Kentucky Temporary License Plate

What Is a Temporary License Plate in Kentucky?

A temporary license plate Kentucky is a short-term registration that allows highway travel until permanent plates and registration are obtained. Licensed dealers issue temporary plates during sales, and county clerks issue them for out-of-state transfers and emergencies.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet also issues a transit plate for non-residents removing a purchased vehicle from the state. County clerks in all 120 Kentucky counties handle registration; dealers operate through the Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System (KAVIS).

All temporary plates are paper documents. Dealers print or stamp each plate with waterproof ink, and the plate is mounted where the permanent license plate will be.

What Types of Temporary License Plates Are There in Kentucky?

KRS §186A.100 limits dealers to one temporary plate per sale. An emergency temporary plate cannot be reissued for the same owner and vehicle within one year of the previous issuance.

When Is a Temporary License Plate Required in Kentucky?

• A licensed dealer must equip each sold vehicle with either a dealer temporary plate or the buyer’s existing Kentucky license plate according to KRS §186A.100(1).
• An owner bringing a vehicle from another state into Kentucky applies for a county clerk temporary plate while gathering title documents according to KRS §186A.100(5).
• A non-resident purchasing a vehicle in Kentucky obtains a transit plate from the Vehicle Licensing Department according to KRS §186.068.
• A county clerk may issue an emergency temporary plate to a Kentucky registered vehicle owner for emergency or unusual purposes according to KRS §186A.100(6).

How to Get a Temporary License Plate in Kentucky?

1. Gather a signed (notarized) title, Kentucky insurance proof with an effective date within 45 days, and a valid Kentucky driver’s license or ID.
2. For dealer purchases, the dealer prints the plate at the time of sale using stock obtained from the county clerk.
3. For out-of-state transfers, visit the county clerk’s office in your county of residence with the out-of-state title and completed sheriff’s inspection.
4. Pay the applicable fee (see fee section below).
5. Receive the paper plate immediately and mount it on the rear of the vehicle.

Form TC 96-209 is the application for a temporary plate; form TC 96-150TF covers transit plates.

How Much Does a Temporary License Plate Cost in Kentucky?

The dealer fee and county clerk fee differ because the dealer plate includes $1 remitted to the Transportation Cabinet. Transit plates are available only at the Department in Frankfort, not county clerks.

How to Get a Temporary License Plate Online in Kentucky?

No. Kentucky does not offer a consumer online portal for temporary plates.

Dealers generate temporary plates through KAVIS at the time of sale, but consumers cannot directly access this system. Applicants for a transit plate may request it by mail through the Vehicle Licensing Department in Frankfort.

The alternative for all other classes is the county clerk’s office in any of Kentucky’s 120 counties. Out-of-state transfers require a sheriff’s inspection before the clerk can issue the plate.

For dealer purchases, the dealer handles issuance; for all other cases, the route is the county clerk’s counter.

How Long Can I Run a Temporary License Plate in Kentucky?

Operating with an expired or missing temporary plate violates KRS §186A.990(4)(a), a class B misdemeanor. Theft or fraudulent creation of a temporary plate is a class D felony under KRS §186.990(6).