How to fill out Kansas TR-13

The one-page fork in a damaged or uninsured car's road, with three prongs. Salvage, for a vehicle damaged by flood, fire, or wrecked - one reason only, says the form. Nonhighway, for a vehicle that dropped its liability insurance or was never manufactured for street use, the box that covers ATVs, dirt bikes and the project car in the barn. And non-repairable, the prong with no way back: both of its boxes must be ticked, the first declaring the designation irreversible, the second acknowledging the vehicle can never be registered or retitled for road use in any state, or sold whole to anyone but a recycler.

Written against TR-13 (Rev 07/24), issued under K.S.A. 8-197 and 8-135c. Between the nonhighway prongs, the insurance box is the one ordinary sellers actually meet - the project car whose coverage lapsed years ago cannot be re-registered without either restoring insurance or taking the nonhighway title this affidavit applies for. Choose it knowingly: the nonhighway brand stays in the vehicle's history even after a formerly-nonhighway title brings it back, and the buyer's MVE-1 examination is waiting at the far end of the restoration.

Two documents, and they are not the same thing. Take the blank TR-13 from the ksrevenue.gov copy so you get the revision that is current today, then print our TR-13 guide and keep it beside you while you fill theirs in.

Every line, in the order you meet it

1. 1
   You fill this in

   The vehicle

   The salvaged vehicle's year, make, body style and VIN.

   Watch out: From the certificate, as always - this affidavit gets attached to that certificate, and the two must describe the same car.

2. 2
   You fill this in

   Pick the section that is true

   Salvage for flood, fire or wreck damage; nonhighway for dropped insurance or never-street-legal machines; non-repairable for a vehicle that is parts and scrap.

   Watch out: One section, and within it one reason. The salvage and nonhighway headers both print must check only one, and a hedged affidavit is a returned one.

3. 3
   You fill this in

   Non-repairable means never

   If - and only if - the vehicle is truly done: both boxes, the irreversible acknowledgement and the never-registered-anywhere acknowledgement.

   Watch out: The form defines irreversible in capitals: the certificate cannot be reversed or removed. No resale as a whole vehicle to anyone but a recycler, in any state, ever. Price that sentence before ticking it.

4. 4
   You fill this in

   Sign the operation promise

   Signature, date, and hand printed name under the certification that the vehicle stays off the road until insured, retitled and plated.

   Watch out: The promise covers the tow to the buyer too - a nonhighway car travels on a trailer, not on a last quiet drive across town.

5. 5
   You fill this in

   Attach, apply, and keep your copy

   The affidavit goes with the title to the county treasurer for the salvage, nonhighway or non-repairable title; a transferring seller keeps a copy on file.

   Watch out: The buyer's clock is printed in the notice - application for the appropriate title within 30 days of assignment - and your retained copy is the proof of what was disclosed.

What gets this one rejected

• •Two reasons ticked in one section. Both the salvage and nonhighway sections print the same instruction - must check only one reason listed.
• •A non-repairable designation with one box ticked. The form requires both boxes checked, because the second is your acknowledgement of what the first can never undo.
• •Filing it loose. The notice at the foot requires the affidavit attached to the certificate of title before making application for a salvage, non-highway or non-repairable title.
• •Ticking non-repairable to dodge storage or towing on a car that runs. The designation is forever, the vehicle can never be retitled for the road in any state, and no later owner, buyer or state can fix what this box does.
• •Driving the vehicle after signing. The certification above your signature promises it stays off the streets and highways until insurance is back and a roadworthy title and plate have been issued.

Rules that decide whether it is accepted

• •Salvage and nonhighway have a road back. The notice spells out the asymmetry: only a salvage and nonhighway vehicle may be repaired or restored and retitled as rebuilt salvage or formerly nonhighway. Non-repairable is the prong with no return.
• •The brand is permanent either way. Once designated salvage, nonhighway or non-repairable, the vehicle is forever branded as such - restoration changes the title's name, not its history.
• •Sellers keep a copy. The notice's own instruction for a transfer: a seller or owner transferring a salvage or nonhighway vehicle on a properly assigned Kansas certificate should retain a copy of this affidavit in their files - and the buyer must apply for the appropriate title within 30 days of assignment.
• •An insurer's total loss starts a 30-day clock. Claimants keeping a vehicle an insurer declared non-repairable have 30 days from the insurer's notification to apply for the non-repairable certificate - the insurer notifies the Division, and after that only the non-repairable application is accepted.

Every line here was read off TR-13 (Rev 07/24) itself — the PDF is here — and off the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles pages. This is plain-language help with a form, not legal advice, and where our wording and the agency's differ, theirs governs.

Back to all Kansas seller paperwork, or what selling a car in Kansas involves.