Plates are currently issued by the Kansas Department of Revenue through its Division of Vehicles and only rear plates have been required since 1956.

Passenger baseplates

1913 to 1975

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 issue was the first Kansas license plate that complied with these standards.
ImageDates issuedDescriptionSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1913Embossed black serial on white plate; diagonal "KAN" at rightnone123451 to approximately 39000
1914Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "KAN" at rightnone123451 to approximately 59000
1915Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; diagonal "KAN" at rightnone123451 to approximately 86000
1916Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "KAN" monogram at rightnone1234561 to approximately 140000
1917Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; vertical "KAN" at leftnone1234561 to approximately 183000
1918Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; vertical "KAN" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 205000
1919Embossed dark blue serial on light green plate with border line; vertical "KAN" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 260000
1920Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "KAN" at leftnone1234561 to approximately 290000
1921Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "KAN 21" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 274-000First dated plate.
1922Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "KAN 22" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 304-000
1923Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "KAN" and "1923" at left and right respectivelynone1234561 to approximately 350000
1924Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "KAN" and "24" at leftnone123-4561 to approximately 369-000
1925Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "KAN 25" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 409-000
1926Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "KAN 26" at leftnone123-4561 to approximately 442-000
1927Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "KAN" at left and right respectivelynone123-4561 to approximately 459-000
1928Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "KAN 28" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 472-000
1929Embossed black serial on yellow plate; black lines at top and bottom borders; "KANSAS 1929" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 507-000First use of the full state name.
1930Embossed white serial on black plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "KANSAS - 1930" at topnone1C12345
10C1234
100C123
Coded by county of issuance First base to use numeric county codes.
1931Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KAN 31" at rightnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1932Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "KAN 32" at leftnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1933Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "KAN 33" at rightnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1934Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "KAN 34" at leftnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1935Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "KAN 35" at rightnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1936Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "KAN 36" at leftnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1937Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "KAN 37" at rightnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1938Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "KAN. '38" centered at bottomnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1939Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "'39 KAN." centered at topnone1-12345
10-1234
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1940Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "KANSAS '40" centered at bottomnone1-12345
10-12345
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1941Embossed yellow serial on dark red plate with border line; "41 KANSAS" centered at bottomnone1-12345
10-12345
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1942Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KANSAS '42" centered at bottom; sunflower decals at bottom cornersnone1-12345
10-12345
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1943Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KANSAS '42" centered at bottom; sunflower decals at bottom cornersnone1-12345
10-12345
100-123
Coded by county of issuance Revalidated for 1943 with zinc "43" tabs over the '42, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "KANSAS-44" at topnone1-12345
10-12345
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1945Embossed black serial on white plate; "KANSAS-45" centered at topnone1-12345
10-12345
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1946Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate; "KANSAS-46" centered at topnone1-12345
10-12345
100-123
Coded by county of issuance
1947Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "19 KANSAS 47" at topnone1-12345
10-12345
100-1234
Coded by county of issuance
1948Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "19 KANSAS 48" at topnone1-12345
10-12345
100-1234
Coded by county of issuance
1949Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "19 KANSAS 49" at top"THE WHEAT STATE" at bottom1-12345
10-12345
100-1234
Coded by county of issuance
1950Embossed green serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "KANSAS 50" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottom1-12345
10-12345
100-1234
Coded by county of issuance
1951Embossed white serial on dark blue state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 51" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottomA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance First base to use two-letter county codes.
1952Embossed white serial on dark blue state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 51" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottomA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance Revalidated for 1952 with white tabs, and for 1953 with yellow tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.
