Title XVI, Motor Vehicles
8 chapters · 518 sections in this title.
KRS § 186.005 Policy on regulation and registration of vehicles -- License plates
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(1) It is declared to be the policy of this Commonwealth that all vehicles should be regulated, registered, and the laws pertaining thereto be administered by the Transportation Cabinet. Motor vehicles other than commercial vehicles should be registered, regulated, and controlled…
KRS § 186.010 Definitions for chapter
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As used in this chapter, unless otherwise indicated: (1) "Cabinet," as used in KRS 186.400 to 186.640, means the Transportation Cabinet; except as specifically designated, "cabinet," as used in KRS 186.020 to 186.270, means the Transportation Cabinet only with respect to motor ve…
KRS § 186.014 Branch offices for processing titling and registration transactions
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In any county, the county clerk may maintain branch offices for the purpose of processing motor vehicle titling and registration transactions.
KRS § 186.016 Cabinet may prescribe methods of record keeping
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Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the cabinet may by regulation prescribe methods of record keeping and reporting by the county clerk to the cabinet.
KRS § 186.017 Transportation Cabinet to establish fees relating to titling and registering motor vehicles by administrative regulation
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motor vehicles by administrative regulation. The Transportation Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to establish fees to be paid to the cabinet and county clerks for services provided in the process of titling and registering mot…
KRS § 186.018 Driving history records of operators -- Fees
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(1) For purposes of maintaining driving history records of operators of motor vehicles of the Commonwealth, the files of the Transportation Cabinet shall be used to ascertain the driving history record of each person who is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within the Commonwea…
KRS § 186.020 Registration requirement -- Application for registration -- Application and other documents to be sent to Transportation Cabinet -- Renewal by mail -- Extension of renewal period for military personnel stationed outside United States -- Exceptions. (Effective between July 15, 2026 and January 1, 2027)
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other documents to be sent to Transportation Cabinet -- Renewal by mail -- Extension of renewal period for military personnel stationed outside United States -- Exceptions. (Effective between July 15, 2026 and January 1, 2027) (1) Before the owner of a motor vehicle, or street-le…
KRS § 186.021 Issuance of replacement plate, decal, registration certificate, or renewal for motor vehicle on which ad valorem taxes are delinquent or which is uninsured -- Option of purchaser to pay delinquent taxes
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motor vehicle on which ad valorem taxes are delinquent or which is uninsured -- Option of purchaser to pay delinquent taxes. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a county clerk shall not issue a replacement plate, decal, or registration certificate as provide…
KRS § 186.023 Title and registration cancelled upon notice of transfer from another jurisdiction
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jurisdiction. The Transportation Cabinet shall cancel the registration and title of any motor vehicle registered or titled in Kentucky within thirty (30) days following receipt of notification from another jurisdiction that the Kentucky title issued for such motor vehicle has bee…
KRS § 186.025 Cabinet to furnish list of owners of registered vehicles to Department of Revenue
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Revenue. Effective January 1, 1981, the Transportation Cabinet shall, by April 1 of each year, provide the Department of Revenue with a listing of all owners of motor vehicles registered in Kentucky on an anniversary basis under KRS 186.051 as of the preceding January 1. The list…
KRS § 186.030 Form of application
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(1) The application form shall contain spaces for the names and post office addresses of the owner and of the lien holder as shown by chattel mortgage, or other instrument construed as such in this state, on file in the office of the county clerk in the county in which the motor …
KRS § 186.032 Voluntary inclusion of information that an owner, lesser, or operator of a motor vehicle is deaf or hard of hearing or has a communication disorder in Kentucky vehicle registration system database -- Deaf or hard of hearing protection trust fund -- Notice of availability of database designation
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motor vehicle is deaf or hard of hearing or has a communication disorder in Kentucky vehicle registration system database -- Deaf or hard of hearing protection trust fund -- Notice of availability of database designation. (1) As used in this section, "communication disorder" mean…
KRS § 186.038 Authorized methods of payment -- Status of fees charged to a county clerk
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(1) In addition to any payment method authorized by law and notwithstanding any statute to the contrary, a county clerk may accept the following methods of payment to collect taxes, state fees, and county clerk fees under this chapter and KRS Chapters 138 and 186A: (a) Credit car…
