Building on the state's plans to migrate from an outdated vehicle registration database to a modern, more efficient system beginning in January, Kentuckians will now keep their license plates when transferring vehicle ownership- a move that will improve convenience and save money for Kentuckians.
This is a change from the current practice where plates have been linked to the vehicle.
Kentuckians will now retain both unexpired registration and the license plate when transferring ownership- a common practice when selling a vehicle.
Also, owners of specialty license plates will save money by no longer paying for a standard license plate to go with the transferred vehicle and paying to place their specialty plate on the new vehicle.
Currently, when a vehicle with an unexpired registration is transferred, a standard issue plate and registration are transferred with the vehicle to the new owner.
Once the new Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System is available statewide in mid-January, when a vehicle is transferred with unexpired registration, the plate is retained by the seller.
Additionally, the seller gains the ability to apply the plate and unexpired registration, including standard-issue plates, to any other vehicle they own of the same class, including a newly purchased vehicle.
Kentuckians are reminded that the full launch to KAVIS is slated to begin at the end of the month through early January, which means vehicle and boat related services will be temporarily paused at county clerk offices.
This will mainly impact anyone who plans to sell, buy or renew a vehicle in Kentucky in January.
