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Kentucky License PlatesA license plate is typically an aluminum plate attached to a vehicle for official identification purposes. It displays a combination of letters, numbers, or both; these help in uniquely identifying a vehicle. Per Chapter 186.020 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, vehicle owners can only operate their vehicles on Kentucky highways with valid registrations with the state's Transportation Cabinet. License plates in Kentucky are issued by the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing of the Transportation Cabinet and are typically required to be affixed to the rear of vehicles.
Kentucky license plates are categorized into the following types:
Kentucky License Plate Design and FormatsStandard Kentucky license plates have a rectangular design with a flat, digitally printed blue serial on a white and light blue gradient. The plate has a state icon screened on the left, "KENTUCKY" screened in blue and centered above the license plate serial, with "BLUEGRASS STATE" screened above the word "KENTUCKY" in a smaller font. The county name is printed on a blue sticker in a box centered at the bottom of the design. Some Kentucky license plates have "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened above the county name.
Kentucky also issues standard motorcycle license plates with a white background, "KENTUCKY" screened in large fonts on top, and "MOTORCYCLE" screened in smaller fonts on the bottom. Both words are printed in black color. Also, the state issues a standard license plate for farmers producing crops, livestock, or dairy products. The license plate has a predominantly white color. However, it contains the text "KENTUCKY" screened in blue and "FARM" inscribed in yellow, outlined in blue. It also includes logos of the Kentucky Proud program and the FFA and 4-H organizations.
* Source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet website
Kentucky Vanity License PlateVanity plates are license plates that can be personalized or customized to fit the plate owner's desires. While Kentucky allows vehicle owners to customize their plates, the process is strictly regulated by the 601 KAR 9:012 and Section 186.174 and 186.164 (9)(c) through (g) of the Kentucky Revised Statutes.
Before applying for a personalized license plate, you must obtain pre-approval from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Personalized Plate Review Committee prior to your application with your County Clerk. To commence the application process for a vanity plate, follow these steps:
Note that vanity plate requests are granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Therefore, your license plate request may become unavailable if the County Clerk processes the same request before your submission.
If your license plate request is pre-approved, upon receipt of your pre-approval notice, take your pre-approval email notification and other required documents to your county clerk's office in the county of your residence. After, pay the $25 personalized plate fee to your county clerk. This payment is in addition to the registration fee applied to each plate. Note that pre-approval notifications are emailed to the address submitted on the online request form.
If your vanity license plate request is rejected, the rejection notification email will contain recommendations for your next steps. You can reapply with a new request or appeal your current request. To appeal the rejection of your vanity plate request, complete the online appeal form. For further inquiries or concerns on vanity plate requests, you can email KYTC.PersonalizedPlates@ky.gov.
Customized Kentucky license plates may contain up to 6 alphas and numeric characters in addition to a dash or space. Personalized motorcycle license plates may contain no more than 5 alphanumeric characters in addition to a dash or space.
A vanity plate character combination may only appear on one license plate at any time. Currently, the letters "I", "Q", and "U" have been eliminated from all personalized license plate applications.
It takes up to 6 weeks from the application date for a vanity plate to be produced, processed, and shipped to the county clerk's office for pickup.
Kentucky allows non-profit organizations based in the state or with a chapter in Kentucky to apply for a special license plate under the provisions of KRS 186.164. Such organizations may send an email request to KYTC.SpecialLicensePlate@ky.gov and obtain a packet containing the documents required to apply. After completing the required forms and providing all the necessary documentation as listed below, return the packet to:
Kentucky Transportation CabinetUpon receiving the completed application, the Kentucky Special License Plate Committee will review it at its next scheduled quarterly meeting. Note that submissions must be received at least 10 business days in advance of the quarterly meeting. The Committee will send the applicant a notice of approval or denial within 30 days after the Committee's decision is made. Once the Committee approves the license plate design, it will invoice the applicant for the pre-production costs before it goes into production. The price for producing the special license plate is $2,500. For more inquiries on creating a special license plate for non-profit organizations, contact KYTC.SpecialLicensePlate@ky.gov.
Most Popular Kentucky Special Plate NumbersCommon themes for special license plate numbers in Kentucky are:
Kentucky License Plate LookupLicense plate lookup is a process used to obtain information about a vehicle based on its license plate number. You can typically obtain details such as the vehicle's make, model, year, and registration status through a license plate lookup. There are several options available for conducting license plate lookups. You can use online databases or services, visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or contact law enforcement agencies.
While the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet office does not provide an online resource to perform license plate lookups, RecordsFinder allows users to conduct license plate searches on their websites. Certain information is off limits when performing license plate lookups as federal and state laws prohibit the release of personal information such as residential address and Social Security Number except in cases where such information must be released to authorized parties or law enforcement agencies who demonstrate a need for the information. If you opt against using an online service to perform a license plate lookup, you may visit the office of the Kentucky Division of Motor Vehicles Licensing in person to conduct a license plate lookup.
