New to Kentucky? You have 30 days after establishing residence to get a Kentucky license at any Driver Licensing Regional Office. Whether you must test depends on how long your old license has been expired—and, for non-citizens, on your International Driver Permit and home country.
Deadline to get a Kentucky license after establishing residency
Handbook p. 19 ↗Transferring an out-of-state license
| Your license | What's required |
|---|---|
| Valid, or expired less than 1 year | No testing |
| Expired more than 1 year | Certified Driver History Record + written and eye exams |
| Lost, expired no more than 1 year | Get a DHR or clearance letter from your old state |
Bring to transfer your license:
- One proof of Kentucky residency (two for a REAL ID)
- Proof of legal presence, such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport
- Your Social Security card
- Your valid out-of-state license
- Proof of any name or gender change, if applicable
Know the rule
You must be at least 16 to transfer. Out-of-state permit holders must first be issued a Kentucky permit; if their test scores aren't submitted, they take the Kentucky road test. Under 18, bring a School Compliance Verification Form from your school.
Handbook p. 20 ↗College students may keep driving on a valid out-of-state license if they:
- Are U.S. citizens
- Are enrolled full- or part-time at a Kentucky university, college or technical college
- Carry that school's student ID whenever they drive in Kentucky
Know the rule
Non-U.S. citizens may drive on a valid foreign license and International Permit for up to one year from U.S. admission if their home country is in Foreign License Reciprocity. Permanent residents can get a REAL ID; other non-citizens cannot.
Handbook p. 20 ↗International Driver Permit (IDP) holders
| Applicant | Tests required |
|---|---|
| Permanent resident, IDP from a reciprocity country | Written and vision tests |
| Permanent resident, IDP from a non-reciprocity country | Written, vision and road; start with a permit |
| Non-permanent resident with an IDP (any country) | Written, vision and road tests |
| No IDP (permanent or non-permanent) | Written, vision and road; start with a permit |
| IDP holder with a valid license from another U.S. state | No testing to transfer |
Know the rule
Kentucky residents in the U.S. military stationed outside Kentucky may renew a Class D license by mail. If it expired while serving, renew within 90 days of returning with no written or road test; after that, normal expired-license rules apply.
Handbook p. 21 ↗Put it into practice
You move from Ohio to Louisville in May, and your Ohio license expired 18 months ago. You have 30 days to get a Kentucky license, and because it's been expired more than a year, you'll need a certified Driver History Record and must pass the written and eye exams.