Free Kentucky Vehicle Bill of Sale
For a Kentucky-titled vehicle sold between Kentucky residents, the Transportation Cabinet does not list a bill of sale: the seller signs the title in front of a notary, and the buyer brings that title, proof of Kentucky insurance, and ID to the County Clerk. You must transfer the title at your County Clerk's office within 15 days of sale and pay the 6% Motor Vehicle Usage Tax at that time. Missing the 15-day deadline is one of the most common and costly mistakes Kentucky vehicle buyers make.
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Kentucky Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Kentucky Motor Vehicle Usage Tax of 6% is paid at time of title transfer at the County Clerk's office — not at point of sale. This is a usage tax, not a traditional sales tax.
Inspection Requirements
No statewide safety inspection required for motor vehicles in Kentucky.
Kentucky Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Optional record: draft a written bill of sale with buyer and seller full legal names, addresses, date of sale, purchase price, vehicle year/make/model, and VIN
- Complete the odometer disclosure statement on the back of the title (required by federal law for vehicles of model year 2011 or newer and under 16,000 lbs)
- Seller signs and dates the title assignment section in front of a notary; buyer receives the original title
- Buyer visits their County Clerk's office within 15 days of purchase
- Pay the 6% Motor Vehicle Usage Tax — on NADA retail value, or on the selling price if it is attested in a notarized Affidavit of Total Consideration
- Present the notarized, assigned title, proof of Kentucky insurance, and ID to receive Kentucky registration and new title
- Both parties retain a signed copy of the bill of sale for their records
Common Pitfalls
- Missing the 15-day title transfer deadline — Kentucky is strict and late transfers result in penalties at the County Clerk
- Assuming the usage tax is based on your purchase price — Kentucky uses the NADA retail value unless the price is attested in a notarized Affidavit of Total Consideration, which can surprise buyers who negotiated below market
- Forgetting to complete the federal odometer disclosure on the title itself — an incomplete title will be rejected at the County Clerk
- Going to a state DMV office that does not exist — Kentucky titles through County Clerk offices, not a centralized DMV
- Not obtaining a lien release if the seller had a loan — an encumbered title cannot be transferred until the lienholder releases their interest in writing
Pro Tip
Keep your signed bill of sale permanently as a record of the deal and your protection if a dispute arises after the sale — but for the usage tax, the document that proves a lower price is a notarized Affidavit of Total Consideration.