A reverse license plate lookup is a search that allows you to find information about a vehicle by entering its license plate number. With a reverse license plate lookup, you can find the history of a vehicle or learn about the specifications of the vehicle. You can use RecordsFinder to perform a reverse license plate number search.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Kentucky?You must complete a vehicle title and registration to obtain a Kentucky license plate. In order to apply for a title for an in-state vehicle, take the following to the county clerk's office in your area:
To apply for a title for an out-of-state vehicle, take the following to the office of your local county clerk:
To register your vehicle in Kentucky, follow these steps:
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in KentuckyNot all license plates in Kentucky are issued to commercial vehicles. The state differentiates a commercial vehicle from a passenger vehicle by defining a commercial vehicle as a vehicle built to:
To obtain a commercial license plate, a vehicle must meet the state's definition of a commercial vehicle and be registered and titled as one.
Some key differences between passenger and commercial license plates in Kentucky:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Use | Personal vehicles such as cars, SUVs, and trucks (non-commercial use) | Commercial vehicles used for business uses, such as delivery vans, work trucks, tow trucks, farm equipment |
| Requirements for obtaining the license plate |
|
The registration process varies depending on the vehicle credentials as outlined on the commercial motor vehicle credentials page of the Transport Cabinet website |
How to Renew License Plate in KentuckyTo renew your Kentucky license plate, you must renew your vehicle registration after expiration. After completing your vehicle registration renewal, your license plate will be renewed. Vehicle registration renewals can be completed typically in person or online. However, some Kentucky counties, such as Davies County, allow vehicle owners to renew vehicle registrations by phone and mail.
To renew your vehicle registration in person, visit the local county clerk's office in your county of residence with the following:
In order to renew your vehicle registration online, you must fulfill the following conditions:
The following are required to renew your vehicle registrations online:
After completing your online renewal process, allow 5-7 working days to process the application.
How to Transfer a License Plate in KentuckySince the introduction of KAVIS (Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System) in January 2024, vehicle sellers retain the license plates when transferring a vehicle with unexpired registration to buyers. Vehicle sellers can now apply license plates and unexpired registrations, including standard-issue license plates, to other vehicles they own of the same class, including newly purchased vehicles. There is a one-time fee of $11 to transfer the registration to another vehicle. This fee applies to special license plates, standard issue license plates, commercial weighted plates, and historic plates.
If you want to transfer your personalized plate to another vehicle, your local county clerk must assign the plate to the new vehicle. This transfer incurs a re-issue fee of $3.00.
Kentucky License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Revealing personal information, such as the name of the individual registered with a license plate, in a license plate lookup is illegal, except in a few situations as required by a law or court order. The federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) governs the privacy and disclosure of personal information maintained by the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Without the exceptions outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 2721, disclosing personal information obtained from a license plate search without the consent of the individual to whom such information applies is an offense. Similarly, Section 601 KAR2:020 also states that personal information such as name, social security number, date of birth, address, telephone number, driver identification number, photograph, and medical information may not be sold or distributed about a motor vehicle operator or owner.
While you cannot obtain sensitive personal information about a vehicle operator, you can get non-personal information on more than 269 million vehicles in the United States using RecordsFinder. It requires users to provide the Vehicle Identification Number or license plate number to perform a license plate lookup.
If you lose your Kentucky license plate, you can obtain a replacement by visiting the county clerk's office in your area with the following:
Your replacement license plate will be ready within one week after submitting your application.
When police run license plates in Kentucky, they gain access to a range of information that helps them ensure public safety, enforce traffic laws, and respond effectively to various situations encountered on the road. Some of the information available to law enforcement when running license plates include:
Performing a free license plate lookup can help you avoid buying a vehicle with a cloned Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) when looking to purchase a car. With the rising rate of vehicles with cloned VINs sold to buyers, performing a free license plate lookup can be a helpful step in preventing seller fraud when buying a vehicle.
Using free license plate lookup services provided by RecordsFinder, you can access valuable information to make informed decisions about buying vehicles, such as:
In accordance with Section 186.990 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, any person who operates a vehicle without valid registration will be guilty of a violation. Per Section 534.040 of Kentucky Revised Statutes, anyone guilty of a violation may be liable to pay a fine of up to $250.
No. Due to a new law that went into effect in January 2024, Kentucky license plates now stay with the owners when they sell or transfer vehicles.
When moving out of Kentucky, you are required to title your vehicle in the new state of residency. Therefore, to ensure your vehicle is taken off tax records, you must return a copy of the new state vehicle title or registration and the Kentucky license plate to your local county clerk's office.
Kentucky standard license plates have complied with the 6 inches (height) by 12 inches (width) standard since 1956.
In accordance with Section 601 KAR 9:140, a county clerk may issue up to one 60-day temporary registration license plate to a vehicle. Also, a motor vehicle or a motorcycle dealer may issue up to one 60-day temporary registration license plate for each vehicle sale. Note that a temporary registration plate is unrenewable.
To renew your license plate, renew your registration by visiting the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet online vehicle registration portal or visit your local county clerk's office with your:
If your license plate is stolen or lost, you can get a replacement by submitting the following to your local county clerk's office: