TRANSFERS

How to Transfer KY Titled Vehicles, Boats,& Trailers

1. In State Transfer

Transfer from KY individual to another Kentucky individual:

All fees must be paid at time of transfer, including a $9 Motor Vehicle Title Application fee, notary fees (if applicable), plate registration fees (if applicable), and sales or usage tax. When using the Total Consideration Affidavit, the Usage Tax is calculated at 6% of the purchase price, after the minimum taxable value is met. If the sale price is not notarized, the Usage Tax is calculated at 6% of the NADA retail value.

Any delinquent tax on the vehicle being transferred must be paid prior to, or as part of, the transfer. Any delinquent tax on other vehicles owned by the purchaser must be paid prior to, or as part of, the transfer.

If the buyer wishes to register and plate the vehicle to be transferred, 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

Required paperwork:

Original title (no photocopies)
Odometer Reading
Buyer(s) Valid KY Driver's License(s) or photocopy
Proof of current KY insurance for Vehicle in Buyer(s) name(s) — If they wish to plate and register the vehicle.

2. Renew by Phone

Transfer from KY individual to Out of State individual:

When selling a vehicle titled in Kentucky to a buyer in another state, the transfer of ownership will occur in the buyer's state, not in Kentucky. Complete the back of the title as described under “General Information”. Additionally, take a photocopy or a photo of both the front and back of the title. This will serve as proof of the sale.

Once the owner(s) sign the title over to the buyer(s), the buyer(s) have 15 days to transfer the vehicle into their name. While most states will notify Kentucky of the title transfer, there are instances when they do not. Therefore, we recommend that the seller check with the County Clerk's Office after the 15 days have elapsed to ensure the title transfer took place. If the vehicle is still showing as active in the seller's name at that time, the seller will need to sign an affidavit (Form TC 96-3) stating that they sold the vehicle, including the date of sale and the buyer's information.

If you, as the seller, no longer need the license plate, return it to the Clerk's Office, and it will be deactivated it from your profile. If you have not renewed your registration this year and paid the current year's Ad Valorem taxes for the vehicle, the taxes will become due at time of transfer.

If you choose to mail in your plate, please send the plate and completed and notarized form to the address below. There is a $2.00 mail in fee, please send any payment as a check or money order.

Please mail the signed and notarized form and payment to:
Jefferson County Clerk's Office
Attn: Motor Vehicle Processing Center
200 South Fifth Street, Suite 230 South
Louisville, KY 40202

3. Boat Transfers

Boat Transfers:

Motor Boat Transfers require previous owner's certificate of registration and/or title along with a Motor Boat Transaction Record/TC 96-184 (Rev: 2/2023). To print this form visit the Motor Vehicle Forms page. Older Boat titles may not have a field for the 'Physical Address for the vessel' or the 'Citizenship of the Primary Applicant'. In these cases, a Motor Boat Transaction Record/TC 96-184 (Rev: 2/2023) must be completed as well.

Original title (no photocopies) or current registration and Motor Boat Transaction Record/TC 96-184 (Rev: 2/2023)
Vessel Description (see Motor Boat Transaction Record/TC 96-184 (Rev: 2/2023) for details)
Buyer(s) Valid KY Driver's License(s) or photocopy

4. Renew by Mail

Trailer Transfers:

All fees must be paid at time of transfer, including a $9 Motor Vehicle Title Application fee, notary fees (if applicable), plate registration fees (if applicable), and sales or usage tax. Any delinquent tax on the trailer being transferred must be paid prior to, or as part of, the transfer. Any delinquent tax on other vehicles owned by the purchaser must be paid prior to, or as part of, the transfer.

Required paperwork:

Original title (no photocopies)
Trailer description (length & number of axels)
Buyer(s) Valid KY Driver's License(s) or photocopy

General Information

Kentucky Titles require that the seller(s) and the buyer(s) signature(s) are notarized. The seller should sign their name on the back of the title exactly as it appears on the front. In cases of joint ownership — 'or' requires just one signature — 'and/or' requires all signatures, 'and' requires all signatures. In the case of an older title not having a notary field (see bottom of page for descriptions), the seller(s) signature(s) would then be notarized on the Application for Title (TC 96-182).

