Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has extended deadlines indefinitely for driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new executive order was signed into place earlier this month. It says Kansans will have 60 days after the State of Disaster is lifted to get their registrations and licenses renewed.
Drivers will not be charged late fees or interest on expired vehicle registrations if they do not renew within the month they normally would.
If your driver’s license expired on or after March 12, you won’t need to renew it for a while. And if you’ve purchased a new vehicle in 2020 and still have a temporary tag, you’re also in the clear for now.
How long is the extension, exactly? It depends on how long the emergency declaration is in place, says Randy Bargdill, chief deputy treasurer of Sedgwick County.
“We don’t know when [the deadline] is actually going to be,” Bargdill said. “It could be potentially quite awhile out.”
Although renewing isn’t required while the order is in effect, you can still get it done. Tag offices remain open, but are limiting service to 10 people at a time on a first-come, first-served basis.
While driver’s license offices are closed for now, Bargdill says the county is encouraging people to renew online or by mail.
“There is an iKan.gov app that you can download and renew with that, or you can mail it in,” Bargdill said. “If you mail it in, there’s no convenience fee [for credit card processing].”
The executive order did not include an extension for title work, so if you need to transfer a car title or obtain a new one, you will still need to comply with those deadlines. Title work is not available online.
“If they do have to come in, we’re ready to take care of them,” Bargdill said.
Driver’s license and registration renewals are available online at ikan.ks.gov or by downloading the free app.