Do You Need Insurance to Register a Car in Kentucky in 2025
Kentucky law mandates motor vehicle liability insurance for all vehicles operated on public roadways. Under Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 304.39, the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Reparations Act, and KRS 186.040, every owner must provide motor vehicle liability insurance coverage unless expressly exempted. The requirement applies to vehicle registration, operation, and ensures adequate protection for all drivers on Kentucky roadways.
Legal Requirement for Insurance Coverage
Kentucky law establishes that an owner may not operate a vehicle in Kentucky until insurance has been obtained . According to statute, an owner who fails to maintain insurance on the vehicle shall have the vehicle registration revoked. In addition, the vehicle owner and driver are subject to a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 90 days in jail, or both. All motor vehicle owners in Kentucky must carry minimum liability coverage.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing administers vehicle registration throughout the state. The Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing maintains a mandatory insurance initiative to ensure vehicle owners maintain continuous coverage once vehicles have been registered. Insurance verification occurs through an automated insurance verification system that monitors insurance coverage for all registered vehicles in Kentucky.
Vehicle owners shown to have been without insurance will receive notices that registrations for their vehicles will be canceled if they do not obtain the required insurance or show proof of existing coverage. Motor vehicle operators must maintain insurance on vehicles with current, active registration. Operating a vehicle without required insurance constitutes a violation of Kentucky law and may result in registration revocation, fines, and potential incarceration.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
200 Mero Street, Frankfort, KY 40622
Phone: (502) 564-1257
Official Website: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements
Kentucky law establishes minimum coverage amounts for motor vehicle liability insurance. The Kentucky Department of Insurance regulates insurance companies and provides guidance on coverage requirements. Kentucky requires drivers to maintain liability insurance coverage that meets or exceeds statutory minimum amounts.
| Coverage Type | Minimum Amount |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury or death of one person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury or death of two or more persons | $50,000 |
| Property damage or destruction | $25,000 |
Kentucky requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 for all claims for bodily injury damages sustained by any one person and not less than $50,000 for all bodily injury damages sustained by all persons as a result of an accident, as well as $25,000 for all property damage as a result of any one accident. Alternatively, a policy with a single limit of $60,000 is acceptable. In addition, the policy must provide basic reparations benefits unless the insured vehicle is a motorcycle.
Kentucky operates under a no-fault insurance system that requires personal injury protection coverage. Basic reparations benefits cover medical expenses, income continuation, substitute services, and funeral expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. Collision coverage and comprehensive coverage are not mandated by Kentucky law. Lenders typically require comprehensive and collision coverage for financed vehicles as a condition of the loan agreement.
Kentucky Department of Insurance
500 Mero Street, 2 SE 11, Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 564-3630
Official Website: Kentucky Department of Insurance
Proof of Insurance Documents
In Kentucky, drivers must carry proof of insurance at all times while operating a motor vehicle. Kentucky Revised Statutes 304.39-117 permits insurers to provide insurance cards in either paper or electronic format. The following formats are accepted:
- Insurance ID Card (Paper): The traditional printed insurance card provided by insurance companies shows policy information, insured name, vehicle information, and coverage dates.
- Digital Insurance Card (Electronic): Kentucky accepts electronic proof of insurance displayed on cellular phones or any other type of portable electronic device. An insurance card in electronic format means the display of an image on any portable electronic device depicting a current, valid representation of the card.
- Insurance Policy: The complete insurance policy document showing coverage information and policy details.
- Insurance Certificate: Documentation from the insurance company or agent showing coverage information.
- Insurance Binder: A temporary proof of insurance document valid while the full policy is being processed.
Owners must keep the insurance card in the motor vehicle for 45 days from the date coverage took effect as prima facie evidence that the required security is currently in full force and effect. When presenting proof of insurance using a mobile electronic device to a peace officer, the peace officer shall only view the electronic image of the insurance card and is prohibited from viewing any other content on the mobile electronic device.
Insurance Verification System
Kentucky utilizes an automated insurance verification system to monitor insurance coverage for all registered vehicles. The insurance verification system maintains electronic records of insurance policies reported by companies authorized to write motor vehicle liability insurance in the state of Kentucky. Insurance companies submit policy information to the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing, which maintains the database of insured vehicles.
Peace officers verify insurance coverage during traffic stops. For personal motor vehicles, the insurance verification database created by statute shall be evidence to a peace officer who requests proof of insurance if the peace officer has access to the database through AVIS. If AVIS does not list the vehicle identification number as an insured vehicle, the peace officer may accept a paper or electronic insurance card as evidence that the required security is currently in full force and effect.
County clerk offices verify insurance coverage during registration transactions. For insurance coverage other than personal, proof of insurance must be presented to the county clerk for manual verification. This includes commercial, self-insured, rental, or leased insurance. Registrants must present acceptable forms of proof of insurance with appropriate designation and required information, including policy number, vehicle identification number, and coverage dates.
Exceptions to Insurance Requirements
Limited exceptions to the financial responsibility requirement exist under Kentucky law:
- Active Duty Military Personnel: Active duty military personnel can use out-of-state insurance to title and register any vehicle in their name in Kentucky. When registering a vehicle, military personnel should ensure it is recorded as a military vehicle policy at the county clerk's office.
- Students Attending College: Students can keep home-state registration and insurance if they keep a current student identification card from a Kentucky college, university, or technical college when driving in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, according to KRS 186.430.
- Historic Vehicles: Historic vehicles with special license plates may have modified insurance requirements depending on usage and registration status.
- Vehicles Without Current Registration: Owners who do not plan to keep registration current must turn in license plates to the county clerk's office and may then cancel insurance without penalty.
Insurance Requirements for Vehicle Registration
County clerk offices throughout Kentucky process vehicle registration applications and renewals. Kentucky law requires persons bringing motor vehicles into the Commonwealth to apply for registration within 15 days in the county where the person resides, according to KRS 186.020. Vehicle registration services are handled at the local level through county clerk offices.
Insurance coverage must be presented when vehicle registration is issued or renewed. New registrants must provide proof of Kentucky insurance with an issue date within 45 days. The 45-day issue date requirement does not apply to military, commercial, or self-insured policy types. Vehicles must be insured for at least 45 days with the same insurance company for database verification during registration transactions.
New Kentucky residents registering vehicles from other states must establish Kentucky insurance coverage. Out-of-state insurance policies do not satisfy Kentucky registration requirements for vehicles being registered in Kentucky. Persons moving into Kentucky must title and register their vehicles within 15 days and obtain Kentucky insurance before completing vehicle registration.
Online registration renewals are available through the Kentucky Vehicle Registration Renewal system. The online system processes renewal transactions for eligible vehicles. Vehicles must be insured for at least 45 days with the same insurance company for database verification to renew online. If insurance has been obtained within the last 45 days, the information may not be in the database, which will prohibit online renewal. Leased vehicles cannot be renewed online, and owners cannot have overdue property taxes on any other vehicles to be eligible for online renewal.