1953Embossed white serial on dark blue state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 51" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottomA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance Revalidated for 1952 with white tabs, and for 1953 with yellow tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.
1954Embossed black serial on white state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 54" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottomA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1955Embossed white serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 55" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottomA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1956Embossed black serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 56" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottomA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance 1956 was the first year that Kansas plates complied with the new standardized 6" x 12" measurements.
1957Embossed red serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 57" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" at bottom, offset to rightA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1958Embossed yellow serial on blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 58" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" at bottom, offset to rightA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1959Embossed blue serial on yellow plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 59" centered at top"THE WHEAT STATE" at bottom, offset to rightA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1960Embossed blue serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 60" centered at top"CENTENNIAL 1961" at bottom, offset to rightA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance Both this and the 1961 base commemorated Kansas' 100 years of statehood.
1961Embossed brown serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 61" centered at top"CENTENNIAL 1961" at bottom, offset to rightA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1962Embossed white serial on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 62" centered at topnoneA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1963Embossed green serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 63" centered at topnoneA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1964Embossed white serial on blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 64" centered at topnoneA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1965Embossed white serial on red plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 65" centered at top"MIDWAY USA" centered at bottomA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1966Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 66" centered at top"MIDWAY USA" centered at bottomA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1967Embossed white serial on Columbia blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 67" centered at top"MIDWAY USA" centered at bottomA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1968Embossed yellow serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 68" centered at top"MIDWAY USA" centered at bottomA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1969Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 69" centered at top"MIDWAY USA" centered at bottomA/''B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1970Embossed white serial on pale green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 70" centered at top"MIDWAY USA" centered at bottomA''/B-12345Coded by county of issuance
1971Embossed white serial on red plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneA/''B 12345Coded by county of issuance Staggered registration introduced, with the month of expiration determined by the initial letter of the registrant's surname. The A''/B 12345 serial format was used only on plates expiring on July 31.
1971Embossed white serial on red plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneA/''B C''12345Coded by county of issuance and month of expiration These plates using A/''B C''12345 expired from July 31 through December 31, 1971.
1972Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneA/''B C''12345Coded by county of issuance and month of expiration Plates expired from February 29 through December 31, 1972.
1973Embossed gold serial on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneA/''B C''12345Coded by county of issuance and month of expiration Plates expired from February 28 through December 31, 1973.
1974Embossed white serial on red plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneA/''B C''12345Coded by county of issuance and month of expiration Plates expired from February 28 through December 31, 1974. The first "KANSAS 74" plates expired on July 31, 1974, and the first "Wheat Centennial" plates on August 31, 1974.
In 1974, Kansas hosted a "Wheat Centennial" celebration commemorating the first Turkey Red wheat planting, according to folklore.
1974As above, but with "KANSAS 74" at top, and without month of expirationnoneA/''B C''12345Coded by county of issuance and month of expiration Plates expired from February 28 through December 31, 1974. The first "KANSAS 74" plates expired on July 31, 1974, and the first "Wheat Centennial" plates on August 31, 1974.
In 1974, Kansas hosted a "Wheat Centennial" celebration commemorating the first Turkey Red wheat planting, according to folklore.
1974As above, but with "KANSAS 74" at top, and without month of expiration"WHEAT CENTENNIAL" centered at bottomA/''B C''12345Coded by county of issuance and month of expiration Plates expired from February 28 through December 31, 1974. The first "KANSAS 74" plates expired on July 31, 1974, and the first "Wheat Centennial" plates on August 31, 1974.
In 1974, Kansas hosted a "Wheat Centennial" celebration commemorating the first Turkey Red wheat planting, according to folklore.
1975Embossed white serial on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 75" centered at top"WHEAT CENTENNIAL" centered at bottomA/''B C''12345Coded by county of issuance and month of expiration Plates expired from February 28 through December 31, 1975. The first plates without the slogan expired on August 31, 1975.
1975Embossed white serial on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 75" centered at topnoneA/''B C''12345Coded by county of issuance and month of expiration Plates expired from February 28 through December 31, 1975. The first plates without the slogan expired on August 31, 1975.

