Kansas Reinstatement Fees: The Amounts You Need
Kansas charges a $100 reinstatement fee to restore a suspended driver's license in most cases. This is a flat fee set by the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles, and it applies regardless of why your license was suspended — whether for unpaid traffic fines, failure to appear in court, child support arrears, or other violations.
The $100 fee is separate from any other costs you may owe. If your suspension was triggered by unpaid court fines or child support, you must pay those amounts in full before the Division of Vehicles will process your reinstatement. If you owe back taxes to the state, those must also be settled. The reinstatement fee itself does not cover these underlying debts.
Some suspensions carry additional fees beyond the standard $100. If your license was suspended for a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, you may face a separate reinstatement fee of $200 instead of $100, depending on whether it is your first or subsequent offense and the specific circumstances of your case. Check with the Division of Vehicles directly about your suspension reason to confirm the exact amount.
Key Takeaways
- The standard Kansas reinstatement fee is $100, paid to the Division of Vehicles when you submit your reinstatement request.
- DUI-related suspensions may carry a $200 reinstatement fee instead of $100, so verify the fee amount for your specific suspension type.
- You must pay all underlying debts — court fines, child support arrears, or back taxes — before the Division of Vehicles will process your reinstatement, in addition to the reinstatement fee itself.
- Payment methods and where to send your fee depend on your suspension reason; the Division of Vehicles will specify the correct payment address or online portal when you contact them.
- Reinstatement fees are non-refundable, even if your request is denied for incomplete paperwork or missing documentation.
How to Pay the Reinstatement Fee
You submit the reinstatement fee directly to the Kansas Division of Vehicles. The most common method is by mail: you send a check or money order payable to the "Kansas Department of Revenue" along with your reinstatement process and any required documents to the address provided by the Division of Vehicles.
Some suspensions allow you to pay online through the Division of Vehicles website or by phone. Before you send payment, contact the Division of Vehicles at 785-296-3671 to confirm the correct payment method for your suspension type and to receive the mailing address or online payment link. This step prevents you from sending payment to the wrong address or using an outdated method.
Do not send cash through the mail. Money orders and checks are the safest options if you are paying by mail. If you pay online or by phone, keep a confirmation number or receipt as proof of payment. You will need this if there is any delay in processing your reinstatement.
What Happens If You Cannot Pay the Full Amount
Kansas does not offer a standard payment plan for reinstatement fees. However, if your suspension is tied to unpaid court fines or child support, the court or child support enforcement agency may allow you to set up a payment arrangement. Once you have a payment plan in place with the underlying creditor, contact the Division of Vehicles to ask whether they will process your reinstatement while you are making payments on the fines or support.
Some courts will reduce or waive fines if you demonstrate financial hardship, but this requires a formal request to the court, not to the Division of Vehicles. If your license suspension is blocking your ability to work, document this and bring it to your court date or contact the prosecutor's office to ask about hardship relief. The Division of Vehicles itself does not have authority to waive or reduce the reinstatement fee.
Timeline and Processing After You Pay
Once the Division of Vehicles receives your reinstatement fee and all required documents, processing typically takes 5 to 10 business days. If you pay by mail, add 3 to 5 days for delivery time before processing begins. If you pay online, processing can start when ready.
The Division of Vehicles will mail you a new license or a reinstatement notice to the address on file. If you need your license sooner, ask whether you can pick it up in person at a Division of Vehicles office. Not all locations offer same-day pickup, so call ahead to confirm.
If your reinstatement is denied — for example, because you did not include all required documents or because an underlying debt was not fully paid — the Division of Vehicles will notify you by mail. The reinstatement fee is not refunded in this case. You will need to correct the problem and resubmit, which may require paying the fee again.
Reinstatement Fees for Different Suspension Types
The reinstatement fee varies slightly depending on why your license was suspended. A standard suspension for unpaid traffic fines or failure to appear costs $100. A suspension for DUI or driving with a suspended license may cost $200. A suspension related to child support enforcement also costs $100, though you must pay the child support arrears separately.
If you are unsure which fee applies to you, call the Division of Vehicles and provide your driver's license number. They will tell you the suspension reason and the exact reinstatement fee. Do not guess or send $100 if your suspension may be DUI-related; sending too little delays your reinstatement.
Common Mistakes That Delay Reinstatement
The most frequent error is sending only the reinstatement fee without the required documents. The fee alone does not reinstate your license. You must also submit a completed reinstatement process, proof that underlying debts are paid, and any other documents the Division of Vehicles specifies based on your suspension reason.
Another mistake is sending payment to the wrong address. If your suspension is related to child support, some people send payment to the child support enforcement office instead of the Division of Vehicles. This delays everything. Always confirm the correct mailing address or payment method with the Division of Vehicles before you send anything.
Sending a personal check without a return address or phone number also causes delays. If the check bounces or there is a question about the payment, the Division of Vehicles cannot contact you. Write your driver's license number and phone number on the check itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with a suspended license if I have paid the reinstatement fee but my license has not arrived yet?
No. Paying the fee does not give you permission to drive. You can only drive once your reinstatement is processed and your new license is issued or you receive written reinstatement notice from the Division of Vehicles. Driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense and will result in additional fines and possible jail time.
What if I paid the reinstatement fee but my license was suspended again before it arrived?
Contact the Division of Vehicles when ready. If a new suspension was issued after you paid but before your reinstatement was processed, you may need to pay an additional fee or resolve the new suspension first. The Division of Vehicles will explain the order in which suspensions must be cleared.
Is the $100 reinstatement fee the same in every Kansas county?
Yes. The reinstatement fee is set by the state Division of Vehicles, not by individual counties. Every county in Kansas charges $100 for a standard reinstatement and $200 for DUI-related reinstatements. However, local court fines or child support arrears vary by county and must be paid separately.
Can I get a refund if I pay the reinstatement fee and then decide not to reinstate my license?
No. Reinstatement fees are non-refundable once submitted to the Division of Vehicles. If you change your mind, the fee is forfeited. If your reinstatement is denied due to incomplete paperwork, the fee is also not refunded, and you will need to pay it again if you reapply.
Do I have to pay the reinstatement fee if my suspension was a mistake?
If the Division of Vehicles made an error and your suspension should never have been issued, you may be able to have it removed without paying the reinstatement fee. Contact the Division of Vehicles with documentation of the error. If they confirm the mistake, they should clear the suspension at no cost. However, if the suspension was valid but you believe it was unfair, you still owe the reinstatement fee to restore your license.