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Kentucky title transfer fees

How much is the title fee in Kentucky?

$9

In plain English

Kentucky law, in a version effective until January 1, 2027, sets the fee for each application for a certificate of title at nine dollars ($9). Of that, the county clerk keeps six dollars ($6) and the Transportation Cabinet receives three dollars ($3).

“186A.130 Fee for title application. (Effective until January 1, 2027) There shall be paid for issuing and processing title documents required by this chapter fees according to the following schedule: (1) (a) Each application for a certificate of title shall be nine dollars ($9), of which the county clerk shall retain six dollars ($6) and the Transportation Cabinet shall receive three dollars ($3).”

Worked example

Example: a $12,000 used car bought from a private seller in Kentucky. Title fee: $9. Tax is left out of this example. Not included: registration and plates, a lien fee, an out-of-state inspection, county or office add-ons, and late fees.

A made-up price; every other figure is from the quotes on this page. It is an illustration, not a bill.

What other fees come with it?

What are the steps in Kentucky, and by when?

In plain English

  1. In a sale, the seller must sign the back of the title in the presence of a notary.

    The official words

    “In the sale of a vehicle, the seller must sign the back of the title in the presence of a notary.”

  2. When a vehicle is sold from one citizen or business to another in Kentucky, the title must be transferred to the new owner within 15 days.

    The official words

    “When a vehicle/ vessel is sold from one citizen/business to another in Kentucky, the title must be transferred to the new owner within 15 days.”

What if the car comes from another state?

New residents have

10 days

“If you own a vehicle, vessel, or mobile home, you must also obtain insurance through a company authorized to do business in Kentucky and title and register your property within 10 days of establishing residency.”

In plain English

The owner of a vehicle brought into Kentucky and required to be titled there must have it inspected by a certified inspector, together with the title application and its supporting documents, before submitting the application to the county clerk.

The official words

“the owner of every vehicle brought into this state and required to be titled in this state shall, before submitting his or her application for title to the county clerk, have the vehicle together with his or her application for title and its supporting documents inspected by a certified inspector”

A new resident who owns a vehicle must obtain insurance through a company authorized to do business in Kentucky, and must title and register the vehicle within 10 days of establishing residency.

The official words

“If you own a vehicle, vessel, or mobile home, you must also obtain insurance through a company authorized to do business in Kentucky and title and register your property within 10 days of establishing residency.”

When a vehicle offered for registration in Kentucky for the first time was registered in another state that levied a tax substantially identical to the usage tax, a credit equal to the amount of tax paid to the other state is granted against the usage tax.

The official words

“When offering a vehicle for registration for the first time in Kentucky which was registered in another state that levied a tax substantially identical to Motor Vehicle Usage Tax, a credit against the Usage tax equal to the amount of tax paid to the other state will be granted.”

What about tax on the purchase in Kentucky?

In plain English

Kentucky's Motor Vehicle Usage Tax is levied at six percent and is paid on every motor vehicle used in Kentucky. A county clerk cannot register a vehicle or issue license tags unless the owner or the owner's agent pays this tax, in addition to the transfer, registration and license fees.

The official words

“It is levied at six percent and shall be paid on every motor vehicle used in Kentucky.”

“A county clerk cannot register or issue license tags to the owner of any vehicle unless the owner or his agent pays the Motor Vehicle Usage Tax in addition to the transfer, registration,​ and license fees.”

We don’t work out tax for Kentucky.

What does a gift or family transfer change in Kentucky?

Nothing on this in the official pages we read for Kentucky. That is about our reading, not about Kentucky’s rules.

What happens if the transfer is late in Kentucky?

Nothing on this in the official pages we read for Kentucky. That is about our reading, not about Kentucky’s rules.

What the pages we read do not cover

The quotes we hold do not say what amount the usage tax percentage is taken of.

The quotes we hold do not give a fee for recording a lender's claim or a penalty for a late transfer.

The quotes we hold do not say what a gift or family transfer changes.

How Kentucky compares

The title fee quoted for Kentucky is $9. Of the other 37 states with a figure, 5 states quote less, 31 states quote more and 1 state quotes the same. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.

LowerHigher

The states whose flat title fee sits closest to Kentucky’s. Each figure is copied from the quote at the top of that state’s page, with its source and read date. A title fee is one line, not the whole cost.

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Anything else?

Reference only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm with the agency. Full statement

Sources

8 quoted lines from 6 official sources, each matched word for word on November 12, 2026. The state’s own titling page is drive.ky.gov.

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