1976 to present

**Standard embossed plates that are registered to farm vehicles were not part of the original replacement plan. According to KDOR, they are scheduled to start replacement on January 1, 2025.
**In some cases, owners of standard embossed plates have been given renewals for 2025, rather than having to replace their plates with the newest design. There has been no official explanation from KDOR as to why this is the case.

Replacement plates

Most specialty Kansas license plates are available to be reissued with the same serial number at the owner's request if they become damaged or illegible over time. Since Kansas does not have a rolling replate system, this duty falls on the vehicle owner to make sure their plates are legible to law enforcement and other motorists at all times.
This process includes all Collegiate, Firefighter, EMS, Disabled, and most other specialty plates. However, they will not be reissued with an embossed serial or original designs, even if the plate holder has an older design, such as the first edition Agriculture plates. Instead, they will be issued with the most current design of the plate, and will be completely flat.
The only style of plates that are not eligible to be reissued with the same serial are the standard Ad Astra or Capitol bases. If the owner wishes to retain their standard serial number, they can request it on a personalized plate.

County coding

Kansas has a system of county codes used for identification of the home county of a state resident or company on license plates and state tax forms.
The codes are two letters based on the first letter of and another letter in the name of the county. There is no true convention for the selection of the letters; for example, Bourbon County is the only county that begins with "BO," yet its code is "BB." In most cases, but not all, as noted above, the only county that begins with two particular letters gets those letters. Exceptions are De'catur, D'ickinson, Hodgeman, Leavenworth, Lo'gan, M'cPherson, Norton, Pawnee, and Po't'tawatomie.
The two-letter code began appearing on Kansas license plates in 1951. From 1930 to 1950, the code was a number based on the order a county ranked in terms of population based on the 1920 United States Census. From 1951 until 1988, the two letters were stamped on the license plate on the far left side, one letter on top of the other. Since then, the letters are on a sticker applied to the upper-left corner of the plate.
There is also a place on the address form of Kansas tax forms to place the county code.
CountyNumeric code, 1930–50Letter code, 1951–present
Allen24AL
Anderson52AN
Atchison15AT
Barber67BA
Barton33BT
Bourbon17BB
Brown25BR
Butler9BU
Chase81CS
Chautauqua63CQ
Cherokee10CK
Cheyenne82CN
Clark91CA
Clay41CY
Cloud36CD
Coffey44CF
Comanche90CM
Cowley8CL
Crawford4CR
Decatur74DC
Dickinson18DK
Doniphan45DP
Douglas16DG
Edwards79ED
Elk68EK
Ellis38EL
Ellsworth64EW
Finney71FI
Ford35FO
Franklin21FR
Geary47GE
Gove88GO
Graham76GH
Grant103GT
Gray89GY
Greeley105GL
Greenwood32GW
Hamilton101HM
Harper51HP
Harvey28HV
Haskell100HS
Hodgeman93HG
Jackson42JA
Jefferson46JF
Jewell43JW
Johnson19JO
Kearny98KE
Kingman57KM
Kiowa85KW
Labette11LB
Lane97LE
Leavenworth7LV
Lincoln66LC
Linn49LN
Logan95LG
Lyon13LY
Marion23MN
Marshall20MS
McPherson26MP
Meade86ME
Miami31MI
Mitchell55MC
Montgomery5MG
Morris54MR
Morton94MT
Nemaha34NM
Neosho22NO
Ness75NS
Norton61NT
Osage29OS
Osborne56OB
Ottawa65OT
Pawnee69PN
Phillips58PL
Pottawatomie39PT
Pratt53PR
Rawlins77RA
Reno6RN
Republic40RP
Rice48RC
Riley30RL
Rooks70RO
Rush73RH
Russell60RS
Saline14SA
Scott96SC
Sedgwick2SG
Seward84SW
Shawnee3SN
Sheridan87SD
Sherman80SH
Smith50SM
Stafford59SF
Stanton104ST
Stevens92SV
Sumner12SU
Thomas78TH
Trego83TR
Wabaunsee62WB
Wallace99WA
Washington37WS
Wichita102WH
Wilson27WL
Woodson72WO
Wyandotte1WY

