KY · Registration fee guide
Kentucky car registration fees
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Kentucky registers passenger cars every year through the County Clerk.
Your itemized estimate
Estimate your registration
Use your vehicle details to calculate the listed fees. Amounts reflect the schedule verified in 2026.
Start with the published example below, then adjust the details for your vehicle.
Published example · listed fees
$20.5012-month renewal example
No listed fees for this selection.
- State fees$14.50
- County / local$6.00
- One-time$0.00
View breakdown data
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| State fees | $14.50 |
| County / local | $6.00 |
| One-time | $0.00 |
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| State registration fee (passenger vehicle) | $11.50 |
| County clerk fee | $6.00 |
| Additional registration fee (AVIS technology and clerk services) | $3.00 |
Limited data: this is a subtotal of published fees. Missing fees are not included. Estimate only. Includes only the fees listed here; other taxes, penalties or local charges may apply. Confirm with the official agency.
Confirm with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing (County Clerks)
Registration fee schedule
Only applicable fees contribute to your estimate. Optional fees are excluded unless selected. One-time fees apply only to new registrations.
| Fee | Amount or rule | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| State registration fee (passenger vehicle) | $11.50 KRS 186.050(1): annual registration fee of $11.50 for passenger cars and light trucks. | All listed vehiclesAll listed vehicles |
| County clerk fee | $6.00 KRS 186.040(1)(c): $6 per registration to the county clerk ($9 if the registration exceeds 12 months). | All listed vehiclesAll listed vehicles |
| Additional registration fee (AVIS technology and clerk services) | $3.00 KRS 186.040(6): an additional $3 per registration, collected at the time of registration. | All listed vehiclesAll listed vehicles |
| Electric vehicle ownership fee (base amount) | $120.00 KRS 138.475: annual $120 electric vehicle ownership fee for plug-in electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, adjusted by the Department of Revenue under KRS 138.477. The adjusted amount is sent to county clerks and is not published, so the $120 base is shown. | See conditionsfuel type: electric, phev |
| Title application fee | $9.00 KRS 186A.130: $9 fee for a certificate of title application. | New registrationAll listed vehicles; one-time |
How Kentucky fees work
Kentucky registers passenger cars every year through the County Clerk. The state charges an $11.50 registration fee, the clerk keeps a $6 fee, and a $3 technology and service fee is added, for $20.50 before taxes. Plug-in electric cars and plug-in hybrids also pay an annual EV ownership fee, set at a base of $120 and adjusted by the Department of Revenue. The bigger cost is the annual vehicle property (ad valorem) tax, which depends on the car's value and your county and city, so it is not included.
The listed registration period is 12 months. Agency information
Cost factors: flat, fuel, county.
Electric & hybrid surcharges
Choose the matching fuel type in the calculator to include the applicable surcharge.
Late registration
No separate late fee for passenger renewals was found in KRS Chapter 186. Registrations expired less than a year can still be renewed online; a cancelled registration costs $40 to reinstate (KRS 186.040(8)).
Confirm deadlines and penalties with the agencyWorked example
2022 gas sedan, annual renewal: $11.50 state registration + $6 county clerk fee + $3 additional fee = $20.50. County property tax is billed with the renewal and not included.
Listed total: $20.50
See the fee rules and sources aboveCommon questions
How are Kentucky registration fees calculated?
Kentucky registers passenger cars every year through the County Clerk. The state charges an $11.50 registration fee, the clerk keeps a $6 fee, and a $3 technology and service fee is added, for $20.50 before taxes. Plug-in electric cars and plug-in hybrids also pay an annual EV ownership fee, set at a base of $120 and adjusted by the Department of Revenue. The bigger cost is the annual vehicle property (ad valorem) tax, which depends on the car's value and your county and city, so it is not included.
Where can I confirm my final registration cost?
Confirm the final amount with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing (County Clerks). Its official website is linked below the calculator and in this guide’s sources.
What other limitations should I consider?
The annual vehicle property (ad valorem) tax is collected by the County Clerk with your renewal. It is based on the car's assessed value and state, county, city and school district rates, so it is not included. Plug-in hybrids pay the EV ownership fee under KRS 138.475; the Transportation Cabinet's EV page confirms plug-ins are covered. Ordinary hybrids without a plug do not. DRAFT: the EV fee shown is the $120 statutory base. The Department of Revenue adjusts it under KRS 138.477 and sends the current amount to county clerks, but no official page publishes the adjusted figure. Check your renewal notice. Buying a car or bringing one into Kentucky also triggers the 6% motor vehicle usage tax on the retail price or trade-in value, and out-of-state vehicles need a sheriff's inspection. Neither is included. Online renewals add a $2 mailing fee per vehicle plus a percentage-based service fee. An optional $1 child care donation may be added. Neither is included. KRS 186.040 has a revised version taking effect January 1, 2027. These amounts reflect the version in effect on October 28, 2026.
Sources and last checked
Sources
- KRS 186.050 Registration fees Kentucky General Assembly
- KRS 186.040 Clerk fees and additional fee Kentucky General Assembly
- KRS 186A.130 Title fee Kentucky General Assembly
- KRS 138.475 Electric vehicle ownership fee Kentucky General Assembly
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Fee Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
- Vehicle Registration & Renewals Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Last verified
Fees can change. Confirm your final amount with the official registration agency before paying.
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