Out of State Vehicles

Documents required:

Application for Title/Registration Form (TC96-182).
The Owner/Buyer and Seller (if the ownership is changing) sections must be signed and notarized.
When completed, Form TC 96-182 serves as your odometer statement which is necessary.

  1. Original title from previous state. If the title is being held by a lien holder, it must be released to the Jefferson County Clerk. The release is requested by the owner through a “Bank Letter” which may be obtained from our office or printed out from here. Our office will file a lien on your new Kentucky title. The County Clerk’s Office will notify you of receipt of your title from the lien holder. If you do not apply for title and registration in Kentucky within thirty (30) days from the date the County Clerk’s Office receives the title from the lien holder, the title will be returned to the lien holder on the thirty-first (31st) day.

  2. A Sheriff’s Inspection is required on all out-of-state vehicles. You must take the title and vehicle to one of the following Sheriff Inspection locations:
    • 810 West Market Street, towards rear of building, enter off market street
    • Dixie Branch, 4919-F Dixie Hwy, next to Kroger Marketplace
    • East Branch, 12312-A Shelbyville Road, Middletown Plaza
    • Highview Branch – 7813 Beulah Church Road,
      Beulah Church Shopping Center
    • West Branch, 228 Amy Avenue, French Plaza
    • Westport Branch, 9451 Westport Road, Suite 117
    • Fairdale Branch 10616 West Manslick Road, Fairdale Playtorium

    There is a fee of $5.00 (cash or check made out to Jefferson County Sheriff Office or JCSO) for inspections. The Sheriff inspection’s telephone number is 502-574-5085.

    NOTE: If you would like to check the operating hours for the various sheriff inspection locations, please refer to the  following link: http://www.jeffersoncountyclerk.org/mv_boats


  3. When registering an out-of-state vehicle proof of Commonwealth of Kentucky insurance is required. When providing the Clerk’s Office with an insurance card it cannot have an Effective/Issue date older than 45 days from the date that it is presented. It is important to note that the effective date of the policy may be different than the effective date of the insurance card. For acceptance, the Clerk’s Office is concerned with the date the card was issued, not the policy. This applies to Personal Policies only. Mandatory Insurance Law

  4. Upon first time registration of a vehicle in Kentucky, the County Clerk collects a 6% usage tax. On a used vehicle, the tax is based on the current trade-in value according to the NADA guide. Tax credit may be obtained for any previous sales or usage tax paid to another state by the current registered owner. Tax credits will not be issued to vehicles purchased in Georgia after 3/1/2013. If there is a difference between previous tax paid by current owner and tax due Kentucky, then the applicant will be expected to pay the difference. The tax proof must be in your name and be on an invoice from the dealer or from the Department of Revenue where the vehicle was registered. Acceptable proof of sales or usage tax paid in another state must include the name of registered owner, vehicle identification number (VIN), and amount of state sales tax paid. It may also be listed on the Out-of-State Title. If the vehicle was previously registered in Kentucky under the current owner’s name, then Usage Tax will be waived. When registering a ‘brand new’ vehicle in Kentucky, it is necessary for you to complete the Total Consideration Section on the Application for Title/Registration (TC 96-182) attesting to the purchase price of the vehicle. TC 96-182 form must be signed by both the seller and buyer and notarized. If both signatures cannot be obtained to sign the TC 96-182 form, it is necessary for you to present the window sticker or factory invoice stating the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of the vehicle, including options and destination charges. Kentucky residents registering a vehicle purchased out of state must also complete the Total Consideration section on the TC 96-182 form, the application must be signed by both the seller and the buyer attesting to the purchase price of the vehicle. If the seller is not available to sign the TC 96-182, the tax will be based on 6% of the average retail value according to the NADA guide.

  5. The fee required for Application of Title is $9.00. The annual license fee is $21.00 which will be pro-rated, based on the owner’s birth month. For each required notarization, there is a $2.00 fee. Accepted methods of payment are cash, money order, Visa/MasterCard and Discover, or personal check. Out-of-state checks are not accepted. Valid Kentucky I.D. is required for notarization and/or acceptance of personal checks.

  6. If the title reflects a lien holder a Title Lien Statement (T.L.S.) is required. The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office will file your lien in Jefferson County. The lien-filing fee is $22.00.

  7. If there are two (2) names with “or” on a Certificate of Title, one signature is required to be notarized ($2.00 fee) on the Application for Title/Registration Form  (TC 96-182) to license a vehicle in the State of Kentucky. If signatures are notarized in our office, Kentucky I.D. is required.

OUR MAILING ADDRESS IS:
Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
Attn: Motor Vehicle Processing Center
P O Box 33033
Louisville, Kentucky 40232-3033

OVERNIGHT ADDRESS:
Jefferson County Clerk’s Office
Attn: Motor Vehicle Processing Center
200 S. Fifth Street, Suite 230 South
Louisville, Kentucky 40202

If you have any questions regarding this information, you may call our Motor Vehicle Call Center at
502-574-5700 or e-mail us: CountyClerk@JeffersonCountyClerk.org

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