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new kentucky drivers license - KY

Location of Issuance

All Kentucky Driver Licenses and Identification cards are issued in the Circuit Court Clerk's office in the Kentucky County of residence.

National Driver Register

All states use the National Driver Register to determine if a driver's driving privilege is suspended in any other state prior to a license being issued. If a driver is suspended in another state a license will not be issued until that suspension is no longer in effect. Kentucky is a member of the Driver License Compact and the Nonresident Violator's Compact.

Out-of-State Permit Holders

  • A valid permit holder from another state must be at least 16 years of age to drive in Kentucky.
  • Must be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 21 years of age.
  • Driving is restricted between 12 midnight and 6:00 a.m. for those drivers who are under age 18.
  • Out-of-State permit holders transferring to Kentucky must transfer their permit and be issued a Kentucky permit before applying for a Kentucky Driver License.

Requirements for Obtaining a Permit/License

  • An individual must be at least 16 years of age to apply for a permit/license.
  • All new applicants must complete the required written, vision and skills tests administered by the Kentucky State Police before obtaining a permit/license
  • If the applicant is under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign the Driver License/Identification Card application form. This form is available in Adobe PDF format here.
  • If the applicant is under the age of 18, a School Compliance Verification form from the student's school district must be presented. (reference No Pass/No Drive Law- KRS 159.051). 

Kentucky state law requires an application for a driver's license to contain the following:

  1. Applicant's full legal name (See Below).
  2. Applicant's date of birth (See Below).
  3. Applicant's Social Security number (See Below).
  4. Proof of the applicant's Kentucky residency (See Below).

Acceptable documents for the purpose of providing this information include, but may not be limited to, the following: (photo copies are not acceptable).

  • For full legal name and date of birth- Birth Certificate.
  • For Social Security number- Social Security card (laminated cards not accepted).
  • For proof of address- Utility bill, mortgage documents, rental agreements.
For further information, please contact your local Circuit Clerk's office.

Testing

  • New drivers must pass a vision, written and skills test to be issued a driver license.
  • No tests are required for persons transferring to Kentucky. with valid driving privileges, except persons transferring from foreign countries. 
  • No testing is required for persons suspended less than one year.
  • Eye and written tests are required for drivers suspended for more than one year.
  • Any driver suspended or expired for more than five (5) years will start as a new driver.
  • All driver testing is performed by the Kentucky State Police on scheduled days at circuit clerks offices. (Call for an appointment)

Out-of-State Drivers Transferring to Kentucky

  • Persons moving into Kentucky have 30 days to obtain a Kentucky driver's license.
  • To obtain a Kentucky Driver License you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of this country.
  • You must be at least 16 years of age to transfer your driving permit or license to Kentucky.
  • If under age 18, must present a School Compliance Verification Form signed by the out-of-state school (No Pass/No Drive Law - KRS 159.051 effective 08-01-07). This form can be obtained from the student's school district of residence.
  • All Kentucky Driver Licenses are issued in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in the Kentucky County of residence.
  • Proof of Kentucky residency is required. Proof includes, but not limited to, a deed or property tax bill, utility agreement or utility bill, or rental housing agreement.
  • Your valid out-of-state license and Social Security card must be presented to the Clerk. You may also be required to present a birth certificate. If the name on your valid out of state license does not match the name on your birth certificate, you may be required to present a marriage certificate or a court ordered name change.
  • If your out-of-state license is valid when you transfer to Kentucky, you will not be required to test.
  • If your out-of-state license is expired one year or more, you must provide a current driving record or clearance letter from the state you are transferring from.
  • Out-of-State permit holders transferring to Kentucky must transfer their permit and be issued a Kentucky permit before applying for a Kentucky Driver License.
  • The type of license you apply for will determine the cost.

College Students

A college student may drive on their valid out-of-state license and is not required to transfer that license to Kentucky if:
  • They are a citizen of the United States;
  • They are enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at a university, college, or technical college located in Kentucky; and
  • They must have a student identification card from the university, college, or technical college located in Kentucky in their immediate possession at all times when driving in Kentucky.

Fee

License Reinstatement Fee

  • A $40.00 reinstatement/re-licensing fee may be required any time your driving privilege is suspended.
  • The fee may be paid at the Circuit Court Clerk's office or any Driver Licensing Regional Field Office.
  • A certified check or money order must be made payable to the "Kentucky State Treasurer".