KRS § 186.040 Issuance of certificate of registration -- Plates -- Clerk's fee -- Donations to child care assistance account -- Additional fees and distribution. (Effective until January 1, 2027)
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child care assistance account -- Additional fees and distribution. (Effective until January 1, 2027) (1) (a) Upon receiving the application and fee, the county clerk shall issue to the owner a certificate of registration containing the information required by subsection (2) of th…
KRS § 186.041 Special military-related license plates
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(1) Each initial and renewal application by a person who meets the criteria of paragraph (a) of this subsection and each initial application by a person who meets the criteria of paragraph (b), (c), or (d) of this subsection for a special military license plate shall be accompani…
KRS § 186.042 Accessible parking registration plates and parking privileges for persons with certain disabilities -- Application procedure -- Issuance
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with certain disabilities -- Application procedure -- Issuance. (1) For the purposes of this section, "persons with disabilities which limit or impair the ability to walk" means persons who: (a) Cannot walk two hundred (200) feet or sixty-one (61) meters without stopping to rest;…
KRS § 186.0422 Display of international symbol of access on accessible parking registration plate
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registration plate. Any person eligible for an accessible parking registration plate under KRS 186.042 who has been issued, or is eligible for, a special license plate shall make application to the cabinet by September 1 of the preceding registration year that the special plate b…
KRS § 186.0425 Accessible parking registration plate for vehicle used to transport persons with a disability -- Extension of legal parking period
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with a disability -- Extension of legal parking period. (1) On the application of any agency or organization which transports persons with a disability described in KRS 186.042 as part of the service provided by that agency or organization to the county clerk for an accessible pa…
KRS § 186.043 Special license plates for historic motor vehicles -- Permanent registration
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(1) In enacting this section, it is the intention of the General Assembly to recognize the special value of historic vehicles to the Commonwealth, and also to recognize that historic vehicles, because of their limited use and easily identifiable characteristics, do not require th…
KRS § 186.0435 Display of vintage Kentucky license plates on historic vehicle
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Any motor vehicle that meets the age requirements of a "historic vehicle" as used in KRS 186.043(2) and is registered in accordance with KRS 186.050 may display an authentic Kentucky license plate, twenty-five (25) years or older, or a reproduction of such a plate, if the current…
KRS § 186.045 Discharge by payment in full -- Duties of secured party when security interest is discharged -- Filing -- Time -- Fees -- Notations showing security interest -- Clerk not liable for accepting fraudulent termination statement
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interest is discharged -- Filing -- Time -- Fees -- Notations showing security interest -- Clerk not liable for accepting fraudulent termination statement. (1) A perfected security interest in a motor vehicle or manufactured home that has been satisfied by payment in full shall b…
KRS § 186.049 Voluntary donation to the Kentucky Circuit Clerks' Trust for Life to promote organ donation
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promote organ donation. (1) (a) Any person applying online for motor vehicle registration renewal shall be requested by the cabinet, at the time of renewal, to make a voluntary donation to promote an organ donor program. (b) A county clerk may ask any person applying for an initi…
KRS § 186.050 Registration fees -- Voluntary donation for wildlife management and conservation activities and the agricultural program trust fund -- Collection of electric vehicle ownership fees
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conservation activities and the agricultural program trust fund -- Collection of electric vehicle ownership fees. (1) The annual registration fee shall be eleven dollars and fifty cents ($11.50) for: (a) Motor vehicles, including pickup trucks and passenger vans; and (b) Motor ca…
KRS § 186.051 Year-round registration system -- Cabinet may designate separate registration years -- Staggered registration system for commercial motor vehicles
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registration years -- Staggered registration system for commercial motor vehicles. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, the cabinet shall by January 1, 1978, establish a year-round system for the registration of vehicles under the provisions of KRS 186.050(1). The …
KRS § 186.053 License for dealer-demonstrator trucks or tractors -- Fee -- Tags
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(1) Every dealer in motor trucks or tractors to be used in combination with semitrailers who engages in the practice of transporting property for demonstration purposes shall pay to the Department of Vehicle Regulation an annual tax based on the gross weight of the motor vehicle …
KRS § 186.056 Refund of portion of extra weight fees when ownership and use of vehicle are changed; refund or credit when use permanently discontinued
