Kansas Statutes § 8-173 Registration of vehicles; proof of payment of personal property taxes or assessment and financial security required; verification of insurance by insurance company; proof of insurance by electronic means.

8-173. Registration of vehicles; proof of payment of personal property taxes or assessment and financial security required; verification of insurance by insurance company; proof of insurance by electronic means. (a) An application for registration of a vehicle as provided in article 1 of chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, shall not be accepted unless the person making such application shall exhibit: (1) A receipt showing that such person has paid all personal property taxes levied against such person for the preceding year, including taxes upon such vehicle, except that if such application is made before May 11, such receipt need show payment of only 1/2 the preceding year's tax; or (2) evidence that such vehicle was assessed for taxation purposes by a state agency, was assessed as stock in trade of a merchant or manufacturer or was exempt from taxation under the laws of this state. (b) An application for registration of a vehicle as provided in article 1 of chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, shall not be accepted if the records of the county treasurer show that the applicant is delinquent and owes personal property taxes levied against the applicant for any preceding year. (c) An original application for registration of a motor vehicle shall not be accepted until the applicant signs a certification, provided by the director of motor vehicles, certifying that the applicant has and will maintain, during the period of registration, the required insurance, self-insurance or other financial security required pursuant to K.S.A. 40-3104, and amendments thereto. (d) An application for registration or renewal of registration of a vehicle shall not be accepted if the applicant is unable to provide proof of the insurance, self-insurance or other financial security required by article 31 of chapter 40 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto. Proof of insurance shall be verified by examination of the insurance card or other documentation issued by an insurance company, a certificate of self-insurance issued by the commissioner, a binder of insurance, a certificate of insurance, a motor carrier identification number issued by the state corporation commission, proof of insurance for vehicles covered under a fleet policy, a commercial policy covering more than one vehicle or a policy of insurance required by K.S.A. 40-3104, and amendments thereto, and for vehicles used as part of a drivers education program, a dealership contract and a copy of a motor vehicle liability insurance policy issued to a school district or accredited nonpublic school. Examination of a photocopy, facsimile or an image displayed on a cellular phone or any other type of portable electronic device of any of these documents shall suffice for verification of registration or renewal. Any person to whom such image of proof of insurance, self-insurance or other financial security required by article 31 of chapter 40 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, is displayed shall view only such image displayed on such cellular phone or other portable electronic device. Such person shall be prohibited from viewing any other content or information stored on such cellular phone or other portable electronic device. Proof of insurance may also be verified online or electronically, in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas real time insurance verification act and K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 40-2,241 through 40-2,249, and amendments thereto, and the commissioner of insurance may require, by duly adopted rules and regulations, any motor vehicle liability insurance company authorized to do business in this state to provide verification of insurance in that manner. (e) An application for registration or renewal of registration of a vehicle shall not be accepted, if the records of the division show that after three attempts by the Kansas turnpike authority to contact the registered owner, including at least one registered letter, the registered owner of such vehicle has unpaid tolls and the director of the Kansas turnpike authority or the director's designee has instructed the division to refuse to accept the registration or renewal of registration, pursuant to K.S.A. 68-2020a, and amendments thereto, unless the owner or registered owner makes payment to the county treasurer at the time of registration or renewal of registration. Of such moneys collected, 15% shall be retained by the county treasurer and the remainder shall be remitted to the Kansas turnpike authority. History: L. 1957, ch. 56, § 1; L. 1960, ch. 45, § 1; L. 1970, ch. 49, § 1; L. 1985, ch. 46, § 1; L. 1989, ch. 37, § 3; L. 1999, ch. 162, § 10; L. 2001, ch. 140, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 128, § 3; L. 2010, ch. 26, § 1; L. 2011, ch. 45, § 2; L. 2013, ch. 19, § 1; L. 2016, ch. 56, § 2; L. 2025, ch. 94, § 11; July 1.