Title XVI, Motor Vehicles

As used in this chapter: (1) "Approved entity" means: (a) A motor vehicle dealer licensed under KRS Chapter 190 that applies to and is approved by the Transportation Cabinet to facilitate the title application or salvage title application process through the electronic title appl…

Transportation Cabinet to develop system. (1) An automated motor vehicle and trailer registration and titling system shall be developed and implemented as expeditiously as practicable in all counties of the Commonwealth. The automated motor vehicle and trailer registration system…

system. (1) Except as provided for in KRS 235.050, the titling and registration of motorboats as defined in KRS 235.010 shall be administered through the automated motor vehicle and trailer registration and titling system developed and implemented under the provisions of KRS 186A…

approved entity -- Contracts with third parties -- Fees -- Administrative regulations. (1) The cabinet shall establish an electronic title application and registration system which allows the submission of the required forms and signatures electronically in lieu of the paper appl…

institute programs. The Transportation Cabinet shall have any and all necessary power and authority, subject to appropriate provision of the statutes, to promulgate administrative regulations and institute such programs as are reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of t…

(1) (a) The Finance and Administration Cabinet shall have full responsibility and authority for day-to-day administration of the automated system described by this chapter; and (b) May request the assistance of any cabinet or department of state government in carrying out its res…

taxes. In order to improve collection of personal property (ad valorem) taxes associated with motor vehicles and trailers, the Department of Vehicle Regulation, in cooperation with the Department of Revenue, shall: (1) Ensure that the automated system provided by this chapter is …

schedule for certain vehicles -- Joint tenancy with right of survivorship for motor vehicle or manufactured home jointly owned by married couple -- Clerk's fee -- Renewal of registration. (1) (a) Except for vehicles described in paragraph (b) of this subsection, all motor vehicle…

Administrative regulations -- Revocation or changes. (Effective January 1, 2028) (1) As used in this section: (a) "Beneficiary" means a person designated to receive title to a vehicle upon the death of the preceding owner or joint owners; (b) "Beneficiary designation form" means …

Administrative regulations -- Technical advisory committee -- Notification of cancellation, nonrenewal of policy, or absence of vehicle identification number to insured -- Revocation of license -- Information not subject to Kentucky Open Records Act. (1) As used in this section, …

vehicle identification numbers -- Exceptions -- Submission of paper or electronic proof of insurance card to county clerk. (Effective until January 1, 2027) (1) On and after January 1, 2006, a county clerk shall not process an application for, nor issue, a: (a) Kentucky title and…

The Transportation Cabinet shall ensure that each county in the Commonwealth is equipped with at least one (1), or more than one (1), as workload dictates, video telecommunications terminal and associated devices, linked to a computer in Frankfort maintained by the Commonwealth, …

generated forms. The certificate of title and computer generated forms required by this chapter shall be designed and printed to make difficult and to facilitate detection of counterfeit likenesses or fraudulent alteration of genuine documents. The bid specifications for the acqu…

The Department of Vehicle Regulation, in cooperation with the Department of Kentucky State Police, shall ensure that the automated vehicle registration and titling system provided for by this chapter will be designed, equipped, and operated so that, under normal conditions, the s…

paperwork required -- Identification numbers used -- False or erroneous information. (1) The Department of Vehicle Regulation is directed to develop, in cooperation with county clerks, auto dealers, manufactured home retailers, and the Department of Revenue, Department of Insuran…

Except as otherwise provided, before the owner of a motor vehicle or trailer may operate it or permit its operation upon the highways of this state, he shall obtain motor vehicle insurance as required by KRS 304.39-080, a certificate of registration, and a license plate and apply…

trailers. (1) Except as otherwise provided, the state resident owner of a vehicle as defined in KRS 186.010(8)(a), manufactured home as defined in KRS 186.650, or trailer which will not be operated upon the highways of this state shall within fifteen (15) days apply for and obtai…

(1) As used in KRS 186A.115 and this section, "custom-built motorcycle" means a motorcycle as defined in KRS 186.010(15) that has been built from one hundred percent (100%) new parts to the individual specifications of: (a) The individual who built the motorcycle who will persona…

(1) As used in this section, "military surplus vehicle" has the same meaning as in KRS 186.010. (2) A person who has purchased a military surplus vehicle shall be issued a certificate of title after complying with the provisions of this section. (3) An owner of a military surplus…

(1) As used in this section, "all-terrain vehicle" has the same meaning as in KRS 189.010. (2) The titling of all-terrain vehicles shall be administered through the automated motor vehicle and trailer registration and titling system developed and implemented under KRS 186A.010. (…

No Kentucky certificate of registration, license plate, or certificate of title need be applied for or obtained for: (1) A vehicle owned by the United States unless it is registered in this state; (2) A vehicle owned by a nonresident of this state, principally operated in another…

No county clerk shall accept an application for a certificate of registration or title, or license plate, unless the vehicle bears an apparently legitimate vehicle identification number, and if required, an apparently legitimate motor and frame number, as indicated by an owner's …

(1) The owner of a vehicle required to be titled or registered in this state which: (a) Does not have a legitimate vehicle identification number as affixed by a manufacturer regularly engaged in the original manufacture of the type vehicle for which registration is sought, or in …

