Buying or Selling a Kentucky Titled Vehicle


What you will need:

  1. Original Kentucky Title
  2. Original Kentucky Registration
  3. Proof of current Kentucky liability insurance in the buyer's name for the purchased vehicle. 
  4. Picture identification for buyer and seller. (If buyer and/or seller will not be present in our office, an application must be signed and notarized prior to transfer.) (See Example)
  5. Social Security Number for each new owner(s) appearing on the title or Federal Tax ID Number for companies
  6. Title Lien Statement (TC96-187) if applicable, must be provided by the lienholder.
  7. Titles printed prior to 3/1/2000 will also require an Application for Title (TC96-182). (See Example)
  8. TITLE ONLY transfers require that plates be surrendered to the county clerk.

*All liens must be terminated prior to transfer.

If you have lost your Kentucky title you will need to order a duplicate title.

How will Road Usage Tax be calculated?

A 6% Kentucky road usage tax is collected on the retail price. The retail price is either the purchase price or the NADA retail price. If taxing on the purchase price, the seller must disclose the purchase price on the application, sign as seller and have notarized (taxable value cannot be less than 50% of the NADA "trade in" value).

Fees:

Title fee:

$  17.00

Clerk fee:

$    6.00

Plate fee:

$  21.00 annual registration

Lien filing fee if applicable:

$  22.00

Late lien filing penalty if applicable:

$    2.00

 

Any delinquent property tax owed may prohibit title/registration.

Special plates are available for additional fees. Click here to see our special plates.

NOTE: Special plates are not transferrable. Contact our office for more information.

Property tax

Property tax for your vehicles, trailers and boats are assessed by the Property Valuation Administrator on January 1st of each year. You are responsible for property tax on any vehicle registered to you on January 1.

Acceptable Methods of Payment