Kentucky License Plate Lookup

It is illegal to drive a car without state authorization in Kentucky. So, if you are new in this region or you have bought a new car, do the titling and seek authorization. Kentucky license plate lookup will help you a lot during this process. It provides you with the history of the vehicle and gives info on other important features. With its help, you will be sure that your purchase is worth your money.

Keep reading and find more info on Kentucky License Plate Lookup and other processes connected with authorization.

Table of Contents

How to conduct the Search in KY?

To discover good or bad things about the automobile that you want to buy, use Kentucky License Plate lookup mechanisms. With their support, you may reach governmental reports, check the total condition of the truck through insurance documents, and involvement in accidents. Check How can you search a license plate in several states: Mississippi, Georgia, Nebraska, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington.

To get official information, you may apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles. There are four options available to perform Kentucky License Plate Search:

Online
In-person
Via mail
Over the phone

To request mail, you need to indicate the following address on the envelope:

Department of Motor Vehicles

200 Mero Street

Frankfort, KY 40622

To get the information over the phone, call 502-564-5301

The most convenient and quickest way to apply for the data is doing it through the official website of DMV. You just need to fill out the special form and follow the instructions. The online method also allows you to reach the public photos and videos of the automobile.

For each record, you have to pay $3, plus the mailing costs, and $0.10 for each page of the record.
This region follows the laws of the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). So, the personal information of the owner is not provided. The violation of the DPPA laws and the illegal use of personal information brings legal consequences.

For the search, you may also use private online databases. Make sure that they provide information from the official sources and conduct a free lookup.

No matter which searching method you choose, you will get the following information:

First of all, in the record, find out the production year and place of the automobile.
Secondly, you are to see the main features, model, engine specifications, and condition of the car.
Thirdly, there are also notes on the accidents and natural disasters in which it had been engaged.
Finally, you conclude if the vehicle has been involved in illegal deals and thefts.

Kentucky License plate lookup services help you a lot in the process of buying a pre-owned vehicle. Before doing the actual payment, you are to be sure that your payment is meaningful. You may also use them to see if your preferred personalized combination is available or not.

Registration Procedure

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) states that it is illegal to drive without proper registration. Before applying for it, you should title your car. Make sure you have a valid KY driver’s license.

For titling, provide valid insurance, photo ID, completed form of request, which has to have a notarized signature on it.

If you are new in this state or you have just bought an automobile, visit the County Clerk’s office for the first-time registration. You have only 15 days to finalize this process. While visiting the Clerk’s office, make sure you have the following documents with you:

Valid title
Driving license or photo ID
Completed application form
Operating insurance, that is valid within 45 days
Sheriff’s inspection is needed if you are new in this region
Proof of payment for the taxes and fees

You have a right to do the registration personally or through the online official database. Not all states provide opportunities for online registration, however, it will save your time and money.

After completing this procedure, you are to get your standard distinctive numbers on spot. They contain 6 characters with a dash or space. KYTC issues a unique plate for each automobile. If the latter registered before 2011, you will see a design of dark blue color and the name of the state indicated on top. After 2011, the slogan “In God we Trust” appeared on them.

In 2020 the government launched plates with a new design. They are digitally printed on aluminum. They came to transfer traditional metal ones, with stamped letters. The main producer is to be local Correctional Industries. Due to a pandemic outbreak, the process was temporarily shut down. However, the new design has to gradually replace the old ones. All the processes and fees remain the same for the vehicle owners.

The type and weight of the automobile determine the cost of registration. For titling, you are to pay $9. The yearly fee for standard distinctive numbers is $25and the cost of the inspection is $5. There is also a usage tax, which is 6% of the car’s cost.

Available types

To meet the personal and organizational interests of the residents, KY offers 150 different types of plates.

The first type is a personalized one: when you choose your letter and digit combinations. Here the space and the dash are also seen as a character, and you can choose up to 6 of them. You have to follow the legal requirements and not indicate inappropriate and vulgar writings on them. Otherwise, the state law bans the combination.

The fee for this category is $25, and to get the recalls, you have to wait from 4 up to 6 weeks.

You may also find such types as:

Organizational
Occupational
Military
Disability
For antique cars

Renewal process

Once a year, you have to renew your car’s registration. About 45 days before its expiry, you are to get a renewal notice by mail. To avoid late fees and penalties, apply for the renewal some days before the actual expiry.

There are 3 accessible methods for the renewal:

Online
In-person
Via Mail

It is a quite simple process. The data that you need is the VIN, the number of the plate, the date of expiration from the renewal notice, bank card, or cash. Take the following steps to complete the procedure:

Firstly, pay a visit to the County Clerk’s office or enter the official website.
Then, sign in to your account and fill out the application form.
Finally, pay the fees and wait for the new recalls.

NOTE: You should have valid insurance from the State and it has to be operating during the past 45 days.

In case of online renewal, the Clerk’s office is to review your application. The process may last 5 working days. Online renewal fees may vary and there is a need to pay $2 for mailing.

Replacement

You should replace your lost, stolen, or damaged tags as soon as possible. Driving without a state-issued warrant is a crime and it causes legal consequences. In case of theft, first of all, go to the nearest police station. There, fill out a report and take it with you to the local division of Revenue.

Visit the nearest DMV office, fill out TC 96-167 application form and pay a $25 replacement fee. The county Clerk gives your standard plate immediately. In the case of personal numbers, you can’t do the replacement until January of that year.

The cost of replacement is $6.

When the numbers are ready, you are to receive a notification and it becomes possible to do the pick-up from the office.

NOTE: Plates belong to the state. So, you have to give the damaged numbers to the county office. Do the same in the case of founding a tag.

Is it Possible to do Transferring or Surrender?

When you obtain a plate, it becomes your property. Thus, you have a right to maintain it if you sell or give your automobile to someone.

If you sell or exchange your vehicle with personalized numbers, you have to notify the local office. To maintain your special tags, the office should assign a standard number to the automobile.

To transfer a tag to another truck, pay a personal visit to the KYTC. Fill out a special application form. You may only complete this procedure if the vehicles belong to the same type.

When selling your vehicle and having no aim to buy a new one, or moving to another state, you should surrender the plates. Then, you have to cancel your insurance, too.

Two options are available for surrender. First of all, you can personally visit KYTC and leave the numbers there. Secondly, you can mail the numbers to KYTC, and include all the necessary documents with them.

The transferring fee is $3 for personalized numbers.

In case of questions connected to the above-mentioned procedures, you may contact to:

ADDRESS:

Transportation Cabinet