Motor Vehicles

Phone (502) 875-8715

Motor Vehicle Licensing is the most frequently visited area of the Clerk’s office. Motor vehicle licenses must be renewed annually and any sale of a motor vehicle must be registered within 15 days of purchase. Below is a list of motor vehicle transactions. Procedures are outlined for each type of transaction and many motor vehicle forms can be downloaded from this web site.

The following documents & information are required:

• Application for title/registration (VTR form # TC-96-182) must be completed, signed by all registered owners and notarized. Persons that have power of attorney for the owner(s) may sign, but a copy of the power of attorney must be submitted with the application. If County Clerk staff notarize signatures, identification must be presented. Note-Titles that contain AND (instead of OR) between names of owners requires signature of all owners. Click here to see an example of a properly completed form-Update title.
• The current vehicle title must be submitted with the application for updated title.
• If the application is for the purpose of applying for a loan, the owner needs to indicate this on the application. A pending lien will be noted and the owner will be given a goldenrod copy of the registration to present to the lending institution. The lending institution will use the registration and a Title Lien Statement to record the lien.

FEES

Title fee- $4.00

Note-The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch will mail the updated title within 10-14 business days of application. (If a pending lien is filed, printing of the title is held for 30 days.)

Notary fee- if applicable $2.00

Duplicate Title

If you have lost your original title, you must apply for a duplicate title before any change of ownership; updates or lien recordings may be done. Application is made at your local county clerk’s office. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prints the title the following work day and mails the title to the owner. Duplicate titles cannot be picked up on a walk-thru basis.

The following documents and information are required:

• Application for title/registration (VTR form # TC-96-182) must be completed, signed by all registered owners and notarized. Persons that have power of attorney for the owner(s) may sign, but a copy of the power of attorney must be submitted with the application. If County Clerk staff notarize signatures, identification must be presented. Note-Titles that contain AND (instead of OR) between the names of owners requires the signature of all owners. Click here to see an example of a properly completed Duplicate title form.

• If the application is for the purpose of applying for a loan, the owner needs to indicate this on the application. A pending lien will be noted and the owner will be given a goldenrod copy of the registration to present to the lending institution. The lending institution will use the registration and a Title Lien Statement to record the lien.

FEES

Title fee- $4.00

Note-The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch will print the duplicate title the next business day and mail it to the owner. (If a pending lien is filed, printing of the title is held for 30 days.)

Notary fee- if applicable $2.00

 

First Time or Out-of–State Title & Registration

A person who purchases a vehicle or brings a vehicle from another state is required to

title the vehicle(s) within 15 days. If the owner of a motor vehicle does not reside in

Kentucky, the vehicle shall be registered with the County Clerk of the county in which the motor vehicle is principally operated (KRS 186.020).

New residents titling vehicles in Kentucky must present the current out of state title. In some states, if the money were borrowed to purchase the vehicle, the lien holder would keep the title. In those cases, the County Clerk’s office must contact the lien holder and have the title sent directly to the County Clerk. Information concerning the lien holder must be submitted to the Clerk. While waiting for the title to be sent, a temporary (30 day) license plate may be issued. The owner must provide proof of insurance and current out of state registration before the temporary "tag" may be issued.

 

The following documents and information are required:

• Out of state title-a photocopy is not acceptable.

If purchasing from out of state dealer or individual, assignment portion of title must be properly completed.

• Proof of sales tax paid in another state. A credit equal to the amount paid in the other state will be applied to amount owed in Kentucky. The proof must identify taxpayer, type of tax paid, dollar amount paid and serial number of vehicle. The following types of proof are acceptable:

1. Tax shown on certificate of title
2. Dealer purchase contract
3. Financing statement from lender
4. Receipt or letter from tax agency

If proof of sales tax paid is not available, presumed credit can be given on vehicles that are being titled in the same name. The owner must show proof of current registration from the other state. The credit is the same percentage charged in the other state and is applied toward the amount owed in Kentucky, which is 6% of the current trade-in value as listed in the NADA (National Auto Dealers Assoc.) Official Used Car Guide.

