(1) For purposes of this section, “personalized license plate” means a license plate manufactured by the cabinet upon an applicant’s request with specific letters or numbers or combinations of letters and numbers significant to the applicant.
(2) Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle that is required to be registered under the provisions of KRS § 186.050(1), (3)(a), or (4)(a), or any owner or lessee of a motorcycle required to be registered under the provisions of KRS § 186.050(2) may obtain a personalized license plate by submitting an application through a Web site designated by the cabinet. The cabinet shall produce the requested license plate upon approval and receipt of the fee required in subsection (4) of this section for a special license plate, or the fee required in KRS § 186.162 for a standard issue license plate.

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Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 186.174

  • Month: means calendar month. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
  • Motor vehicle: means in KRS §. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • Motorcycle: means any motor driven vehicle that has a maximum speed that exceeds fifty (50) miles per hour, has a seat or saddle for the use of the operator, and is designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, including vehicles on which the operator and passengers ride in an enclosed cab. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • Owner: means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle or a person who
    pursuant to a bona fide sale has received physical possession of the vehicle
    subject to any applicable security interest. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(3) Personalized license plates shall expire on the last day of the birth month of the person to whom the license plate is registered.
(4) (a) A personalized license plate shall be replaced on the same schedule as regular issue license plates unless it is damaged or unreadable.
(b) A standard issued license plate may be personalized for a forty-three dollar ($43) fee as provided in KRS § 186.162(2)(m), in addition to all other fees established in this section and in KRS § 186.050.
(c) Any special license plate may be combined with a personalized license plate for a twenty-five dollar ($25) state fee in addition to all other fees for the particular special license plate established in this section and in KRS § 186.164. The twenty-five dollar ($25) fee required under this paragraph shall be divided between the cabinet and the county clerk of the county where the applicant resides with the cabinet receiving twenty dollars ($20) and the county clerk receiving five dollars ($5).
(5) (a) A personalized plate shall not be issued that would conflict with or duplicate any current issued license plate.
(b) A personalized plate shall not be issued if the cabinet determines:
1. The message to be placed on the license plate, if created, discriminates against a race, color, religion, sex, or national origin;
2. The plate message is the name of a trademarked or copyrighted product or brand name; or
3. The plate’s lettering or message is obscene or profane, as determined by the cabinet.
(c) Once an applicant obtains a personalized plate, he or she will have first priority on that plate for each of the following years that he or she makes timely renewal payments.
Effective: July 14, 2022
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 155, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2022. — Amended
2019 Ky. Acts ch. 107, sec. 4, effective June 27, 2019. — Amended 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 148, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2018. — Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 133, sec. 8, effective June 20, 2005. — Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 347, sec. 2, effective July 15,
2002. — Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 543, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1998. — Amended
1996 Ky. Acts ch. 200, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1996. — Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch.
428, sec. 22, effective July 15, 1994. — Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 296, sec. 4, effective July 13, 1990; and ch. 498, sec. 4, effective July 13, 1990. — Amended
1988 Ky. Acts ch. 143, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1988; ch. 150, sec. 10, effective July
15, 1988; and ch. 241, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1988. — Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch.
203, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1982. — Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 335, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1980. — Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 239, sec. 9, effective June 17,
1978. — Created 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 153, sec. 3, effective January 1, 1977.