All motorboat registrations and transfers are handled by the County Clerk’s Office. Kentucky law requires all boats having motors to be registered if operated on public waters. To register a boat, you must have the registration certificate. Boat renewals and property tax payments may be processed in the same way that you renew a motor vehicle. However, you CANNOT renew a motorboat online.

Links to MVL Related Forms:

• Affidavit for Previously Owned Manufactured/Mobile Home 
• TC 96-182 Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title – TC 96-182 (ky.gov)
• TC 96-187 Title Lien Statement - TC 96-187
• TC 96-215 Affidavit for Wrecked or Salvaged Vehicle (rebuilt application)  – TC 96-215 (ky.gov)
• TC 96-353 Labor Statement for Rebuild (required with the rebuilt application) – TC 96-353 (ky.gov)
• TC 96-347 Handicap Application – TC 96-347 (ky.gov)
•  71A101 Parent to Child Form – 71A101 (05-16) (ky.gov)

To obtain a salvaged title, bring in the title and license plate at which time you will receive rebuilt title instructions.  Once you turn in the plate, THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE REBUILT PROCESS IS COMPLETE.

There is an option for a speed salvage title in some circumstances. 

Rebuilt Titles

To obtain a rebuilt title, you must provide the following:

• Salvaged title;
• Active insurance on the vehicle;
• A completed TC 96-215 Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Assembled from Wrecked or Salvaged Motor Vehicles;
• A completed TC 96-182 Application for Title/Registration, including a certified inspection in accordance with KRS 186A.115;
• A completed TC 96-353 Labor Statement for Rebuilt or Total-Loss Vehicle as well as original receipts for parts and labor. If parts are obtained from an individual, a separate sheet of paper with the individuals name, address and phone number as well as the part(s) acquired and the vehicle identification number of the vehicle the parts were obtained from. Note, in the event a vehicle identification number cannot be provided, a notarized statement from the seller will have to be provided as to why.

If the vehicle has a license plate, regardless of decal expiration date, remove the plate and submit with this application. Note, this will be a rare situation.

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 a replacement engine is used, 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 of the rebuilt application to apply for the title and register your vehicle. After 60 days, the application will be canceled and you will need to reapply.

PLEASE NOTE, A VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THE REBUILT APPLICATION HAS BEEN APPROVED IN FRANKFORT, WHICH USUALLY TAKES 1-3 WEEKS.

The dealership may send your paperwork to you OR the County Clerk’s Office. Please call the office at (270) 389-2431 to find out if we have received anything or to find out the next steps in processing your paperwork.

**Please be mindful, if you agreed upon the dealership sending the paperwork to our office, it typically takes 3-4 weeks from the purchase date for us to receive it.

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 and seller. Depending on what year your title was issued determines the procedure that you follow for a transfer.
• Application for Title/Registration: If issued before February 2000, title must be completed, signed by all registered owners and notarized. Persons that have power-of-attorney for the owner(s) may sign, but a copy of the power-of-attorney must be submitted with the application. If County Clerk staff notarizes signatures, identification must be presented.
  Note: Titles that contain AND (instead of OR) between the names of owners require the signature of all owners and/or require both to sign and notarize.
• Buyer Proof of Insurance (in their name) for vehicle purchasing. Title Only transfers may be done if insurance is not available or if the vehicle is inoperable, but the license plate must be surrendered.
• Social Security Number for each party appearing on the title or Federal ID Number for companies.

Notes

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 a notification by the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet of the tax due. This does not relinquish the 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 the total consideration paid. On used vehicles, the 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:

1. Charitable/Education Organization
2. Corporation/Subsidiary (LLC)*
3. Dealer Registration
4. Husband/Wife
5. Military Exempt*
6. Parent/Child
7. State Government
8. US Government
9. Corporation/Proprietorship (LLC)*
10. Court Order/Will*
11. Grandparent/Grandchild
12. Local Government
13. Name Change
14. Repossession*
15. Stepparent/Stepchild

*Documentation must be provided

Fees

Kentucky Duplicate Title Fee for Motor Vehicle: $8.00

Notary Fee: $2.00 - Any document that we have to notarize will include this fee

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, Kentucky 40601

Transfer Fee: $9.00 - Standard fee for title-only transfer

Yearly Renewal Registration Fee: $21.00 - Could vary depending on plate type or date of purchase

Usage Tax: 6% of “retail price” - See Usage Tax definition above

Title Lien Statement Recording Fee: $22.00

If the mobile home is being moved, a B-seal inspection will have to be performed. To schedule an inspection, please call the Fire Marshal at (502) 573-1795. For more information, visit the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction.

If the mobile home is not being moved, the seller will need to complete the Affidavit for Previously Owned Manufactured/Mobile Home. 

**Be mindful, in both scenarios, the title will have to be transferred in the County Clerk’s Office to complete the change of ownership.

If your out-of-state purchase is from a dealer, please refer to the “Transfer of a Dealer Purchased Vehicle” section above.

If your out-of-state purchase is coming from an individual, the TC 96-182 Application For Kentucky Certificate of Title must be signed and notarized by the seller (even if the state purchased from is not a notary state). If the TC 96-182 Application For Kentucky Certificate of Title form is not completed, your sales tax amount will be based upon the retail value of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle MUST be inspected and a Kentucky insurance card will have to be provided.