• Application for title/registration (VTR form # TC-96-182) must be completed, signed by all registered owners and notarized. Persons that have power of attorney for the owner(s) may sign, but a copy of the power of attorney must be submitted with the application. If County Clerk staff notarize signatures, identification must be presented. Note-Titles that contain AND (instead of OR) between the names of owners requires the signature of all owners. Click here to see an example of a properly completed form –First time/out of state.
• Certified Sheriff’s inspection of serial number (Sheriff’s inspection section is on the application for title/registration VTR form # TC-96-182. The Sheriff will not do the inspection until the VTR is signed and notarized.)
• Proof of insurance on the vehicle being titled/registered.

• Social Security Number of each individual listed on title or Federal ID number for companies.
• Title Lien Statement, if applicable.

A motor vehicle usage tax of six percent (6%) is levied upon the "retail price" of vehicles registered for the first time in Kentucky. In the case of new vehicles, the "retail price" is the total consideration given (The consideration is the total of the cash or amount financed and the value of any vehicle traded in.) or 90% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), including all additional equipment and destination charges. On used vehicles purchased out of state the "retail price" is based on the total consideration given (the Total Consideration Statement on VTR form must be completed and VTR signed by out of state dealer or individual.) or average retail value as listed in NADA ( National Auto Dealers Assoc.) Official Used Car Guide. An out of state purchase of a used vehicle, now allows for trade-in credit.

In the case of vehicles brought into Kentucky by new residents, the taxable value is the average trade-in value as listed in the NADA Official Used Car Guide.

If a vehicle is given as a "gift" then the taxable value is the average trade-in value as listed in the NADA Official Used Car Guide.

Fees

Kentucky Title Fee $ 6.00

The title is mailed to the owner by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch, Frankfort, KY 40601. Expect the title in about 4-6 weeks.

Kentucky Speed Title $25.00

A speed title is mailed to the owner the following business day by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Registration Fee – Registration fees are $1.00 per month plus $3.00 Clerk fee.

Yearly registration fee is $15.00.

Usage Tax- 6% of "retail price". See Usage Tax

Sheriff Inspection Fee- $ 5.00

New vehicle titling & registration

The following documents and information are required:

• Manufacturers certificate of origin properly assigned to the buyer by the selling dealer
• Application for vehicle title/registration (VTR form # TC-96-182). If using total consideration as usage tax value, Total Consideration portion must be completed. If County Clerk staff notarize signature(s), identification must be presented.

• Window sticker or dealer invoice showing MSRP plus options & destination charges if not using Total Consideration as usage tax value.
• Certified Sheriff inspection of serial number if purchased out of state. The sheriff will not do inspection without VTR signed & notarized.
• Proof of insurance.
• Social Security number for each party listed on title or federal ID number for companies.
• Title lien statement, if applicable.

A motor vehicle usage tax of six percent (6%) is levied upon the "retail price" of vehicles registered for the first time in Kentucky. In the case of new vehicles, the "retail price" is the total consideration given (The consideration is the total of the cash or amount financed and the value of any vehicle traded in.) or 90% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), including all additional equipment and destination charges.

Fees
Kentucky Title Fee $ 6.00

The title is mailed to the owner by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch, Frankfort, KY 40601. Expect the title in about 4-6 weeks.

Kentucky Speed Title $25.00

A speed title is mailed to the owner the following business day by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Registration Fee – Registration fees are $1.00 per month plus $3.00 Clerk fee.

Yearly registration fee is $15.00.

Usage Tax- 6% of "retail price". See Usage Tax

Sheriff Inspection Fee- $ 5.00

Title Lien Statement recording fee- $21.00

Transfer of a Kentucky Titled Vehicle

A person who purchases a vehicle or brings a vehicle from another state is required to title the vehicle(s) within 15 days. If the owner of a motor vehicle does not reside in Kentucky, the vehicle shall be registered with the County Clerk of the county in which the motor vehicle is principally operated (KRS 186.020).

Currently, there are several types of Kentucky Titles that have been issued. The procedures followed are based on what type of title the seller was issued. Titles issued after February 2000 have the assignment portion and vehicle transaction record form combined on the back of the Certificate of Title. These titles would not require the VTR form # TC-96-182 in order to transfer a vehicle.

Titles issued prior to February 2000 only have the assignment portion on back of the Certificate of Title and would require the VTR form # TC-96-182 submitted along with the Title.

