Title XVI, Motor Vehicles

vehicle. (1) Any person may, when initially registering or renewing any motor vehicle registration, make a voluntary contribution to the veterans' program trust fund established under KRS 40.460(2)(b). Any monetary contribution shall be accepted, and there shall not be a minimum …

(1) (a) Except as provided in this subsection and KRS 186A.127 and 186.045, the owner shall have the receipt issued by the cabinet through the county clerk constantly in his possession, and shall display the registration plate conspicuously upon the rear of the motor vehicle, exc…

(1) Upon application to the county clerk of the county of his residence, any current or retired member of a fire department, volunteer fire department, or fire protection district in the Commonwealth shall be issued a special firefighter license plate that shall bear the inscript…

(1) Upon application to the county clerk of the county of his or her residence, the owner or lessee of a motor vehicle registered under KRS 186.050(1) or (3)(a) may obtain an I Support Veterans special license plate. (2) Each initial or renewal application for an I Support Vetera…

(1) For purposes of this section, "personalized license plate" means a license plate manufactured by the cabinet upon an applicant's request with specific letters or numbers or combinations of letters and numbers significant to the applicant. (2) Any owner or lessee of a motor ve…

and issuance of new plates upon loss of plate -- Reporting of lost plates -- Issuance of plates upon removal from one county to another -- Reinstatement after revocation under KRS 186A.040 -- Proof of insurance. (Effective until January 1, 2027) (1) (a) If an owner loses his or h…

The secretary of the Transportation Cabinet shall, upon receipt of a report from the Transportation Cabinet or the Department of Vehicle Regulation of a canceled motor vehicle registration plate, cause all members of the Department of Kentucky State Police and such peace officers…

registration plate transfers -- Clerk's fee. (Effective until January 1, 2027) (1) (a) Except as provided for in paragraph (e) of this subsection, when a motor vehicle that has been previously registered changes ownership, the registration plate shall not remain upon the motor ve…

(1) In any instance where a transfer of a motor vehicle is accompanied by a certificate of title or registration and the vehicle has had the vehicle identification number removed, altered, defaced, or covered, the owner shall, before delivery of the vehicle to any other person, o…

(1) The county clerk shall not transfer the registration of any motor vehicle or vehicle as defined in KRS 186.650 unless evidence is presented in such form as the Transportation Cabinet may prescribe that all excise taxes imposed on the sale, transfer or use of the motor vehicle…

The county clerk shall not transfer the registration on any motor vehicle or trailer against which a tax lien has been filed until the taxes have been paid and the lien has been released.

(1) The bill of sale provided for by KRS 186.190 shall contain the date, the purchaser's name and post office address, seller's name and post office address, and the information provided for in KRS 186.030 and shall be subscribed and sworn to before any officer authorized to admi…

receipts. (1) No person shall make any false statement in an application for registration, application for duplicate receipt or plate, bill of sale, registration receipt, motor number or vehicle identification number. No person shall use, display or keep registration plates or re…

collecting taxes and fees prohibited. The county clerk shall see that KRS 186.005 to 186.260 are enforced. In so doing, the clerk shall: (1) Take all applications as provided in KRS 186.005 to 186.260; (2) Issue the receipts on blanks furnished by the cabinet; (3) Collect the fee…

insurance and notarized affidavit presented. (1) The county clerk shall not transfer the registration on any motor vehicle or trailer against which a tax lien has been filed until the taxes have been paid and the lien has been released. (2) The county clerk shall not transfer the…

license plate program fund -- Use of receipts -- Accounting by clerk -- Audit. (1) It shall be the duty of the cabinet to carry out the provisions of KRS 186.005 to 186.260, and: (a) Provide to the clerk in each county access to all forms provided for in KRS 186.005 to 186.260; (…

Beginning January 1, 2007, every county clerk shall post a permanent notice that the fee increases contained in 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 255 were requested by the Kentucky County Clerks Association. The notice shall be printed in bold face type of sufficient point size to be read from a…

KRS 281.765 shall apply in the case of arrests and bail for a violation of any of the provisions of KRS 186.020 to 186.260.

increased tax. Cities may, by ordinance, impose license taxes on motor trucks, truck-tractors, semitrailers and trailers and require that registration plates issued as evidence of the licenses be affixed to the vehicle in some conspicuous place as prescribed by ordinance. No new …

(1) The Department of Vehicle Regulation shall provide and receive information on the emissions test status of vehicles registered in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Department of Vehicle Regulation shall provide appropriate emissions test and compliance status to the Departmen…

(1) The administration of the provisions of KRS 186.400 to 186.640 shall be vested in the Transportation Cabinet. The Transportation Cabinet may prescribe regulations for the enforcement of KRS 186.400 to 186.640. The Transportation Cabinet also shall enforce regulations governin…

As used in KRS 186.400 to 186.640: (1) "Driver's license" means an operator's license issued pursuant to KRS 186.4102, 186.412, and 186.4121; (2) "Operator's license," unless otherwise indicated, includes a motor vehicle operator's license, a motorcycle operator's license, and a …

It is the goal of the General Assembly to improve traffic safety and reduce traffic accident injuries and fatalities by controlling a young driver's exposure and progressively moving the driver into more difficult driving experiences prior to full licensure.

driver's licenses, and personal identification cards -- Application -- Fees -- Issuance -- Administrative regulations. (1) The Transportation Cabinet shall develop a system of issuing voluntary travel ID instruction permits, operator's licenses, commercial driver's licenses, and …

cabinet. (1) Any United States male citizen or immigrant who is at least eighteen (18) years of age but less than twenty-six (26) years of age shall be registered for the United States Selective Service System when applying to the Transportation Cabinet for the issuance, renewal,…

