Wichita, Kansas. — West Wichita residents have a new, permanent destination for vehicle registration, but it isn’t a government building. The Sedgwick County Treasurer’s Office has officially opened a satellite tag office inside Mel Hambelton Ford at 11771 W. Kellogg Drive. The opening marks a significant milestone in a rapid strategic pivot by the county to decentralize services and cut costs.
The new office, which handles renewals, title work, and personalized plates, operates under a strict “appointment-only” policy. While the setting is commercial, the function is purely civic, filling a geographic void left by recent closures and offering relief to the growing population in Goddard and West Wichita.
From Crisis to Partnership
The shift to car dealerships represents the Treasurer’s Office’s answer to a difficult fiscal math problem. In late 2025, the Board of County Commissioners voted to close the standalone Kellogg Tag Office, buying out its lease three years early. Treasurer Brandi Baily stated that consolidating resources would save the county approximately $360,000 annually—money she argued was necessary to stabilize a budget strained by “inadequate state funding.”
However, closing a major thoroughfare office created immediate pressure to find alternatives. The solution was the “Community Partner” model. Both the new Mel Hambelton location and its eastern counterpart at Rusty Eck Ford (7310 E. Kellogg Dr.) are provided at “no cost to the County.” The dealerships absorb the overhead for the space and utilities, allowing the county to deploy staff without paying rent.
“Community partners see the value in supporting citizens where they are,” Baily said regarding the expansion.
A New Way to Wait
The operational model at these new satellite locations is distinctly different from the traditional “take a number and wait” experience. To prevent the dealerships from being overrun, walk-ins are prohibited. Residents must schedule a time slot using the county’s QLess system. Furthermore, these locations are cashless to enhance security and streamline processing.
This digital-first approach is also a defense mechanism against external fragility. The Treasurer’s Office has reported battling frequent outages of the state’s “MOVRS” mainframe. By restricting satellites to appointments, staff can better manage constituent flow during system downtimes compared to a crowded walk-in lobby.
Where to Go: A Guide to Tag Offices in Wichita
With the Kellogg office permanently shuttered and the new satellites online, the map of vehicle services in Sedgwick County has been redrawn. Here is the complete list of active locations as of late 2025:
The Main Hub (Walk-Ins Accepted)
- Douglas Tag Office: 2525 W. Douglas Ave.
- Notes: This is the only location accepting limited walk-ins. However, title work is largely restricted to appointments during the end-of-month rush (27th through the 2nd).
The Dealership Satellites (Appointment Only)
- Mel Hambelton Ford: 11771 W. Kellogg Dr. (West Wichita)
- Rusty Eck Ford: 7310 E. Kellogg Dr. (East Wichita)
Municipal & State Partners (Appointment Only)
- Tyler Road (Wichita West DL): 610 S. Tyler Rd.
- Derby (KS Driver License): 620 N. Rock Rd., Ste 300.
- Park City City Hall: 1941 E. 61st St N.
- Haysville City Hall: 200 W. Grand Ave.
- Ruffin Building: 100 N. Broadway, Ste 100 (Downtown).
Residents looking to book an appointment at any of the satellite locations can do so through the Sedgwick County Tag Office website. Officials urge residents to check the “Required Documents” list before arriving, as the high demand—driven by the state’s five-year license plate replacement cycle—leaves little room for error.
