Kentucky
In Kentucky, residents can personalize license plates for various vehicle types, including passenger vehicles and motorcycles. Personalized plates allow for a combination of letters, numbers, and spaces, subject to specific character limits and guidelines.
How to Get a Personalized Kentucky Plate
- Check Plate Availability: Before applying, verify if your desired plate combination is available using the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Plate List application page.
- Submit a Request: If the desired plate is available, complete the online request form through the Kentucky Personalized Plate Request Form.
- Await Approval: The Cabinet's Personalized Plate Review Committee will review your request. You will receive an email notification regarding the approval or rejection of your request.
- Apply at County Clerk's Office: If approved, take your pre-approval notification to your local County Clerk's Office to complete the application process.
- Receive Your Plate: Once processed, your personalized plate will be mailed to your County Clerk's Office within approximately 4-6 weeks. You will be notified when your plates are ready for pickup.
Important Notes for Kentucky Residents
- Character Limits:
- Standard Plates: Up to 6 characters for passenger vehicles.
- Motorcycle Plates: Up to 5 characters.
- Prohibited Content: Plates must not contain offensive or inappropriate language. The Cabinet reserves the right to deny any combination deemed offensive to good taste and decency.
- Restricted Letters: The letters "I", "Q", and "U" are no longer allowed in new personalized plate applications.
- No Punctuation: Punctuation marks or special characters are not permitted. Spaces and dashes are allowed and count as characters.
- Plate Ownership: Personalized plates are generally tied to the vehicle owner, not the vehicle itself.
- Renewal: Personalized plates must be renewed annually, along with your vehicle registration.
Fees:
| State | Initial Fee | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $43 | $43 |
These fees are in addition to standard vehicle registration fees.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - License Plates