Commonwealth. An owner of a vehicle for which a certificate of registration or title, and license plate must be obtained shall be allowed a fifteen (15) day grace period from the date on which he purchased a vehicle or brings a vehicle into the Commonwealth from another state, du…

of vehicle. (1) No county clerk shall accept an initial application for a certificate of registration or title, or license plate, from an importer of a motor vehicle not manufactured for sale or distribution in the United States unless the importer of such a vehicle shall furnish…

registration. (1) A motor vehicle dealer issued a dealer plate under KRS 186.070 who sells a vehicle to a person who will title and register the vehicle for use upon the highways of this state or another state shall equip the vehicle with: (a) The buyer's existing Kentucky licens…

keep log of each temporary tag obtained and used. (1) Motor vehicle dealers, their agents and county clerks, before equipping a vehicle with a temporary tag, shall print or stamp in waterproof ink, legibly, in the spaces provided on the tag: (a) The month, day and year the vehicl…

improper issuance of temporary registration. (1) A motor vehicle dealer, salesperson, or agent shall not: (a) Issue a temporary tag prior to sale of the vehicle on which the tag is placed by the dealer; (b) Issue a temporary tag to a vehicle that has any title that signifies it i…

for certification of inspection -- Special inspectors -- Reciprocity between counties -- Modifications of military surplus vehicles -- Administrative regulations -- Exceptions -- Inspection of historic vehicles. (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the owner of e…

owner -- Exceptions. (1) (a) Except for applications for title or salvage title using the electronic title application and registration system established under KRS 186A.017, application for a first certificate of registration or title and plate shall be made by the owner to the …

County clerk to process documents -- Exceptions. (1) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, application for a first certificate of registration, or title, in the name of an owner shall be made on forms prescribed by the Department of Vehicle Regulation consistent w…

Beginning January 1, 2027: (1) Upon application for title under this chapter, the title shall not be mailed to the owner of the vehicle or manufactured home, but shall instead be held in AVIS; (2) The certificate of title shall be considered to be physically held by the lienholde…

penalty -- Annual reconciliation -- Administrative regulations. (1) The cabinet shall establish procedures whereby an owner or lessee of fleet vehicles may be issued permanent fleet registration plates for vehicles in its fleet. (2) The owner of a fleet of motor vehicles shall, u…

1, 2027) There shall be paid for issuing and processing title documents required by this chapter fees according to the following schedule: (1) (a) Each application for a certificate of title shall be nine dollars ($9), of which the county clerk shall retain six dollars ($6) and t…

Exceptions -- Responsibility for ad valorem taxes. (1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, a county clerk shall not process an application for Kentucky title and registration from or to any Kentucky resident who has a delinquent motor vehicle ad valorem…

delinquent taxpayer -- Written tax clearance -- Informal hearing -- Exception. (1) A county clerk shall not process an application for, nor issue a: (a) Kentucky registration or renewal of registration; (b) Replacement plate, decal, or registration certificate; (c) Duplicate regi…

applications. (1) The Department of Vehicle Regulation shall: (a) Within five (5) working days following receipt by it of an application for a certificate of title in proper form, process the application and its supporting documents in the manner provided in this section, and unl…

An owner who has obtained a certificate of title pursuant to this chapter may apply for and obtain an updated certificate, but shall not be required to periodically renew a certificate of title that has been issued to him.

The Department of Vehicle Regulation shall: (1) Be the custodian of the original of each application for a certificate of title, and its supporting documents. It shall retain such records in accordance with a records retention and destruction schedule established pursuant to the …

designation of debtor's county of residence provides reliance on and relief from liability -- Requirements to perfect title on security interest -- Continuation statements -- Determination of debtor's residence when debtor is other than a natural person -- Discharge of security i…

security interests. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a lease transaction does not create a sale or security interest in a motor vehicle or trailer merely because the lease contains a terminal rental adjustment clause that provides that the rental price is permitted or …

The title lien statement, provided for in KRS 186A.195, shall be developed by January 1, 1987 by the Transportation Cabinet, in cooperation with county clerks, financial institutions and auto dealers. The Transportation Cabinet shall ensure that the title lien statement is in a s…

Entry of information by county clerk -- Certificate of registration -- Pending lien -- Fee for filing through electronic system -- Perfection of security interest. (1) As used in this section, submission of a title lien statement refers to the presentation of a title lien stateme…

into system. (1) With respect to a vehicle or manufactured home previously titled in the name of its debtor, the secured party shall, within thirty (30) days after execution of the security agreement, submit a title lien statement in accordance with KRS 186A.195. (2) The county c…

electronic title application and registration system and centralized lien management system, as applicable -- Exceptions -- Duties of Transportation Cabinet. (1) Beginning July 1, 2027: (a) 1. Except as provided in subparagraph 2. of this paragraph, a lienholder shall use the ele…

manage liens -- Exceptions. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, on and after July 1, 2026, a lienholder shall participate in the electronic title application and registration system to confirm, release, and manage liens and lien documents. (2) This section s…

Whenever a security interest is assigned as provided by KRS 186.045(4), the county clerk shall enter the record of lien assignment into the system of record established under KRS 186A.195 in the manner directed by the Department of Vehicle Regulation.

(1) When a security interest has been discharged under the provisions of KRS 186.045(3), the county clerk shall discharge the security interest and remove the lien information from AVIS. (2) When a security interest has been discharged as provided by KRS 186.045(4), the county cl…

(1) If an owner transfers his interest in a vehicle, he shall, at the time of the delivery of the vehicle, execute an assignment and warranty of title to the transferee in the space provided therefor on the certificate of title, except if the space provided therefor on the owner'…

all-terrain vehicle. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, when any motor vehicle dealer licensed in this state buys or accepts a motor vehicle or all-terrain vehicle as defined in KRS 189.010 in trade, which has been previously registered or titled for use in this or…