TRANSPORTATION / MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION
Kentucky Driver Licenses
Newcomers have a 30-day grace period in which to obtain a Kentucky driver license. Written, vision, and skills testing will be required with the exception of new residents who hold a valid license from another state. In these cases, written and skills tests may be waived. Newcomers will find driver license offices conveniently located throughout the state. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet website provides a list of offices with operating hours, services that are available, and locations by county. For more information or answers to specific questions including graduated license laws, contact:
Division of Driver Licensing
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
General 502-564-0278
Driver Ed 502-564-0276
https://drive.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Kentucky Vehicle Registration
In Kentucky, the county clerk is responsible for issuing motor vehicle registrations and titles. The following items are necessary to complete the licensing of your vehicle(s) in Kentucky. If you own your car without liens, you will need a certified inspection from the sheriff’s office from the county of your new residence, original out-of-state title, the original registration receipt, original current proof of insurance, proof of sales/usage/use tax paid to the previous state, and picture ID or driver license. New residents with liens will need to obtain a letter from their new county clerk’s office that requests the title from the previous state if applicable or the original out-of-state title with the lien listed on it. For more information or answers to questions including the protocol for leased vehicles, contact the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing or your county clerk:
Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
General 502-564-5301
Titles 502-564-2737
https://drive.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
COUNTY CLERK OFFICES
Bourbon County
301 Main Street
Paris 859-987-2142
https://bourbon.clerkinfo.net/
Clark County
34 South Main Street
Winchester 859-745-0280
https://clark.countyclerk.us/
Fayette County
162 East Main Street
Lexington 859-253-3344
http://fayettecountyclerk.com/
Jessamine County
101 North Main Street
Nicholasville 859-885-4161
https://jessamineco.com/departments/county-clerk/
Madison County
101 West Main Street
Richmond 859-624-4703
https://www.madisoncountyclerk.us/berea-branch
Scott County
101 E Main Street
Georgetown 502-863-7875
https://scottcountyclerk.com/
Woodford County
103 South Main Street
Versailles 859-873-3421
https://woodford.countyclerk.us/
Kentucky Safety Laws
Kentucky law demands that the driver and all passengers in a moving vehicle must be secured in a properly adjusted seat belt at all times. Furthermore, all children who are less than 40 inches in height must be properly secured in a federally approved child safety restraint system. The law is primary, which means that violators can be pulled over and ticketed without the involvement of any other violation. The safest position in a vehicle for children is always the rear seat, which has been statistically shown to save lives and reduce injuries. For complete information on vehicle and highway safety in Kentucky, contact:
Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement
Information 502-564-3276
http://kentuckystatepolice.org/
Governor’s Highway Safety Program
Information 502-695-6213
http://kentuckystatepolice.org/
Kentucky Watercraft Registration
Every motorized watercraft on Kentucky waters must be registered and licensed. Bring proof of ownership to the same county clerk’s office that handles vehicle registration and titling.
