['Registration and Permits - Motor Carrier']
['Vehicle Registration Permits']
03/12/2025
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All motor vehicles must be registered to operate on Kentucky roads. Registration is completed through the county clerk. To obtain registration, the vehicle must first be titled within Kentucky.
Regulatory Agencies for address(es).
License plate display
All vehicles, including commercial motor vehicles, must display the license plate on the rear of the vehicle. However, truck tractors must display the license plate on the front of the vehicle.
International Registration Plan
Kentucky is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.
Motor vehicles that qualify for apportionment consist of the following:
- A power unit having two axles and a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or registered weight in excess of 26,000 pounds;
- A power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or
- A unit used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds a GVW or 26,000 pounds.
Kentucky’s electronic credentialing program allows transactions for IRP, KYU vehicle inventory, KYU and IFTA tax filing, and transponder identification. The IRP Internet application allows Online completion of most IRP transactions, including renewal, adding vehicles, transferring registrations from one vehicle to another, and applying for a plate or cab card replacement. It is also possible to view and print the invoice and a temporary IRP permit.
Temporary permit: Carriers may print temporary cab cards from IRP Online until their mileage is approved. Carriers can operate on the temporary cab cards for 45 days.
Agency: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Motor Vehicle Services.
Fees: Total Kentucky fees are based on a combination of the ad valorem fee, weight fee, and Kentucky mileage percentage. Year of purchase factor changes yearly. Total IRP fee is based on the Kentucky fee and fees for other jurisdictions according to the rates and mileage percentages for each jurisdiction.
Ad Valorem: The ad valorem fee is calculated by multiplying the purchase price and year of purchase factor, and then multiplying that number by the Kentucky mileage percentage. The ad valorem fee isn't applicable to any current year purchase and isn't prorated.
Other
Reciprocity
Kentucky is a party to the Multistate Reciprocity Agreement and bilateral agreements, granting full interstate reciprocity on vehicle registration fees to all carriers from the jurisdiction of Alaska.
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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.