Kentucky
Vehicle Resource Center
Kentucky is known for its bluegrass music and its charming culture. The state is home to millions and has a large population of drivers and vehicle owners. Everyone who drives or owns a vehicle within the state must understand the vehicle laws, as well as all the regulations that are connected with owning a vehicle.
Ownership and Maintenance
Maintaining a vehicle in Kentucky really means meeting all the state's legal requirements. Things like registration renewal, liability insurance, and keeping a driver's license can feel overwhelming but are simple to do with the right information. Find out how to do those things and more using this guide.
Any vehicle purchased within Kentucky can be titled and registered without undergoing an inspection. The only vehicles that require an inspection are out-of-state vehicles. That means most Kentucky residents do not have to worry about safety or emissions inspections.
Each vehicle owner in Kentucky must have active liability insurance on the vehicle to cover the cost of any damages that occur during a motor vehicle accident. There are specific coverage requirements for an insurance policy in Kentucky for it to be considered legal coverage for the vehicle. Drivers caught operating a vehicle without adequate coverage can face fines and potentially time in jail as well.
Insurance Minimum Requirements
Any vehicle owner in Kentucky must carry insurance with the following limits.
A vehicle owner can opt for an insurance policy that has a single coverage of $60,000 per accident instead of the coverage amounts listed above while still meeting the state's legal requirements.
Get more information about Kentucky insurance requirements by using the Drive KY government website.
Each year, Kentucky vehicle owners must renew their registrations. The renewal process is a simple one and can be completed online or in person at a County Clerk's office.
Pay Any Vehicle Tolls
Before renewing the vehicle's registration, it's necessary to pay any existing tolls on the vehicle. Visit the Riverlink payment website and pay any tolls connected to the vehicle before attempting to renew it.
Renew Online
Drivers who would like to begin the online renewal process for their vehicle must visit this page and input either the license plate number or the title number. Once that data is inputted, the site explains whether online renewal is possible and what the process is for renewing online. Going through the renewal process is as simple as supplying a bit of data and paying the fees. Once that's done, the renewal is complete, and a registration will be sent out via mail. A temporary registration is available to print immediately.
Renew In Person
If the vehicle is not eligible for online renewal, the owner must travel to a County Clerk's office and renew in person instead. This process is simple, but the owner should bring in the renewal notice, the old registration, as well as insurance, and a valid driver's license. With those items, it's possible to go through the renewal process quickly.
Get more information about the renewal process and other rules and regulations at the Drive Kentucky registration webpage.
Kentucky driver's licenses must be renewed every eight years for most individuals. Renewing the license is a simple process, but not all licenses can be renewed online. A driver should learn if their license can be renewed online and find out where to renew it in person as well.
Online Renewal Is Possible When:
Renew the License Online
If online license renewal is possible, the holder can renew up to 6 months before the license is set to expire. Visit the online renewal page, input the required data, and pay the renewal fee to finalize the license renewal.
Renew in Person
Visit one of the Driver License Regional office locations after scheduling an appointment to begin the license renewal process. Bring the old license, as well as the renewal notice, proof of residency, and money to cover the license renewal fees. License holders can follow a simple set of steps to renew their license with help from one of the workers.
Acquiring a REAL ID
Any KY resident interested in obtaining a REAL ID from the Kentucky government must provide additional identification at a Driver License Regional Office. Provide all of the following information, and pay the fee to upgrade to a REAL ID.
A new license will be mailed to the address the license has listed on it. No temporary license is provided after the renewal process, so drivers should try to renew their license well before their driver's license expires.
For more information about renewing a Kentucky driver's license, see the KY.gov website here.
License Renewal
A standard driver's license costs $21.50 for four years and $43.00 for eight years. A Real ID renewal costs $24 for four years and 48.00 for eight years. Upgrading to a REAL ID comes with a $15.00 fee.
See more license fees on the government's fee page.
Registration Renewal
Standard vehicle registration renewal is just $21 per year in Kentucky. There are additional fees that drivers may be charged. See a breakdown of the state's registration and title fees on this Jefferson County pricing page.
Buying & Selling
When buying or selling a vehicle in Kentucky, it's vital to understand the required paperwork and all the fees and steps involved in the process. This section covers the most important tasks that must be completed for buyers and sellers in Kentucky.
Transfer the Title
The most important step any seller can take is to transfer the title to the buyer. This is accomplished by signing the back of the original vehicle title and inputting any data that's required. In most parts of Kentucky, it's necessary to sign the title in front of a Notary. Use a local bank or another notary provider to get a notary for the deal to make it happen legally.
If there are any liens on the title, they must be released before the vehicle can be sold legally. This is normally accomplished by paying off the loan on the vehicle.
Remove the License Plates
Pull the license plate off the vehicle before allowing the buyer to take the vehicle away. The license plate can be used on another vehicle in the seller's name or returned to the county, but it cannot be used by the buyer, who will have to obtain their own license plate.
Cancel the Insurance
All vehicles must have liability insurance on them to protect other drivers in the event of an accident. After a vehicle is sold, the liability insurance the original owner had can be removed. Cancel the service and stop paying for it to enjoy the savings from not having the vehicle.
