COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY
TRANSPORTATION CABINET
Andy Beshear
Governor
Jim Gray
Secretary
- FROM: Matthew Cole, Commissioner
Department of Vehicle Regulation
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet - DATE: January 18, 2022
- RE: Transitioning of Driver Licensing Services
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is ushering in a new model to obtain a Kentucky driver’s license, permit, or ID card. Circuit Court Clerks have traditionally issued and renewed these credentials in addition to handling their court duties. Per KRS 186.490, no later than June 30, 2022, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be assuming all licensing responsibilities from each of the 120 Circuit Court Clerks.
The new model we are introducing is a regional model rather than a county-by-county model. All Kentuckians will visit Driver Licensing Regional Offices to apply for or to renew a driver’s license, permit, or ID card. The Kentucky State Police will continue to conduct driver testing both in the written and driver road test formats.
Plans are underway to transition all driver licensing functions from the Spencer Circuit Court Clerk to the Kentucky-Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver Licensing. This will start on February 21, 2022. We are working with the Spencer Circuit Court Clerk to make this shift as seamless as possible, but we wanted to make you aware of these developing plans considering your various leadership roles in Spencer County.
The Driver Licensing Regional Offices will be taking credential issuance in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to the next level by providing new, modern services which include: new regional office facilities, online appointment scheduling (we also accept walk-ins), issuance of REAL ID credentials, newly designed cards issued with state-of-the-art security features and the choice of a 4 or 8-year renewal window. In addition to that, we have recently announced the launch of an online renewal program, available at dlrenewal.ky.gov, where those seeking to renew a standard driver’s license or REAL ID may do so as long as there are no name/address changes and so long, as the license has not been expired longer than one (1) year. Also underway are other initiative_s like periodic “Pop Up Driver Licensing” visits to counties without a regional office to offer on-site applications, scheduled Saturday hours, and many other features as this project progress.
On October 1st, we launched a permanent Mail-in Program that is administered out of our central location of Frankfort. Kentuckians may submit an application for renewals, duplicates, or replacements of their standard or REAL ID driver license, a standard or REAL ID combination motorcycle and operator license, and a standard or REAL ID identification card. Kentuckians with a change in address may also apply by mail for a credential reflecting the new address. This new service is another way that folks may opt to skip a trip to a regional office. Information on the Mail-in Program may be accessed at drive.ky.gov.
Most importantly, any person seeking to apply for or renew a credential can go to ANY regional office in the Commonwealth, regardless of county of residence. Licensing will be our primary business at these regional offices, allowing us to focus on providing an excellent, uniform customer experience across our network of offices.
Driver Licensing Regional Offices are strategically located to serve different areas of the state. A full list of locations is available on our website and more offices are expected to open in the coming months. More information, including the online appointment scheduler, is available at drive.ky.gov. You will also be able to access a brief overview of the new regional model and obtain answers to many questions by accessing drive.ky.gov.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Driver Licensing looks forward to serving Spencer Countians in the yeard ahead.