There is a $2.00 fee for notarization provided by a county clerk. Any document(s) notarized by a county clerk must be signed in front of the clerk providing notarization and the signer must provide valid photo identification. The Title and, if required, the Application for Title (TC 96-182) may be completed and notarized outside the County Clerk's Office. In such cases anyone may bring the paperwork to the County Clerk's Office for processing.

When selling a Kentucky titled vehicle, if the transfer is not completed with the buyer and seller at a county clerk's office, the seller(s) should always take a photocopy or picture of both the front and back of the title as proof of the transfer. For proof of sale purposes, it is acceptable if the buyer(s) side of the title has not yet been signed and notarized; however, the buyer's name, address, date of sale, and the odometer reading must be completed and the seller(s) signature(s) must be notarized.

If the Ad Valorem taxes have not been paid yet, they are now due because the vehicle has been sold. The owner of a vehicle on January 1st is responsible for for that year's Ad Valorem tax. Kentucky does not prorate Ad Valorem taxes.

The buyer has 15 days from the date the seller(s) sign over the title to transfer the vehicle into their name. If the seller(s) could not complete the transfer with the buyer(s) at The County Clerk's Office, we recommend that the seller check with the County Clerk's Office after the 15 days have elapsed to ensure the title transfer took place. If the vehicle is still showing as active in the seller's name at that time, the seller will need to sign an affidavit (Form TC 96-3) stating that they sold the vehicle, including the date of sale and the buyer's information.

As of January, 2024, License Plates can no longer be transferred from one owner to another. When a vehicle is transferred with an unexpired registration, the seller will remove and keep the plate that was on the vehicle they sold. The seller can have that plate and their unexpired registration, including standard issue plates, reassigned to any other vehicle they own, including a new vehicle that they are purchasing. Do not mount the plate on a new vehicle without first registering it to that vehicle.

Plates no longer needed or with expired registrations, including special plates, will be handed over to the Clerk's Office. You can return them to a branch office or mail them to the Jefferson County Clerk Processing Center.

When mailing a license plate, please send the plate and registration to the address below. Write 'Sold Vehicle' on registration. There is a $2.00 mail-in fee, please send any payment as a check or money order.

Please mail the plate, registration, and payment to:
Jefferson County Clerk's Office
Attn: Processing Center
200 South Fifth Street, Suite 228S
Louisville, KY 40202

Accepted methods of payment at Branch Offices are cash, money order, MC, Visa, AMEX and Discover or personal check. No out-of-state checks accepted. Valid Kentucky I.D. is required for acceptance of personal checks.

Note: There is a payment service fee for all card transactions, 1.5% of total for Debit Cards and 2.75% of total for Credit Cards.

If you have any questions regarding this information, you may call our Motor Vehicle Call Center at 502.574.5700.

7 X 8 Kentucky Title that was printed before 2.28.00

Complete the “assignment of title” on the back of your Kentucky title. Complete the seller and buyer section of the Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title/Registration (TC 96-182). The 2000 revision of the TC 96-182 has the Total Consideration Affidavit used for computing usage tax incorporated into the form. The Vehicle Identification Section along with the Seller and Buyer information should be completed and signed by both parties. All signatures must be notarized.

8.5 X 11 Kentucky Title that was printed between 2.28.00-8.4.2016 (Black border)

Complete the “assignment of title” on the back of your Kentucky title. Complete the Application for Title/Affidavit of Total Consideration on the back of the title. Complete the seller and buyer section of the Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title/Registration. Note: Both signatures of the seller (transferor) and buyer (transferee) are required to be notarized. Title has two sections for the seller(s) signature to be notarized by attesting official. Title has two sections for buyer(s) signature. Buyer(s) signature must be notarized on the right side portion of title under Application for Title/Affidavit of Total Consideration in buyer(s) section.

8.5 X 11 Kentucky title that was printed 8.4.2016 or later (Blue border)

Complete the “assignment of title” on the back of your Kentucky title. Complete the seller and buyer section of the Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title/Registration. Complete the Application for Title/Affidavit of Total Consideration on the back of the title. Note: Complete the seller and buyer section of the Transfer of Title by Owner. Both signatures of the seller and buyer are required to be notarized.