Requirements for Social Security Number and Birth Certificate Verification

  • The name on your driver license should be your legal name, if not you will need to take a copy of your birth certificate or a legal document showing your name change to the clerk's office to have your driver license information corrected.
  • If your social security card does not contain your legal name you will need to go to your local Social Security Administration field office to have your information updated in the Federal Social Security Administration database.
  • If your driver license has your new married name, but your social security card does not, you will need to go to your local Social Security Administration field office to have a social security card issued with your new last name.

Non-US-Citizens

Our Frankfort central office location processes Non-U.S. Citizen applications (blue forms) Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm.
 
Goal: Verify legal status in the U.S. and documentation authenticity/information prior to applying for a Kentucky driver's license.
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
  • KRS 186.412 requires all non U.S. citizens wishing to apply for a Kentucky driver's license or ID card to make application to a Division of Driver Licensing regio?nal office?. This excludes permanent residents. Once the Division of Driver Licensing approves the application, the license/ID card will be issued from the Circuit Court Clerk's office in the county where the applicant resides.
  • "Permanent Residents" or "Resident Aliens" may go directly to the Circuit Court Clerk's office for licensing. They must present their Permanent Resident card or I-551 with photo issued by BCIS.
  • Non U.S. citizens with B1/B2 "Visitor" or WT status will not be approved for a Kentucky license or ID card. All non U.S. citizens may drive in the U.S. on their valid foreign license and International Permit for up to one year from the date of admission into the U.S. provided their home country is part of the Geneva Compact. Drivers from non Geneva Compact countries must obtain a Kentucky license within 30 days of establishing residency in Kentucky.
Required Documentation
  • A non U.S. citizen must present all of his or her BCIS documents to Driver Licensing personnel, such as Visa with I-94, Employment Authorization Card (I-688A or I688B or I-766) or I-94 with stamped picture. College students must also present an I-20 form completed by university, along with a letter from the Universities Registrars Office, stating enrolled full-time and in good standing. J-1 exchange visitors must have form DS2019.
  • Applicants on work related Visa (excluding Employment Authorization Cards) must show proof of employment within the last 30 days (i.e., payroll check, verification on company letterhead). The spouse of someone with a work status visa (if in the U.S. on a dependent Visa) must show spouses Visa, I-94 and proof of employment.
  • Non U.S. citizens must also provide either a social security card, tax ID number or ineligibility letter from the Social Security Administration
Residency Requirements
  • All non U.S. citizens must also provide proof of residency in Kentucky. Kentucky law defines "residency" as a person who has established Kentucky as his or her state of domicile. Proof of residency shall include, but not be limited to, a deed or property tax bill, utility agreement or utility bill or housing agreement.
Testing
  • All non U.S. citizens applying for a first time Kentucky license, with the exception of permanent residents, are required to take the written, vision and road tests. This includes transfer driver's holding a valid license from another state or country. Driver's holding a valid out of state license, or a valid license from a Geneva Compact country, will not be required to hold a permit. Non U.S. citizens already licensed in Kentucky are not required to retest but they must be approved by Division of Driver Licensing.
  • ?Available Testing Languages for Written Permit Test
Albanian Arabic Bosnian Cambodian Chinese Croatian
?English ?French ?German? ?Indian (Hindi) ?Japanese Korean
Laotian Persian Polish Romanian Russian Somali
Spanish Thai Turkish Vietnamese    
 
License Expiration
  • A license or ID card issued to a non U.S. citizen will be issued to expire with their BCIS documents. Exceptions to this are "Special Status Individuals" (Asylee, Refugee, Paroled in Public Interest, or K-1). These individuals will receive a 4 year license or I. D. If the persons BCIS documents are issued for an indefinite period of time, but the person is not considered a "Special Status", the license or ID will be valid for a 2 year period.
Fraudulent Documents
  • A person presenting false information regarding citizenship, residency or immigration status under KRS 186.570 will be denied or suspended and prosecuted. 

 

 

For the Latest Information. Click Below

http://transportation.ky.gov/Driver-Licensing/Pages/Driver-License-ID-Card-General-Information.aspx