If you have lost your original title, you must apply for a duplicate title before any change of ownership; updates or lien recordings may be done. Application is made at your local county clerk’s office. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prints the title the following work day and mails the title to the owner. Duplicate titles cannot be picked up on a walk-thru basis.

• Application for title/registration 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 names of owners requires signature of all owners.
• If the application is for the purpose of applying for a loan, the owner needs to indicate this on the application. A pending lien will be noted and the owner will be given a goldenrod copy of the registration to present to the lending institution. The lending institution will use the registration and a Title Lien Statement to record the lien.

Note: The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Title Branch will print the duplicate title the next business day and mail it to the owner. (If a pending lien is filed, printing of the title is held for 30 days.)

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).

New residents titling vehicles in Kentucky must present the current out of state title. In some states, if the money were borrowed to purchase the vehicle, the lien holder would keep the title. In those cases, the County Clerk’s office must contact the lien holder and have the title sent directly to the County Clerk. Information concerning the lien holder must be submitted to the Clerk. While waiting for the title to be sent, a temporary one time (30 day) license plate may be issued. The owner must provide proof of insurance and current out of state registration before the temporary “tag” may be issued.

The following documents & information are required:

• Out of state title–a photocopy is not acceptable.
• If purchasing from out-of-state dealer or individual, assignment portion of title must be properly completed. Kentucky Affidavit of Consideration must be completed.
• Proof of sales tax paid in another state. A credit equal to the amount paid in the other state will be applied to amount owed in Kentucky. The proof must identify taxpayer, type of tax paid, dollar amount paid and serial number of vehicle.

The following types of proof are acceptable:

• Tax shown on certificate of title
• Dealer purchase contract
• Financing statement from lender
• Receipt or letter from tax agency

If proof of sales tax paid is not available, presumed credit can be given on vehicles that are being titled in the same name. The owner must show proof of current registration from the other state. The credit is the same percentage charged in the other state and is applied toward the amount owed in Kentucky, which is 6% of the current trade-in value as listed in the NADA (National Auto Dealers Assoc.) Official Used Car Guide.

• Application for title/registration 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 requires the signature of all owners.
• Certified Sheriff’s inspection of serial number (Sheriff’s inspection section is on the application for title/registration VTR form # TC96-182. The Sheriff will not do the inspection until the VTR is signed and notarized.)
• Proof of insurance on the vehicle being titled and registered
• Social Security Number of each individual listed on title or Federal ID number for companies.
• Title Lien Statement, if applicable.

The following documents and information are required:

• Manufacturers’ certificate of origin properly assigned to the buyer by the selling dealer
• Application for vehicle title/registration: If using total consideration as usage tax value, Total Consideration portion must be completed. If County Clerk staff notarizes signature(s), identification must be presented.
• Window sticker or dealer invoice showing MSRP plus options & destination charges if not using Total Consideration as usage tax value.
• Certified Sheriff inspection of serial number if purchased out of state: The sheriff will not do inspection without VTR signed & notarized.
• Proof of insurance
• Social Security number for each party listed on title or federal ID number for companies.
• Title lien statement, if applicable

Complete Form #TC96-215 Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Assembled from Wrecked or Salvaged Motor Vehicles. Submit completed application for Title/Registration (VTR form # TC96-182); this form must be signed and notarized. The following must be completed in full: (1) Seller Section, (2) Vehicle Identification Section, (3) Owner-Buyer Section, and (4) Certified Inspector Section. The Certified Inspector Section must be completed by a certified inspector in accordance with the provision of KRS 186A.115. The application for Title/Registration must be accompanied by a properly assigned Certificate of Title. In those limited cases where a Certificate of Title does not exist, the person selling the vehicle must give a notarized statement fully explaining ownership of the vehicle. Submit original receipts for all labor required to construct or reconstruct the vehicle. Whomever provided all labor, a descriptive notarized statement will be required stating what repairs were made. Submit all original receipts for parts purchased. If the parts you buy are from individuals and not businesses, have the person who sold you the parts write a notarized statement giving his name, address and telephone number, the part or parts sold, and the vehicle identification number of the vehicle that the parts were taken from If the vehicle has a license plate, regardless of decal expiration date, remove it and submit with this application. 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 you used a replacement engine, 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 to apply for the Title and register your vehicle. After 60 days, the application will be canceled and you will need to reapply.

In order to junk a vehicle, the current license plate and title must be turned into your local County Clerk’s Office. The title must be clear of all liens and all property taxes must be paid or exonerated by the Property Valuation Administrator. There is a $1.00 fee to junk a vehicle.

If the title and/or plate have been lost, and the owner still has possession of the vehicle, Form #TC96-167 must be signed and notarized by the owner.

If the vehicle has been disposed of to a junkyard or another individual and the title is lost, a duplicate title must be applied for. Vehicles can be junked once the duplicate title is received.

You must get a signed affidavit from the PVA’s office prior to paying the $1.00.  After you have completed those steps you should bring the title to the Clerk’s office for processing.

Kentucky Certificate of Title with assignment of title properly completed & notarized with notary seal. The title is then presented to the out of state purchaser so they can title & register the vehicle in their state. Affidavit of Non-Exchange Form #TC96-167 must be submitted for all vehicles sold out of state. The registered owner must sign this form and have signature notarized. If County Clerk staff notarizes signatures, identification must be presented. Note: If the out of state transfer occurred after January 1st of the current tax year, the seller will be responsible for the taxes for that tax year. If the sale occurred before January 1st the tax can be exonerated. It is advised that the sellers make a copy of the front & back of the title to present to the Property Valuation Administrator so that the tax may be exonerated.