By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

The process of an initial purchase of a Kansas license plate changes this year, and so do the license plates.

According to county treasurer Jeannine Bateman, specialty license plates will be temporarily unavailable between April 27 and Aug. 3.

Owners of newly-purchased cars will still come to the office to pay taxes and fees. At that time they will get a 30-day temporary license tag and a county decal to apply when their permanent license tag comes in the mail.

License plates, which will be flat instead of embossed, will be printed on demand and mailed directly to the car owner instead of stored in stacks at division of motor vehicles offices.

“It’s supposed to be more cost effective,” Bateman said.

Bateman said the state has not yet announced when the new process will be rolled out for license plate renewals.

“At this point in time it’s on new purchases or specialty plates only,” Bateman said.