What happens if you drive without a valid license in Kansas?
A new Kansas state law going into effect Thursday has invalidated the driver’s licenses of many residents overnight.
SB 244, which Republican supermajorities in the Kansas Legislature voted last week to enact into law over Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto, invalidates transgender residents’ state identification documents, like birth certificates and driver’s licenses. The law also requires people in government-owned buildings to use restrooms and other multi-occupancy private spaces in accordance with their sex assigned at birth.
“Please note that the Legislature did not include a grace period for updating credentials. That means that once the law is officially enacted, your current credentials will be invalid immediately, and you may be subject to additional penalties if you are operating a vehicle without a valid credential,” read letters mailed by the Kansas Department of Revenue’s vehicles division and dated Monday.
What are the penalties for driving without a valid license in Kansas? Could drivers without a valid license face jail time if stopped by police? Here’s what to know.
Driving without a valid license in Kansas
A spokesperson for KDOR said to The Star in January that the agency processed 159 gender changes on IDs since a district court injunction was lifted in October 2025. Officials say they expect around 1,800 people to have their identity documents now deemed invalid.
The thousands of Kansas residents who now have invalid licenses also face risks of fines and jail time if they’re stopped by police on the road.
A law signed by Kelly in 2023 says first-time offenders are only subject to a fine of at least $100. They are no longer faced with a minimum five-day jail sentence. It’s considered a class B nonperson misdemeanor on the first offense and a class A nonperson misdemeanor on the second or subsequent offenses.
The minimum five-day jail sentence is enforced on the second offense, according to statute 8-262.
After a second offense, later instances could result in a jail sentence of a minimum of 90 days and a minimum fine of $1,500 if:
- They refused to submit a blood, breath or urine test as requested by officers.
- They were convicted of driving without insurance.
- They were convicted of vehicular homicide or involuntary manslaughter.
- They are a habitual violator.
SB 244 provides no funding to help people who need to replace their licenses. Kansas driver’s licenses typically cost around $30.
Drivers in Kansas can check the status of their driver’s licenses on KDOR’s website.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 2:02 PM.
