A 3-minute lesson from the Kentucky course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Before a vehicle goes on a Kentucky highway—or is used for your road test—it must be registered with the county clerk and insured. Kentucky treats failing to keep insurance as a criminal offense.
Know the rule
The owner must apply for registration with the county clerk in the owner's county of residence before operating the vehicle on a highway.
Renew on or before the date your registration expires—there is no grace period. You'll be mailed a notice at least 45 days ahead, but not receiving it is no defense.
Failing to maintain insurance is a criminal offense: the owner's registration is revoked, and the owner and driver face a $500 to $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both.
College students may use home-state registration and insurance in Kentucky if they keep a current student ID from a Kentucky college, university or technical college.
Active-duty military may title and register with out-of-state insurance. If the vehicle gets flagged as possibly uninsured, show proof of active duty (pay stub, ID) at the County Clerk's office.
You buy a used car from a private seller on March 1. You must apply for registration with your county clerk within 15 days—and you can't drive it home until it's insured.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
There is a grace period after your vehicle registration expires before you must renew it.
True
False
Answer: False
The manual states there is no grace period for renewing vehicle registration.