Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 8-127 (2026)

Registration of vehicles operated in this state; exceptions; temporary operation of certain vehicles without registration, when

✓ current as of May 2026

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8-127. Registration of vehicles operated in this state; exceptions; temporary operation of certain vehicles without registration, when. (a) Every owner of a motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, trailer or semitrailer intended to be operated upon any highway in this state, whether such owner is a resident of this state or another state, or such motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, trailer or semitrailer is based in this state or another state, before any such vehicle is operated in this state, shall apply for and obtain registration in this state under the provisions of K.S.A. 8-126 to 8-149, inclusive, and amendments thereto, except as otherwise provided by law or by any interstate contract, agreement, arrangement or declaration made by the director of vehicles.

(b) Any truck or truck tractor bearing registration of a state other than Kansas which is engaged in intrastate movements within this state shall have Kansas registration, except such vehicles which are registered under the provisions of K.S.A. 8-1,101 to 8-1,123, inclusive, and amendments thereto, and except such vehicles as are entitled to engage in intrastate movements within this state under any interstate contract, agreement, consent, arrangement or declaration made by the director of vehicles.

(c) Whenever any person has a current motorcycle, motorized bicycle, passenger vehicle, truck or truck tractor registration and license plate for a vehicle which has been sold, traded or otherwise disposed of not later than 60 days, inclusive of weekends and holidays, after acquiring another motorcycle, motorized bicycle, passenger vehicle, truck or truck tractor to which the registration and license plate will be transferred and such person has complied with all of the conditions precedent to the transfer of the registration except having the registration transferred in the office of the county treasurer, such person may operate the motorcycle, motorized bicycle, passenger vehicle, truck or truck tractor acquired for a period of not to exceed 60 days, inclusive of weekends and holidays, after acquiring the same and pending transferral of registration and license plate in the office of the county treasurer by displaying the motorcycle license plate on the motorcycle acquired, the motorized bicycle license plate on the motorized bicycle acquired, the passenger vehicle license plate on the passenger vehicle acquired, or the truck or truck tractor license plate on the truck or truck tractor acquired. If the acquired vehicle is a new vehicle, such person also must carry and have in possession the assigned certificate of title or bill of sale when operating the acquired vehicle during such sixty-day period.

History: L. 1929, ch. 81, § 5; L. 1955, ch. 44, § 1; L. 1963, ch. 48, § 2; L. 1968, ch. 180, § 1; L. 1971, ch. 16, § 1; L. 1971, ch. 17, § 1; L. 1978, ch. 30, § 1; L. 1980, ch. 29, § 1; L. 1985, ch. 43, § 3; L. 2012, ch. 130, § 1; July 1.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 16 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1981–2024 · leading case: Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. v. Kurtenbach Ex Rel. Kurtenbach, 961 P.2d 53 (Kan. 1998).

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Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. v. Kurtenbach Ex Rel. Kurtenbach, 961 P.2d 53 (Kan. 1998). · cites it 14× “Judge Lewis reasoned that the motorcycle was street legal and subject to motor vehicle registration under the provisions of K.S.A 8-127 and, therefore, not covered under the Incidental Motorized Vehicle Coverage provision.”

Kresyman v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 623 P.2d 524 (Kan. Ct. App. 1981). · cites it 4× “Regarding registration, the following appears in K.S.A. 8-127(a): “Every owner of a motor vehicle .”

State v. Parson, 808 P.2d 444 (Kan. Ct. App. 1991). “K.S.A. 1990 Supp. 8-127(a) requires that “[e]very owner of a motor vehicle .”

United States v. Hannum, 55 F. App'x 872 (10th Cir. 2003). · cites it 2× “See Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 8-127 (a) and 8-142 (registration); Kan Stat.”

Harlan v. United Fire & Cas. Co., 208 F. Supp. 3d 1168 (D. Kan. 2016). · cites it 2× “Reading the non-highway exemption this way also comports with Kresy-man’s mandate to read the registration statute, § 8-127, in conjunction with the unlawful acts statute for vehicle registration, § 8-142.”

In Re Gray, 40 B.R. 429 (Bankr. W.D. Okla. 1984). “2d 860 (1968) (owner of a mobile home required to obtain a certificate of title to the vehicle; any lien of encumbrances thereon must be indicated on certificate in order to perfect security interest.”

In Re Trotter, 264 B.R. 216 (Bankr. D. Kan. 2001). “K.S.A. 8-127(a) requires the owner of a trailer intended to be operated upon any highway in Kansas, to apply for and obtain registration in Kansas.”

State v. Groves, 644 P.2d 1013 (Kan. Ct. App. 1982). · cites it 8× “: This is an appeal by defendants from the judgment of the District Court of Coffey County finding them guilty of violating motor vehicle registration statutes K.S.A. 1981 Supp. 8-127 and 8-142. Defendants have raised the following issues: (1) Is the defendants' concrete…”

In Re Tax Appeal of Karsten, 924 P.2d 1272 (Kan. Ct. App. 1996). “” K.S.A. 8-127(a). Kansas law, however, allows nonresident owners the privilege of operating their vehicles in Kansas “when duly licensed in the state of residence” to the extent reciprocal privileges are granted to residents in this state.”

State v. Wakole, 945 P.2d 421 (Kan. Ct. App. 1997). “K.S.A. 8-127 requires that every owner of a motor vehicle operated on any highways within Kansas, regardless of whether the owner is a resident of this state or another, to apply for and obtain registration in Kansas before such vehicle can be operated in Kansas.”

State v. Hardin, 304 P.3d 354 (Kan. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “The State subsequently dropped the license plate charge after determining that Hardin had complied with the transfer provisions set forth in K.S.A. 8-127(c). After die State filed the charges, Hardin filed his motion to suppress arguing that Bliss did not have a reasonable…”

State v. Groves, 653 P.2d 457 (Kan. 1982). · cites it 2× “8-142 and K.S.A. 1981 Supp. 8-127(a). The primary issue presented is this: Was the concrete pump/boom truck in each case either a “self-propelled crane” or “road machinery” and, therefore, exempt from motor vehicle registration under the provisions of K.”

Show all 16 citing cases →

— K.S.A. § 8-127(a) — 10 cases

Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. v. Kurtenbach Ex Rel. Kurtenbach, 961 P.2d 53 (Kan. 1998). “Judge Lewis reasoned that the motorcycle was street legal and subject to motor vehicle registration under the provisions of K.S.A 8-127 and, therefore, not covered under the Incidental Motorized Vehicle Coverage provision.”

Kresyman v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 623 P.2d 524 (Kan. Ct. App. 1981). “Regarding registration, the following appears in K.S.A. 8-127(a): “Every owner of a motor vehicle .”

State v. Parson, 808 P.2d 444 (Kan. Ct. App. 1991). “K.S.A. 1990 Supp. 8-127(a) requires that “[e]very owner of a motor vehicle .”

Harlan v. United Fire & Cas. Co., 208 F. Supp. 3d 1168 (D. Kan. 2016). “Reading the non-highway exemption this way also comports with Kresy-man’s mandate to read the registration statute, § 8-127, in conjunction with the unlawful acts statute for vehicle registration, § 8-142.”

— K.S.A. § 8-127(c) — 1 case

State v. Hardin, 304 P.3d 354 (Kan. Ct. App. 2013). “The State subsequently dropped the license plate charge after determining that Hardin had complied with the transfer provisions set forth in K.S.A. 8-127(c). After die State filed the charges, Hardin filed his motion to suppress arguing that Bliss did not have a reasonable…”

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