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are changed; refund or credit when use permanently discontinued. (1) Whenever the ownership of a vehicle which has been registered at a declared gross weight in excess of 18,000 pounds under KRS 186.050 is changed, a refund of that portion of the tax paid allocable to the remaind…
KRS § 186.059 Operation of overweight commercial vehicle -- Ineligibility for exemption -- Department hearing -- Appeal
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- Department hearing -- Appeal. (1) Operation of a commercial vehicle at a gross weight in excess of the declared gross weight at which such vehicle is registered under subsection (8), (9), or (10) of KRS 186.050, shall make any owner or operator, otherwise entitled to a reduced …
KRS § 186.060 Motor vehicles leased or owned by governmental units or emergency and ambulance vehicles operated by nonprofit corporations organized by units of government -- Use of official plates on motor vehicles leased by governmental entity
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ambulance vehicles operated by nonprofit corporations organized by units of government -- Use of official plates on motor vehicles leased by governmental entity. (1) Applications for registration of motor vehicles leased or owned by a county, city, urban-county, or board of educa…
KRS § 186.061 Motor vehicles owned by nonprofit volunteer fire department, volunteer fire prevention unit, or volunteer fire protection unit. (Effective until January 1, 2027)
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fire prevention unit, or volunteer fire protection unit. (Effective until January 1, 2027) (1) Applications for registration of motor vehicles owned exclusively by any nonprofit volunteer fire department, volunteer fire prevention unit, or volunteer fire protection unit shall be …
KRS § 186.065 State-owned vehicles -- How marked -- Exceptions
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(1) Every state-owned motor vehicle, except as provided in subsection (2), shall have an official license plate. Except as provided in subsections (2), (3), and (4) on one (1) door on each side of every state-owned vehicle shall be the great seal of the Commonwealth and the words…
KRS § 186.067 Publicly owned vehicles, how marked -- Exceptions
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(1) All publicly owned vehicles shall be properly identified by an insignia on one (1) door on each side of every such vehicle. (2) Such insignia shall not be less than twelve (12) inches in width and not less than twenty-one (21) inches in length, of a design so chosen by the le…
KRS § 186.068 Transit tag for transporting motor vehicle out of state -- Administrative regulations -- Exclusion of motor vehicle dealers and distributors
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regulations -- Exclusion of motor vehicle dealers and distributors. (1) Individual sellers or owners of motor vehicles that would ordinarily be registered under KRS 186.050(3) may obtain a transit tag from the Transportation Cabinet in order to transport the motor vehicle out of …
KRS § 186.070 Registration of manufacturers and dealers -- Dealer's plates and stickers -- Names of drivers authorized to use dealer's plates to be available to law enforcement agencies -- Revocation of licenses -- Appeal
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Names of drivers authorized to use dealer's plates to be available to law enforcement agencies -- Revocation of licenses -- Appeal. (1) (a) Every manufacturer of, or dealer in, motor vehicles in this state shall register with each county clerk in which his or her principal office…
KRS § 186.072 Commercial motor vehicle temporary registration placard -- Application process -- Uses -- Record of use -- Activation
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process -- Uses -- Record of use -- Activation. (1) For the purposes of this section, "motor truck" and "truck tractor" shall have the same meaning as established in KRS 189.010. (2) Any manufacturer, dealer, or distributor engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, or cu…
KRS § 186.073 Commercial trailer temporary registration placard -- Application process -- Uses -- Record of use -- Activation
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- Uses -- Record of use -- Activation. (1) For the purposes of this section, "semitrailer" and "trailer" shall have the same meaning as established in KRS 186.650. (2) Any manufacturer, dealer, or distributor engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, or customizing comme…
KRS § 186.077 Street-legal special purpose vehicles -- Requirements -- Prohibitions -- Registration, inspection, and renewal -- Administrative regulations. (Effective between July 15, 2026 and January 1, 2028)
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Registration, inspection, and renewal -- Administrative regulations. (Effective between July 15, 2026 and January 1, 2028) (1) As used in this section: (a) "Local government" means a city, county, charter county government, urban- county government, consolidated local government,…
KRS § 186.078 Local government ordinance on operation of street-legal special purpose vehicles permitted
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vehicles permitted. (1) The legislative body of a local government may, by ordinance, allow the operation of street-legal special purpose vehicles, as defined in KRS 186.077, on highways within the local government's jurisdictional boundaries. (2) A local government may adopt mor…
KRS § 186.110 Interchangeable bodies -- Fees
