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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:
Notary fee- if applicable $2.00
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.)
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.
Notary fee- if applicable $2.00
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.)
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 one time (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 & information are required:
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.
The following documents and information are required:
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 # TC96-182 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 # TC96-182 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.
Property tax- The owner of a vehicle as of January 1st 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. This does not relinquished responsibility to pay property tax timely.
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 the vehicle being traded must be previously registered in Kentucky.
Usage Tax Exemptions are on the following types of Kentucky transfers:
| Charitable/Education Organization | Corporation/Proprietorship (LLC)* |
| Corporation/Subsidiary (LLC)* | Court Order/Will* |
| Dealer Registration | Grandparent/Grandchild |
| Husband/Wife | Local Government |
| Military Exempt* | Name Change |
| Parent/Child | Repossession* |
| State Government | Stepparent/Stepchild |
| US Government |
*Documentation must be provided
FEES
Kentucky Title Fee $ 6.00
Notary Fee: $2.00
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
Complete Form #TC96-215 Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Assembled from Wrecked or Salvaged Motor Vehicles.
Submit completed application for Title/Registration (Form #TC96-182); this form must be signed and notarized. The following must be completed in full: (1) Seller Section, (2) Vehicle Identification Section, (3) Owner-Buyer Section, and (4) Certified Inspector Section. The Certified Inspector Section must be completed by a certified inspector in accordance with the provision of KRS 186A.115. The application for Title/Registration must be accompanied by a properly assigned Certificate of Title. In those limited cases where a Certificate of Title does not exist, the person selling the vehicle must give a notarized statement fully explaining ownership of the vehicle.
Submit original receipts for all labor required to construct or reconstruct the vehicle. Whomever provided all labor, a descriptive notarized statement will be required stating what repairs were made.
Submit all original receipts for parts purchased. If the parts you buy are from individuals and not businesses, have the person who sold you the parts write a notarized statement giving his name, address and telephone number, the part or parts sold, and the vehicle identification number of the vehicle that the parts were taken from
If the vehicle has a license plate, regardless of decal expiration date, remove it and submit with this application.
Any vehicle with a lien against it will be rejected. A lien termination statement from the lien holder must be submitted to the county clerk where the lien is recorded.
If you are rebuilding a motorcycle, turn in pencil tracings of both the engine and frame identification numbers. If you used a replacement engine, try to obtain the frame number of the motorcycle that the engine was taken from.
You will have 60 days from the date of approval to apply for the Title and register your vehicle. After 60 days, the application will be cancelled and you will need to reapply.
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 and/or plate have been lost, and the owner still has possession of the vehicle, Form #TC96-167 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 & notarized with notary seal. 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 #TC96-167 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 notarizes 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 1st 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.
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 # TC96-182 in order to transfer a vehicle or trailer.
Titles issued prior to February 2000 only have the assignment portion on back of the Certificate of Title and would require the VTR form # TC96-182 submitted along with the Title.
The following documents & information are required:
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
Notary Fee: $2.00.
Mobile homes permanently attached to real estate may now be converted to real estate. Once the Mobile Home has been converted, the title is surrendered & can never be obtained.
Surrendered title fee $1.00.
Affidavit recording fee $9.00.