(1) Beginning no later than October 1, 2024, and annually thereafter, the cabinet shall report to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation on identity document issuance at each regional licensing office. (2) The report requ…

cards -- Driver training programs -- Application for travel ID or standard document -- Owner of motor vehicle considered operator when fully autonomous vehicle system engaged. (1) Except as provided in subsection (6) of this section, every person not exempted by KRS 186.420 and 1…

periods. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a license to operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped, or a personal identification card shall be renewed every eight (8) years prior to its expiration. Except as provided in KRS 186.410, a person seeking to …

personal identification card -- Identification number -- Age and organ donor designations -- Voluntary travel ID identity document -- When photograph not required. (1) Except as provided in subsection (9) of this section, the Transportation Cabinet shall issue operator's licenses…

-- Notice and hearing -- Option for determination of ability by medical review board. (1) If a person with a seizure condition applies for an original, duplicate, modified, or renewal operator's license, or applies for an instruction permit, he or she shall be required by the cab…

permit or operator's license -- Information and documents required -- Applicant without fixed residence -- Photograph -- Scanning and retaining of application information -- Temporary license or permit -- Birth certificate -- Oath. (1) As used in this section, "applicant" means a…

citizen or permanent resident -- Immigration status and personal identity documentation and verification -- Renewal or duplicate license -- Term of license. (1) As used in this section, "applicant" means a person who: (a) Is not a United States citizen; (b) Has not been granted s…

permanent resident -- Photograph -- Scanning and retaining application information -- Proof of residency -- Homeless child or youth -- Issuance of personal identification card and operator's license or instruction permit -- Term of identification card. (1) As used in this section…

permanent resident -- Photograph -- Scanning of application documents -- Proof of residency -- Applicant without fixed residence -- Immigration documentation -- Immigration status and personal identity verification -- Term of identification card. (1) As used in this section, "app…

application processors for identity documents -- Eligibility -- Fees. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Identity document" means an operator's license or personal identification card issued under KRS 186.4102, 186.412, 186.4121, 186.4122, or 186.4123; and (b) "Third-party entity"…

In order to apply for a voluntary travel ID identity document under KRS 186.403, the applicant shall present: (1) The applicant's certified birth certificate; (2) A valid, unexpired, United States passport or Permanent Resident Card (Form I- 551); or (3) For persons who meet the …

(1) Notwithstanding KRS 186.450, 186.452, and 186.454, a person who is under eighteen (18) years of age may apply for an operator's license if the person has: (a) Held an instruction permit for a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days; and (b) Enlisted in the United States Arme…

military personnel and spouse and dependents stationed outside of Kentucky -- Veteran's designation on operator's license or personal ID card -- Administrative regulations. (Effective July 15, 2026) (1) If a resident of the Commonwealth currently serving in the United States mili…

felon -- Documentation required -- Processing and issuance -- Administrative regulations governing operator's licenses for eligible current inmates. (1) The Transportation Cabinet shall issue to any felony offender, if the felony offender is eligible, released from the Kentucky D…

identification -- Fee -- Term of child identification card. (1) The Transportation Cabinet shall implement a voluntary statewide child identification program. The program shall issue a photo personal identification card to a child two (2) to fifteen (15) years of age. (2) A paren…

or identification card -- Administrative regulations -- Proof of physical address and citizenship or immigration status. (1) In addition to the information required under KRS 186.412, 186.4121, 186.4122, and 186.4123, an applicant for a voluntary travel ID instruction permit, ope…

Forces. (1) No person need obtain an operator's license to operate a road roller, road machinery or any tractor or implement of husbandry temporarily drawn or propelled on the highways. (2) Every person in the service of the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States, when f…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) or (6) of this section, a person over the age of sixteen (16) who is a United States citizen and who is not a resident of Kentucky may drive in Kentucky for a period of time not to exceed one (1) year from the date the person enters Kentuc…

resident -- Verification of status in other jurisdiction -- Procedures for permanent residents -- Application of driver who becomes Kentucky resident. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, a licensed driver who becomes a Kentucky resident shall, within thirty …

An operator's license shall not be granted to: (1) Any person who is not a resident of Kentucky; (2) Any person under the age of sixteen (16); (3) Any person under the age of eighteen (18) who holds a valid Kentucky instruction permit issued pursuant to KRS 186.450, but who has n…

jurisdiction -- Persons eligible for restricted license -- Application and supporting documents -- Issuance of license valid only in Kentucky -- Removal of restrictions -- Inapplicability to commercial driver's license. (1) The Transportation Cabinet shall, before issuing or rene…

-- Procedures -- Medical report may supersede medical review board -- Authority of cabinet to promulgate administrative regulations -- Prohibition against age-based licensing limitations -- Appeal. (1) A medical review board shall be established to receive cases relating to the a…

The Transportation Cabinet shall establish a restriction on motorcycle operator's licenses which limits the operator to the operation of a three (3) wheeled motorcycle only.

requirements -- Restrictions on driving with permit -- Assessment of points -- Exemption from permit for applicant who completes motorcycle rider training course -- Administrative regulations -- Minors and adults who assume responsibility for them. (1) A person who is at least fi…

(1) Except as provided in KRS 186.415, a person who is under eighteen (18) years of age may apply for an intermediate license to operate a motor vehicle if the person has: (a) Attained the age of sixteen (16) years; (b) Held an instruction permit a minimum of one hundred eighty (…