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(1) If a person owns a motor vehicle which has interchangeable bodies for same so that at one time the motor vehicle may be classed as a passenger automobile and at another time as a truck, has registered same as a passenger automobile, he shall, before using it as a truck, pay t…
KRS § 186.115 Registration of vehicle assembled from parts of wrecked or salvaged motor vehicles
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vehicles. When the owner of a motor vehicle which has been assembled from parts from wrecked or salvaged motor vehicles presents such a vehicle for registration, he or she shall submit an affidavit and any invoices showing the purchase of such parts to either the county clerk or …
KRS § 186.120 Refund of portion of fee when motor vehicle destroyed
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(1) If any motor vehicle other than a commercial vehicle upon which the license tax has been paid is destroyed by fire or accident, so that the vehicle is rendered entirely useless the owner shall be entitled to have refunded to him a part of the license fee paid by him proportio…
KRS § 186.130 Proportionate fees for commercial vehicle operated after registration year began
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began. If any person offers a commercial vehicle for registration after April 1 of any year by reason of not having operated such vehicle on the public highways after April 1 of that year, the registration fee shall be as many twelfths of the annual fee as there are unexpired mon…
KRS § 186.140 Reciprocity for nonresidents
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Except as provided in KRS 281.835 and 281.836, a nonresident owner, from a state not requiring registration of nonresidents temporarily in it, who has complied with the laws of the state of his residence relating to registration of motor vehicles, and who displays the requisite p…
KRS § 186.145 Registration of nonresident by use of copy of registration or title document
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document. Any motor vehicle properly registered and titled in another state belonging to a nonresident, which vehicle is required to be registered in this state by reason of lack of reciprocal agreement with the state in which it is registered, or by reason of not qualifying for …
KRS § 186.150 Residents not to use license of other states
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(1) No resident operating a motor vehicle on the highways, shall secure or license the motor vehicle in any state other than Kentucky unless so licensed in conformity with a motor vehicle reciprocal arrangement or under the international registration plan. (2) The use of a licens…
KRS § 186.160 Motor numbers essential to registration -- Assignment of number
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No clerk shall receive an application for registration nor register a motor vehicle, unless the motor vehicle bears a motor number or a vehicle identification number. If there is no motor number or vehicle identification number, or if the number is not plainly legible, the owner …
KRS § 186.162 Special license plates for members or supporters of certain groups and organizations -- Initial and renewal fees -- Combination of special license plate with personalized license plate -- Special license plates for motorcycles. (Effective between July 15, 2026 and January 1, 2027)
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organizations -- Initial and renewal fees -- Combination of special license plate with personalized license plate -- Special license plates for motorcycles. (Effective between July 15, 2026 and January 1, 2027) (1) As used in this section and in KRS 186.043, 186.164, 186.166, 186…
KRS § 186.163 Special license plates for specified military units -- Qualifications -- Proof required
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required. (1) The Transportation Cabinet shall produce special military unit license plates for owners and lessees of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles who are associated with the following units of the United States military: (a) The V Corps; (b) The 101st A…
KRS § 186.164 Collection and distribution of special license plate fees -- Design, printing, and replacement -- Application process -- Voluntary contribution for designated group -- Administrative regulations -- Audit of special license plate funds -- Annual report
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and replacement -- Application process -- Voluntary contribution for designated group -- Administrative regulations -- Audit of special license plate funds -- Annual report. (1) The SF portion of the fee required under KRS 186.162 shall include the fee to reflectorize all license…
KRS § 186.165 Exchange of one special license plate for another -- Transfer of special license plate to another vehicle
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license plate to another vehicle. (1) As used in this section, "owner" means a person who has purchased or leased a motor vehicle that is registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(1) or (3)(a). (2) The provisions of this chapter relating to special license plates to the cont…
KRS § 186.166 Perpetual production of certain special license plates -- Design of Purple Heart license plates
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Heart license plates. (1) The Transportation Cabinet shall, unless directed otherwise by the General Assembly, perpetually produce the following special license plates: military license plates, military unit license plates, U.S. Congressional license plates, firefighter license p…