Getting a Kansas Driver's License

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

A Kansas Class C driver's license is the standard adult credential for non-commercial passenger vehicles. The KDOR Division of Vehicles handles every step at one of approximately 70 Driver License Examination Stations across the state. The same DC-78 application is used whether the applicant is a brand-new driver, a teen graduating from a Restricted License, or a transfer from another state.

Eligibility

The minimum age for a full unrestricted Kansas Class C license is 16, after holding the Restricted License for a year with no major violations. Adult applicants who are 17 or older and never licensed before can apply directly for a Class C, but they still need a valid Instruction Permit, a passed knowledge test, and a passed road test. New residents from another state have 90 days to convert an out-of-state license; the road test is generally waived if the prior license is valid and unexpired, but the written test is at the examiner's discretion.

Documents required

For a federally compliant REAL ID Kansas license (the kind with the small star icon on the front), bring to your local Driver License Examination Station:

One identity document — a U.S. birth certificate (with raised seal), a certified copy, or an unexpired U.S. passport.
Proof of Social Security number — SSA card, W-2, SSA-1099, or a recent pay stub showing the full SSN.
Two proofs of Kansas residency from two separate sources, dated within the last 60 days — utility bill, lease, mortgage, bank statement, voter registration, or insurance declaration page.
A completed Form DC-78 application.
Proof of legal name change (marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order) if your documents do not match.

Fees

The Kansas Class C first-time license fee is approximately $23 for a standard six-year credential, with a $4 photo fee added at issuance. A REAL ID upgrade does not carry an additional fee in Kansas — it's the same $23 plus photo. Drivers under 21 and drivers 65 and older pay a reduced fee for the shorter four-year cycle. A road test fee of $3 to $5 may apply at some examination stations.

The written knowledge test

Kansas's written exam draws from the current Kansas Driving Handbook. The test is 25 questions multiple-choice; you must answer at least 20 correctly (an 80% score) to pass. Topics emphasized: right-of-way at four-way stops, passing rules on rural two-lane highways (Kansas has many of them), school-bus passing rules, the move-over law for emergency vehicles, the BAC table, child-restraint requirements, and the state's seat-belt law. The test is offered in English and Spanish, and an audio version is available for applicants with reading difficulties.

The road test

Kansas requires a behind-the-wheel road test for almost every first-time applicant. The test runs roughly 15 to 20 minutes in a vehicle the applicant brings, with proof of car insurance and a current registration. Examiners score on:

Pre-drive vehicle inspection — signals, brake lights, mirrors, horn, and tires.
Smooth, controlled acceleration and braking.
Lane changes with proper signal, mirror, and head-check sequence.
Right and left turns from the correct lane to the correct lane.
Stopping behind the limit line at controlled intersections, no rolling stops.
Backing in a straight line and either parallel parking or angle parking depending on the station.
Highway entry and merging if the route includes a controlled-access road.

The most frequent reasons Kansas applicants fail: rolling stops at stop signs, incomplete head checks during lane changes, and turning into the wrong lane.

License delivery

After passing both exams and paying the fee, you'll receive a paper temporary credential that's valid until the permanent card arrives. The permanent license is mailed by the central issuance vendor and arrives in 7 to 14 business days at the address on the application. If the card hasn't arrived in three weeks, contact the KDOR Driver Solutions line. New drivers should also file an address update immediately if they move during the wait.

For new residents

If you've moved to Kansas from another state, plan to:

Surrender the out-of-state license at any Driver License Examination Station.
Pass a vision screening; written and road tests are at the examiner's discretion based on the prior license.
Pay the standard $23 fee plus the photo fee.
Update voter registration through the same transaction if desired.
Register the vehicle within 60 days at your county treasurer's office — see Kansas vehicle registration.