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The bottom line: Kentucky requires notarized signatures on the title to transfer ownership. There’s no emissions testing.
You remove and keep your license plates when you sell. The buyer has 15 days to finish the registration paperwork at their county clerk’s office. If you’re not sure which selling method is right for you, compare offers from multiple services with Sell Car Advisor to see what your car is worth before committing to a private sale.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Kentucky requires your signature on the title to be notarized. The easiest way is to go together to the county clerk’s office, where they notarize both signatures for $2 each.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $6.00. Download Form TC 96-182 and submit it to your county clerk’s office. It processes in about 2 business days.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 15 days to register the car at their county clerk’s office after purchase.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away. You can transfer them to another vehicle you own or return them to the county clerk.
- Release of liability: If the buyer doesn’t transfer the title within 15 days, file TC 96-3 (Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer) at your county clerk’s office to protect yourself from further liability.
- Bill of sale: Not required by state law for regular titled cars, but recommended as a receipt for both parties.
- No emissions test: Kentucky has no emissions testing requirement, so there’s no inspection to arrange before selling.
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Step-by-Step Process for Kentucky
Step 1: Prepare Your Kentucky Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens
- Valid Kentucky driver’s license – Names must match exactly
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form TC 96-182 and submit it to your county clerk’s office with your ID and $6.00. The duplicate title processes and mails to you within 2 business days once all information is verified.
Important: Do not use white-out, scratch out information, or erase anything on your title. Any alteration voids it. If your title has errors, apply for a duplicate using the same Form TC 96-182.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender needs to release the lien before you can transfer the title. Contact them to arrange payoff at the time of sale and get a lien release letter. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you got married or changed your name, bring documentation showing the name change.
Notarization required:
Kentucky requires your signature on the title to be notarized by an official public notary. The easiest option is going to the county clerk’s office with the buyer, where the clerk can notarize both your signatures on the spot for $2 each. You can also get your signature notarized beforehand at a bank, UPS Store, or other notary location.
Use only black or blue ink. Any other color will void the title.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
Learn more:
Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Kentucky, especially in Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green where buyer activity is highest. Autotrader and Cars.com are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states like Ohio and Tennessee.
Kentucky has no emissions testing, so older trucks and cars are easy to sell without extra prep. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
Learn more:
Step 7: Complete the Kentucky Title Transfer
Fill in the assignment section on the back of the title. You’ll enter the buyer’s full legal name and address, the sale price, the odometer reading, and the date of sale.
Use only black or blue ink. Do not use white-out, do not scratch through information, and do not erase. Any of these will void the title and require you to get a duplicate.
Notarization: Both you and the buyer need to sign in front of a notary. The easiest option is to go to the county clerk’s office together. The clerk can notarize both signatures for $2 each and handle the full title transfer in one visit.
If you can’t go together, get your signature notarized at a bank or UPS Store first. The buyer can then complete the rest of the transfer on their own at their county clerk’s office.
Joint ownership: Check for “AND” or “OR” between names on the title. “AND” means every owner must sign. “OR” means only one owner needs to sign.
Odometer disclosure: If the vehicle is model year 2011 or newer, you must complete an odometer disclosure statement (Form TC 96-5). Both parties sign it at the same time as the title.
The buyer must register the car at a county clerk’s office within 15 days of purchase. Kentucky uses county clerk offices statewide for all motor vehicle transactions instead of a centralized DMV.
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Recommended)
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law in Kentucky. It’s still smart protection for both you and the buyer in case any questions come up later.
It doesn’t need to be notarized. You can use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Kentucky License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Kentucky, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer your plates and any unexpired registration to another vehicle you own, or return them to your county clerk’s office. The buyer will get new plates when they register the car.
This rule changed in 2024 with Kentucky’s new KAVIS system. If you sold a car before 2024, the old rules no longer apply.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
Download and submit TC 96-3 (Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer) to your county clerk’s office if the buyer hasn’t transferred the title within 15 days of the sale.
This creates a paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle. File it at your local county clerk’s office.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Kentucky DMV Resources
State Resources:
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing
- Kentucky uses county clerk offices for all motor vehicle transactions. Find your local office at our state DMV directory.
Phone Support:
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet: (502) 564-1257
Kentucky Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $6.00 | Before sale |
| Notary fee (title signature) | $2 per signature | At signing |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
New owners must register their vehicle at a county clerk’s office within 15 days of purchase. This is shorter than many other states that allow 30 to 45 days.
If the buyer misses the 15-day deadline, they may face late fees when they go to register.
As the seller, you can file TC 96-3 (Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer) at your county clerk’s office if they haven’t transferred within that window.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Kentucky?
Yes, Kentucky requires your signature on the title to be notarized.
The county clerk can notarize both signatures when you go together with the buyer, which costs $2 per signature and completes the whole transfer in one visit.
You can also get notarized beforehand at a bank, UPS Store, or other notary location if you and the buyer aren’t going to the county clerk’s office together.
When is a bill of sale required in Kentucky?
A bill of sale isn’t required by state law in Kentucky for regular titled vehicles. It’s recommended for both parties as a record of the transaction in case any questions come up later.
It doesn’t need to be notarized. A simple document with the vehicle details, sale price, and both parties’ names works fine.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Kentucky?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender first. The lienholder must release their interest in the vehicle before the county clerk can process the title transfer.
Contact your lender to arrange payoff at the time of sale and get a lien release letter to bring with you.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional Kentucky forms do I need?
If the vehicle goes through probate, the executor or administrator of the estate can sign the title.
They’ll need to bring Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court to the county clerk’s office.
For surviving spouses transferring outside of probate, Kentucky may accept an Affidavit of Heirship.
Contact your local county clerk’s office to confirm what they require for your specific situation, as requirements can vary by county.
Both my spouse and I are on the Kentucky title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title reads. Look for “AND” or “OR” between the names on the title. If it says “AND,” every owner listed must sign. If it says “OR,” only one owner needs to sign.
Both signatures must still be notarized if both parties are required to sign.
What if I make a mistake on the Kentucky title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any correction voids the title. You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form TC 96-182 at your county clerk’s office.
The duplicate costs $6.00 and processes in about 2 business days.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Kentucky require anything special?
Your obligations as the seller are the same. Kentucky requirements still apply since the car is titled here. You’ll complete the same notarized title transfer process at a county clerk’s office.
The buyer then uses the completed Kentucky title to register the car in their home state. Their state may require a VIN inspection when they go to register.
Do Kentucky license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Kentucky license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer drives away. This rule changed in 2024 with the new KAVIS system.
You can transfer your plates and any unexpired registration to another vehicle you own, or return them to your county clerk’s office. The buyer gets new plates when they register.
Do I need to file a release of liability after selling my car in Kentucky?
Yes, if the buyer hasn’t transferred the title within 15 days of the sale. File TC 96-3 (Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer) at your county clerk’s office. This protects you from any liability tied to the car after the sale.
Keep a copy of the signed title and your bill of sale as backup records even after filing.
Article Update History
All fees, forms, and deadlines were verified against the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
Originally posted and shared with our readers.
Sources
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
"Kentucky Transportation Cabinet" Accessed Mar. 20, 2026
An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
"Kentucky Vehicle Registration Renewal" Accessed Mar. 20, 2026