The U.S. state of Kansas first required its residents to register their vehicles and display license plates in 1913.
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 (except those for motorcycles) at {{convert|6|in|cm}} in height by {{convert|12|in|cm}} in width, with standardized mounting holes.[1] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Kansas license plate that complied with these standards.
| Image | Dates issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|
| 1913 | Embossed black serial on white plate; diagonal "KAN" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 39000 |
| 1914 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "KAN" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 59000 |
| 1915 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; diagonal "KAN" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 86000 |
| 1916 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "KAN" monogram at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 140000 |
| 1917 | Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; vertical "KAN" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 183000 |
| 1918 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; vertical "KAN" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 205000 |
| 1919 | Embossed dark blue serial on light green plate with border line; vertical "KAN" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 260000 |
| 1920 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "KAN" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 290000 |
| 1921 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "KAN 21" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 274-000 | First dated plate. |
| 1922 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "KAN 22" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 304-000 |
| 1923 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "KAN" and "1923" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 350000 |
| 1924 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "KAN" and "24" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 369-000 |
| 1925 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "KAN 25" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 409-000 |
| 1926 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "KAN 26" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 442-000 |
| 1927 | Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "KAN" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 459-000 |
| 1928 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "KAN 28" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 472-000 |
| 1929 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; black lines at top and bottom borders; "KANSAS 1929" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 507-000 | First use of the full state name. |
| 1930 | Embossed white serial on black plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "KANSAS - 1930" at top | none | 1{{small>C}}12345
10{{small|C}}1234
100{{small|C}}123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) | First base to use numeric county codes. |
| 1931 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KAN 31" at right | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1932 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "KAN 32" at left | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "KAN 33" at right | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1934 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "KAN 34" at left | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1935 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "KAN 35" at right | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1936 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "KAN 36" at left | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1937 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "KAN 37" at right | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1938 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "KAN. '38" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1939 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "'39 KAN." centered at top | none | 1-12345
10-1234
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1940 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "KANSAS '40" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345
10-12345
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1941 | Embossed yellow serial on dark red plate with border line; "41 KANSAS" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345
10-12345
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1942–43 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KANSAS '42" centered at bottom; sunflower decals at bottom corners | none | 1-12345
10-12345
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) | Revalidated for 1943 with zinc tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
| 1944 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "KANSAS-44" at top | none | 1-12345
10-12345
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1945 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "KANSAS-45" centered at top | none | 1-12345
10-12345
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1946 | Embossed blue serial on golden yellow plate; "KANSAS-46" centered at top | none | 1-12345
10-12345
100-123 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1947 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "19 KANSAS 47" at top | none | 1-12345
10-12345
100-1234 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1948 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "19 KANSAS 48" at top | none | 1-12345
10-12345
100-1234 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1949 | Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "19 KANSAS 49" at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" at bottom | 1-12345
10-12345
100-1234 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1950 | Embossed green serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "KANSAS 50" centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottom | 1-12345
10-12345
100-1234 | Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) |
| 1951–53}} | Embossed white serial on dark blue state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 51" centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) | First base to use two-letter county codes. Revalidated for 1952 with white tabs, and for 1953 with yellow tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War. |