Decals

Yearly Registration Decals

- Regular Auto decals started issuance in 1976 for 1977 expirations of the redesigned 1976 standard license plate. Trucks and other non-highway vehicles using the green 1975 plates were issued 1976 decals upon expiration.
- The decal sizing was changed from square to rectangular in 1994/1995 to be able to fit a similarly sized month sticker above the registration decal.
- The sizing was again changed in some 2012/2013 and all 2014 registrations to a square "smart sticker" that now includes the month, plate number, and registration year on one decal. Smart stickers for 2012 registrations were only issued to new plates in OCT, NOV, & DEC, and 2013 smart sticker issuance began in mid-May. Since the expiration month is now printed directly on the registration, separate month stickers were phased out and newer plates removed the debossed sticker well that had previously been used for the decal.
^ Denotes a decal issued to non-auto, vanity or specialty plate holders.
* Denotes a redesigned standard plate with a natural expiration.
Year19771978197919801981*1981^1982
Image
Year1983198419851986198719881989*
Image
Year1989^199019911992199319941994^
Image
Year1995*1995^19961997199819992000
Image
Year20012002*2002^2003200420052006
Image
Year2007200820092010201120122012
Image
Year2013201320142015201620172018
Image
Year2019202020212022202320242025
Image

Optional plates

Personalized Plates

Starting January 1, 2025, all Kansas distinctive plates are now eligible for personalization.
ImageTypeDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Personalized passenger1975 registration yearEmbossed white serial on green plate with "KANSAS 75" at top and county abbreviation/truck weight code at bottomvariousvariousKansas first issued vanity plates in 1975 to trucks only
Personalized passenger1976 to 1979 registration yearsEmbossed white serial on blue plate with "KANSAS 76" at top and county abbreviation/month of expiration at bottomvariousvarious1976 was the first year that vanity plates were issued to cars
Personalized passenger1980 to 1984 registration yearsEmbossed dark blue serial on gold reflective plate with "KANSAS" at top and county abbreviation/month of expiration at bottomvariousvarious
Personalized passenger1985 to 1989 registration yearsEmbossed dark blue serial on beige background with dark blue band at top containing "KANSAS" in the center in beigevariousvarious
Personalized passenger1990 to 1994 registration yearsEmbossed dark blue serial on beige background with orange fade at top and stalk of wheat in the center; "KANSAS" in dark blue at topvariousvarious
Personalized passenger1995 to 1999 registration yearsEmbossed blue serial on white plate with sky blue fade at top and blue sunflower graphic at bottom; "KANSAS" in blue at topvariousvarious
Personalized passenger2000 to 2004 registration yearsEmbossed black serial on white plate with gold fade and wild sunflowers at bottom; "KANSAS" in yellow and black at topvariousvarious
Personalized passenger2005 to 2009 registration yearsEmbossed brown serial on tan plate with embossed brown state-shaped border, brown buffalo in the center, and "Home On The Range" in brown at bottom; "KANSAS" in brown at topvariousvariousAwarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2005 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time Kansas was so honored.
Personalized passenger2010 to 2014 registration yearsEmbossed brown serial on sunset graphic background plate with old-fashioned windmill at left, modern wind turbine at right, grass at bottom, state seal in the center, and "America's Heartland" in white at bottom; "KANSAS" in dark brown at topvariousvarious
Personalized passenger2015 to 2018 registration yearsEmbossed black serial on sunflower graphic background plate with "KANSAS" and "SUNFLOWER STATE" in black at top and bottom, respectivelyvariousvariousKansas stopped taking orders for personalized plates in April 2018 to prepare for the launch of flat plates in August.
Personalized passenger2018 to 2019 registration yearsScreened black serial on sunflower graphic background plate with "KANSAS" and "SUNFLOWER STATE" in black at top and bottom, respectivelyvariousvariousSerial and county stickers became screened in August 2018.
Personalized passenger2020 to 2024 registration yearsScreened white serial on gradient red and yellow background plate with three wind turbines at left; "KANSAS" and "Powering the Future" at top and bottom, respectivelyvariousvariousThe background of these plates tend to turn into a single shade of brown from any distance.
Personalized passenger2025 to 2029 registration yearsScreened black serial on sunrise graphic overlooking the rolling green Flint Hills with "KANSAS" and "To the Stars" at top and bottom, respectively.variousvariousKansas stopped taking personalized plate orders on October 11, 2024, to prepare for the new design starting January 1, 2025.
Personalized passengerJanuary 1, 2022 – presentSame as 2018 state seal passenger base, with "PERSONALIZED" in black between the bolt holes at the bottomvariousvariousOptional choice for personalized plates instead of the regular graphic design.

