Kentucky · Titles & temp tags

How duplicate titles and temporary tags work in Kentucky.

Dealer-focused overview of Kentucky duplicate title requests and temporary tags issued by dealers and county clerks for short-term operation.

High-level dealer workflow Pairs with official Kentucky references Not legal advice

Duplicate / replacement titles

Kentucky duplicate title overview

Kentucky titles are handled through county clerk offices under the DriveKY framework. Owners request replacement titles at the clerk’s office in the county where the vehicle is garaged or where the owner resides.

Have the titled owner visit or contact the appropriate county clerk and request a replacement / duplicate title.
The clerk uses Kentucky’s title application forms to process a duplicate and charges the applicable fee.
Where a lienholder retains the title (for example, when the vehicle was financed in another state), the clerk may contact the lienholder directly to obtain it before reissuing in Kentucky.

Dealers should verify that out‑of‑state titles and liens are properly addressed before promising Kentucky titles to retail buyers.

Temporary tags / permits

Kentucky temporary tags

Kentucky uses several flavors of temporary registration plates: dealer-issued temp tags, county‑issued transit tags, and one‑time 30‑day tags for certain out‑of‑state transfers.

Under Kentucky regulations, county clerks may issue a 60‑day temporary registration plate in some scenarios, but only one such plate may be issued per vehicle.
Dealers can apply for temporary tags using the TC 96‑209 Temporary Tag Application; these tags are controlled and tracked by tag number.
Some counties also issue a one‑time 30‑day temporary plate when a new resident is waiting on an out‑of‑state title to be sent to Kentucky.
In other situations, a shorter 15‑day transit tag may be used, typically obtained in Frankfort or through the clerk as described on the DriveKY site.

Align your Kentucky deals so your DMS captures whether the buyer left with a dealer temp tag, a clerk-issued temp, or permanent plates, and make sure staff know the different expiration windows.