The following documents and information are required:

• Kentucky Certificate of Title clear of all liens, with assignment portion properly completed by buyer & seller. Depending on what year your title was issued determines the procedure that you follow for a transfer.
  

  If your title looks like this and was issued prior to Feb 2000, click here to see properly completed assignment portion.	If your title looks like this and was issued after Feb 2000, click here to see properly completed assignment and vehicle  transaction form.

• Application for title/registration (VTR form # TC-96-182), if title issued before February 2000 must be completed, signed by all registered owners and notarized. Persons that have power of attorney for the owner(s) may sign, but a copy of the power of attorney must be submitted with the application. If County Clerk staff notarize signatures, identification must be presented. Note-Titles that contain AND (instead of OR) between the names of owners requires the signature of all owners. Click here to see an example of a properly completed form –Transfer of Kentucky title
• Buyer Proof of Insurance for vehicle purchasing. Title Only transfers may be done if insurance is not available or if vehicle is inoperable, but license plate must be surrendered.
• Social Security Number for each party appearing on the title or Federal ID Number for companies.

NOTES

Property tax- The owner of a vehicle as of January 1^st of each tax year is responsible for the tax for that year. If at the time of transfer, the property tax has not been paid, the seller will be responsible for the tax. To avoid delinquent tax, it is recommended that the seller pay taxes at the time of transfer. If not, the seller will be sent notification by the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet of the tax due.

Usage Tax

A six percent (6%) motor vehicle usage tax is levied upon the "retail price" of vehicles transferred in Kentucky. On used vehicles, the usage tax is 6% of the current average retail as listed in the NADA Used Car Guide or 6% of total consideration paid. On used vehicles, total consideration paid is the total given less any trade-in allowance, if applicable. Trade- in allowance applies to used vehicles only and both the vehicle being purchased and the vehicle being traded must be previously registered in Kentucky.

Usage Tax Exemptions are on the following types of Kentucky transfers:

 

Charitable/Education Organization	Military Exempt*
Corporation/Proprietorship (LLC)*	Name Change
Corporation/Subsidiary (LLC)*	Parent/Child
Court Order/Will*	Repossession*
Dealer Registration	State Government
Grandparent/Grandchild	Stepparent/Stepchild
Husband/Wife	US Government
Local Government

*Documentation must be provided

FEES

Kentucky Title Fee $ 6.00

The title is mailed to the owner by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch, Frankfort, KY 40601. Expect the title in about 4-6 weeks.

Kentucky Speed Title $25.00

A speed title is mailed to the owner the following business day by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Transfer Fee $ 4.00

Registration Fee – Registration fees are $1.00 per month plus $3.00 Clerk fee.

Yearly registration fee is $15.00.

Usage Tax- 6% of "retail price". See Usage Tax

Title Lien Statement recording fee- $21.00

Junked Vehicles

In order to junk a vehicle, the current license plate and title must be turned into your local County Clerk’s Office. The title must be clear of all liens and all property taxes must be paid or exonerated by the Property Valuation Administrator. There is a $1.00 fee to junk a vehicle.

If the title & /or plate have been lost, and the owner still has possession of the vehicle, Form #TC 96-167 must be signed and notarized by the owner.

If the vehicle has been disposed of to a junkyard or another individual and the title is lost, a duplicate title must be applied for. Vehicles can be junked once the duplicate title is received.

• Kentucky Certificate of Title with assignment of title properly completed. The title is then presented to the out of state purchaser so they can title & register the vehicle in their state.
• Affidavit of Non-Exchange Form #TC 96-167 Must be submitted for all vehicles sold out of state. The registered owner must sign this form and have signature notarized. If County Clerk staff notarize signatures, identification must be presented.

Note-If the out of state transfer occurred after January 1st of the current tax year, the seller will be responsible for the taxes for that tax year. If the sale occurred before January 1^st the tax can be exonerated. It is advised that the sellers make a copy of the front & back of the title to present to the Property Valuation Administrator so that the tax may be exonerated.

 

Kentucky Registration Renewal

Your vehicle license plate/decal must be renewed each year. Generally, most plates expire in the birth month of the owner. The Kentucky Revenue Cabinet mails each vehicle owner a renewal notice-listing amount of property taxes and license fees due. It is the owner’s responsibility to renew, even if a reminder is not received. The notice is not needed to renew the plate/decal.
There are some plates that expire in months other than the owners birth month.