| 1954 | Embossed black serial on white state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 54" centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1955 | Embossed white serial on black state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 55" centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1956 | Embossed black serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 56" centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1957 | Embossed red serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 57" centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" at bottom, offset to right | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1958 | Embossed yellow serial on blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 58" centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" at bottom, offset to right | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1959 | Embossed blue serial on yellow plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 59" centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" at bottom, offset to right | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1960 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 60" centered at top | "CENTENNIAL 1961" at bottom, offset to right | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) | Both this and the 1961 base commemorated Kansas' 100 years of statehood. |
| 1961 | Embossed brown serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 61" centered at top | "CENTENNIAL 1961" at bottom, offset to right | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1962 | Embossed white serial on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 62" centered at top | none | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1963 | Embossed green serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 63" centered at top | none | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1964 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 64" centered at top | none | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1965 | Embossed white serial on red plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 65" centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1966 | Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 66" centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1967 | Embossed white serial on Columbia blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 67" centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1968 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 68" centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1969 | Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 69" centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1970 | Embossed white serial on pale green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 70" centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" centered at bottom | A/B}}-12345 | A/B}}) |
| 1971 | Embossed white serial on red plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A/B}} 12345
{{small|A/B}} C12345 | A/B}}) and month of expiration (C) | A/B}} 12345 serial format was used only on plates expiring on July 31. |
| 1971–72 | Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A/B}} C12345 | A/B}}) and month of expiration (C) | Plates expired from February 29 through December 31, 1972. |
| 1972–73 | Embossed gold serial on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A/B}} C12345 | A/B}}) and month of expiration (C) | Plates expired from February 28 through December 31, 1973. |
| 1973–74 | Embossed white serial on red plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS" and month of expiration centered at top and bottom respectively | none | {{small|A/B}} C12345 | Coded by county of issuance ({{small|A/B}}) and month of expiration (C) | 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. |
| As above, but with "KANSAS 74" at top, and without month of expiration |
| "WHEAT CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom |
| 1974–75 | Embossed white serial on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 75" centered at top | "WHEAT CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom | {{small|A/B}} C12345 | Coded by county of issuance ({{small|A/B}}) and month of expiration (C) | Plates expired from February 28 through December 31, 1975. The first plates without the slogan expired on August 31, 1975. |
| none |
| Image | Dates issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|
| 1975–80}} | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 76" centered at top | none | A/B}} C12345 | A/B}}) and month of expiration (C) |
| 1980–82 | Embossed white serial on blue plate; yellow stalk of wheat screened at left; "KANSAS" screened in yellow centered at top | none | A/B}} C12345 | A/B}}) and month of expiration (C) | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1980 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Kansas was so honored. |
| 1982–88 | Embossed blue serial on white plate; gold sunflower screened at top left; "KANSAS" screened in blue centered at top | none | A/B}} C12345 | A/B}}) and month of expiration (C) | Issued only to new registrants. Serials in each county, for each month, continued from where the 1980–82 plates left off.[2] |
| 1988–90 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; brown stalk of wheat screened in the center; pale yellow band screened across top containing stylized "KANSAS" in the center and three dark blue stripes on either side | none | ABC 123 | AAA 000 to approximately DVD 999 |
| 1990–93 | DVE 000 to approximately GRR 999 | State name made more legible. |
| 1994 – January 2001 | Embossed blue serial on light blue, white and light yellow gradient plate; yellow stalk of wheat screened in the center; "KANSAS" screened in blue centered at top | none | ABC 123 | GRS 000 to approximately PAZ 999;
SMA 000 to approximately SVB 999 | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1994 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Kansas was so honored. |
| January 2001 – April 2007 | Embossed black serial on sky blue plate; State Capitol screened in the center surrounded by clouds; fading gold band screened at bottom with gold wheat stalks at left; "KANSAS" screened in black centered at top | none | ABC 123 | PBA 000 to approximately SLZ 999;
TAA 000 to approximately XUY 499 |
| April 2007 – August 14, 2018 | Embossed dark blue serial on light blue plate; top half of state seal screened in white at bottom right; "KANSAS" screened in dark blue centered at top | none | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to approximately 999 LJW | 'I' series not issued.[2] |
| August 15, 2018[3] – present | As above, but with screened black serial | 000 LJX to approximately 999 LYH (as of March 27, 2019) |
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.[4]
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 Decatur, Dickinson, Hodgeman, Leavenworth, Logan, McPherson (MC is used for Mitchell), Norton (NO is used for Neosho), Pawnee, and Pottawatomie.
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.
1. ^{{cite magazine |last=Garrish |first=Christopher |date=October 2016 |title=Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size |magazine=Plates |publisher=Automobile License Plate Collectors Association |volume=62 |number=5}}
2. ^1 {{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutlicenseplates.com/athome.asp?State=Kansas |title=Kansas License Plates |publisher=allaboutlicenseplates.com |accessdate=October 18, 2016}}
3. ^{{cite news|last=Obermeyer |first=Madison |date=July 19, 2018 |title=Don’t lose that decal: new license plate production to start Aug. 15 |url=https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article214968625.html |newspaper=The Wichita Eagle |accessdate=December 13, 2018}}
4. ^Codes from the 2005-06 Kansas state transportation map (index of counties).