Do Research on the Vehicle
No vehicle is perfect, and it's essential to verify a vehicle is a good fit before buying it. The best way to do this is by conducting a Vehicle History Search or a Vehicle VIN Check through GoodCar. Either of these services provides owner history information, vehicle features and specifications, open recalls, odometer readings, and more. This data can help make it clear whether a vehicle is worth purchasing or not.
Obtain Liability Insurance
As soon as the vehicle is purchased, it's time to obtain liability insurance on it. Get the insurance to protect it from damage and to ensure the vehicle is safe and reliable to drive around.
Fill Out a Certificate of Title or Registration
Bring along Form TC96-182 when purchasing the vehicle and fill out the form for registration purposes. Once the form is fully filled out, it can be used at a Kentucky office to register the vehicle. Use the form along with a driver's license and proof of insurance to successfully register and title the vehicle.
Pay the Taxes
When purchasing a vehicle, the buyer must pay taxes on the purchase price of that vehicle. The Kentucky vehicle tax rate is 6%, and the buyer should prepare to pay this amount on the purchase price of the vehicle.
Title and Register the Vehicle
Bring all the documents along to a Kentucky Regional Office to get help titling and registering the new vehicle. There will be some miscellaneous fees to go through the process, but it should be straightforward and simple.
Obtain more information about titling and registering a new vehicle by visiting this section of the Kentucky government website.
Title and Registration Fees
To title a vehicle, the buyer must pay a $17.00 title fee, a $6.00 clerk fee, and a $21.00 plate fee. The plate fee covers the annual registration cost of the vehicle for the first year.
Sales Tax
Each vehicle sold in Kentucky is subject to a 6% sales tax. This amount must be paid when registering the vehicle.
Laws and Regulations
Every Kentucky resident must follow the same automotive laws. Learn about some common laws that residents don't understand well and stay safe.
While everyone should be buckled by a seat belt while riding in a vehicle in Kentucky, things get more confusing when it comes to small children. Today, children must sit in boost seats or car seats depending on their height and weight. The child should remain in their current seat until they outgrow it.
Vehicle owners who stick with these car seat requirements should not face any problems. Double-check the state's car seat laws here to be sure you're using the proper seat.
Many vehicle owners tint their windows in Kentucky for added privacy and to protect the interior from light damage. There are regulations about what tint can be installed on a vehicle, and using the wrong tint can result in traffic stops and tickets.
According to Kentucky state law, a vehicle can have window tint as long as the tint meets the following requirements
DUI, or driving under the influence of alcohol, is a serious offense in Kentucky. Drivers caught breaking this law are punished by being placed in an alcohol treatment program and by having their license suspended. There are stricter punishments applied to some cases, and an overview of all the most common DUI punishments is available on the Kentucky government DUI page.
Drivers over 21 must have a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.08 or higher when blowing into a breathalyzer to be charged with DUI. Drivers under 21 only need a BAC of 0.02 to be charged with a DUI. Drivers should be careful to avoid drinking and driving to keep from facing the DUI penalties in Kentucky.
Kentucky protects its new car buyers with a set of special laws known as Lemon laws. These special laws help ensure that a vehicle purchased nearly new is not significantly defective. The law states that any vehicle that is less than 12 months old and that has fewer than 12,000 miles qualifies for protection under the law.
To be considered a lemon in Kentucky, the vehicle must meet the following conditions after the manufacturer is formally notified about the issue.
If the conditions are met, the vehicle is likely to be considered a lemon. Visit the Lemon Law page to learn about follow-up actions that can be taken to get the manufacturer to refund or replace the vehicle.
Useful Things to Know
Along with all the valuable driving information above, this section has important resources that make driving and owning a vehicle in Kentucky simpler.
Locate a Kentucky EV Charging Station
While Kentucky isn't known for having a large number of electric vehicles, it's still essential to understand how to access a local charging station in the state. Use this government resource to access all the public use charging stations in the country. Kentucky EV Charging Station Locator
Kentucky Car Crash Trends
Kentucky is one of the most dangerous states to drive in and suffered 1.68 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2021, making it significantly more dangerous than the state average of 1.37 fatalities. Throughout 2021 there were 806 fatalities in 734 accidents. Learning to understand the circumstances of these accidents can help drivers prepare appropriately. Get a full understanding using Kentucky car crash statistics from GoodCar.
Use the Kentucky Driver's Manual
Whether drivers are looking up information or preparing for the written test when obtaining a driver's license, it's essential to understand the rules of the road. Use the state's online driver's manual to learn those rules. Kentucky Online Driver's Manual
Access and Pay State Tolls
Kentucky manages all state tolls through the Riverlink web portal. Visit this portal to look up vehicle tolls and pay them rapidly. Tolls can be paid via a license plate or bill number. Kentucky River Link Toll Payment Portal
Kentucky Resources
Get the Latest Kentucky Vehicle Information with GoodCar
Kentucky vehicle owners owe it to themselves to have the most up-to-date information about state laws, maintenance requirements, recalls, and more. Refer to this useful resource for residents looking for help and GoodCar's VIN Check and license plate lookup tools for help getting additional information about specific vehicles.