Vehicles or trailers that have March expirations:

Farm trucks

Motor Homes/Recreational Vehicles

Trailers

Weighted Trucks (10,000-80,000 lbs.)

Vehicles that have handicap plates expire in July and personalized plates expire in December.

The following documents are required:

• Certificate of registration
• Proof of Insurance
• Payment of registration fees & property tax

Fees & Taxes

Property Tax

• Each vehicle titled in Kentucky as of January 1 of each year is assessed a taxable value by the Property Valuation Administrator. The owner of the vehicle as of January 1 of each year is responsible for the tax. Taxes are due upon renewal or registration change. If a vehicle is transferred prior to renewal, the owner as of January 1 is liable for the taxes. It is recommended that property taxes be paid at the time of transfer, but not required. However, if not paid at time of transfer, a pink tax notice will be sent to the seller once the transfer is complete.

• Delinquent taxes owed by the owner of a vehicle will prohibit the renewal of any vehicle the taxpayer owns. Also, delinquent taxes owed by either the buyer or seller of a vehicle may prohibit the transfer of a vehicle.

Note-The County Clerk is the tax collector and has no authority to exonerate taxes or change assessments. Questions concerning assessments should be directed to the Property Valuation Administrator at (502) 875-8780.

The fees listed below are for a full 12-month renewal.

Automobiles regular- $15.00

Automobiles specialized- $25.00-$50.00

Farm Trucks $15.00

Motorcycles $12.00

Trucks (6000lbs./commercial)- $15.00

Weighted trucks- vary by weight

Vehicles may be renewed by mail. Send current registration, proof of insurance card and appropriate fees as listed on Renewal/Tax Notice sent by Kentucky Revenue cabinet. If you did not receive a tax notice, you may contact the county Clerk and obtain amount due. Your renewal will be processed the same day it is received and returned to you by mail. Generally, this takes about 4-5 days.

Note-Expired registrations cannot be renewed by mail

Generally, mobile homes are transferred in the same manner as vehicles, except proof of insurance is not required.

Currently, there are several types of Kentucky Titles that have been issued. The procedures followed are based on what type of title the seller was issued. Titles issued after February 2000 have the assignment portion and vehicle transaction record form combined on the back of the Certificate of Title. These titles would not require the VTR form # TC-96-182 in order to transfer a vehicle or trailer.

The following documents & information are required:

• Kentucky Certificate of Title clear of all liens, with assignment portion properly completed by buyer & seller. Depending on what year your title was issued determines the procedure that you follow for a transfer.

If your title looks like this and was issued prior to Feb 2000, click here to see properly completed assignment portion.	If your title looks like this and was issued after Feb 2000, click here to see properly completed assignment and vehicle  transaction form.

• Application for title/registration (VTR form # TC-96-182), if title issued before February 2000 must be completed, signed by all registered owners and notarized. Persons that have power of attorney for the owner(s) may sign, but a copy of the power of attorney must be submitted with the application. If County Clerk staff notarize signatures, identification must be presented. Note-Titles that contain AND (instead of OR) between the names of owners requires the signature of all owners. Click here to see an example of a properly completed form –Transfer of Kentucky title.

• Social Security Number for each party appearing on the title or Federal ID Number for companies.

Usage tax is not levied against mobile homes or other types of trailers. Only title & transfer fees are required.

Kentucky Title Fee $ 6.00

The title is mailed to the owner by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch, Frankfort, KY 40601. Expect the title in about 4-6 weeks.

Kentucky Speed Title $25.00

A speed title is mailed to the owner the following business day by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch, Frankfort, KY 40601.

Transfer Fee $ 4.00

Title Lien Statement, if applicable $21.00

Mobile homes permanently attached to real estate may now be converted to real estate.

• The Kentucky Certificate of Title (clear of all liens) must be surrendered to County Clerk
• Affidavit of Conversion to Real Estate along with copy of Certificate of Title is filed in Real Estate section of County Clerk’s Office.

Fees

Surrendered title fee $1.00

Affidavit recording fee $9.00