Educational Institution Plates

These plates share a common all-numeric serial format that started at 1 with K-State in 1997.
ImageTypeDates issuedDesignNotes
Baker University2005 - 2009Embossed black serial on white plate with the college's logo and "BAKER UNIVERSITY" at left; "KANSAS" in black at topDiscontinued due to minimum number of yearly registrations not met. Still valid for renewals
Benedictine College2016 - 2018Embossed black serial on white plate with the college's logo at left; "KANSAS" and "BENEDICTINE COLLEGE" in red at top and bottom, respectively
Benedictine College2018–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the college's logo at left; "KANSAS" and "BENEDICTINE COLLEGE" in red at top and bottom, respectively
Emporia State University2001 - 2018Embossed black serial on white plate with the university's mascot, Corky the Hornet, at left and "KANSAS" in black at top
Emporia State University2018–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the university's "Power E" logo at left and "KANSAS" in black at top
Fort Hays State University2003 - 2018Embossed black serial on white plate with the university's tiger mascot at left and "KANSAS" in black at top
Fort Hays State University2018–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the university's tiger mascot at left and "KANSAS" in black at top
Friends University2016 - 2018Embossed black serial on white plate with the university's logo at left and "KANSAS" in scarlet at top
Friends University2018–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the university's logo at left and "KANSAS" in scarlet at top
Kansas State University1997 - 2018Embossed purple serial on white plate with the university's mascot, Willie the Wildcat, at left and "KANSAS" in purple at top#1 issued in 1997 is still currently in active use
Kansas State Universitylate 2018Screened black serial on white plate with the university's mascot, Willie the Wildcat, at left and "KANSAS" in purple at topThese plates were issued between 40800 and 42000
Kansas State University2019–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the university's mascot, Willie the Wildcat, at left; "KANSAS" and "GO WILDCATS" in purple at top and bottom, respectively
Ottawa University2005 - 2009Embossed black serial on white plate with the university's logo and "OTTAWA UNIVERSITY" at left; "KANSAS" in black at topDiscontinued due to minimum number of yearly registrations not met. Still valid for renewals
Pittsburg State University2000 - 2018Embossed crimson serial on white plate with the university's mascot, Gus the Gorilla, at left and "KANSAS" in crimson at top
Pittsburg State University2018–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the university's mascot, Gus the Gorilla, at left and "KANSAS" in crimson at top
University of Kansas1998 - 2018Embossed blue serial on white plate with the university's mascot, Big Jay, at left and "KANSAS" in blue at top
University of Kansas2018–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the university's mascot, Big Jay, at left; "KANSAS" and "ROCK CHALK" in blue at top and bottom, respectively
Washburn University2005 - 2018Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with the university's mascot, the Ichabod, at left and "KANSAS" in dark blue at top
Washburn University2018–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the university's mascot, the Ichabod, at left and "KANSAS" in dark blue at top
Wichita State University2000 - 2018Embossed black serial on white plate with the university's mascot, WuShock, at left and "KANSAS" in black at top
Wichita State University2018–presentScreened black serial on white plate with the university's mascot, WuShock, at left and "KANSAS" in black at top