Kentucky VIN Check

Vehicle History

If you are purchasing a used vehicle in Kentucky, make sure to find its history by running a VIN lookup. A thorough VIN check will reveal various history reports, including accident history and the number of people who have used any of the used cars sold by the over 503 used vehicle dealers in the Commonwealth.

Title Verification

With over 4.2 million registered vehicles in Kentucky, having valid details about a vehicle's title information is crucial before purchasing a used car in the state. With a Kentucky VIN lookup, you can verify that a car’s title matches the VIN or if a vehicle has a branded title. Title brands indicate that a car is rebuilt, salvaged, has sustained heavy damage, or has already been declared a total loss by an insurance compa

Accident History

At least 806 car accidents were reported in Kentucky in 2021. Looking up a used vehicle's accident history through a VIN check before purchasing is necessary. The information retrieved from the check will help you assess the car's condition or potential structure problems and evaluate its value and potential safety risks.

Mileage Verification

Running a VIN lookup can help you verify the accuracy of a vehicle's mileage (odometer reading) and detect a possible odometer rollback. Some dealers and private sellers roll back the mileage of cars in order to sell them faster and at a good price. However, the Vehicle Investigations Branch of the State Police warns is illegal in Kentucky.

Recalls and Safety Standards

Before purchasing a previously used car in Kentucky, it is important to determine its safety ratings and check recall history. At least 21% of the cars in the state have unrepaired safety recalls. A VIN lookup on such a vehicle will reveal if it is subject to a recall and whether the necessary repairs have been done.

Theft Check

At least 11,100 vehicles were reported stolen in Kentucky in 2021. Hence, it is recommended that a VIN check be run on a used vehicle before buying it in the Commonwealth to determine if it has been reported as stolen. A VIN lookup will help you confirm a vehicle's history and ownership legitimacy, ensuring you are not buying stolen property.

Natural Disaster-Related Reasons

Kentucky is one of the states in the United States that ranks high for natural disasters, including floods, hail storms, fires, and mudslides. Vehicles exposed to these conditions have a high tendency to sustain damages, and many of them are usually severe. Running a VIN check on a used vehicle is crucial to determine if it has been previously damaged by a natural disaster, especially considering the Commonwealth’s high exposure to disasters.

The Title Transfer Process

The title transfer process involves the transfer of ownership of a vehicle from the owner to another person. In Kentucky, the transfer must be done within 15 days if selling or buying a used vehicle, and it is recommended that a buyer and seller be present during a vehicle's ownership title transfer. Generally, title transfer requirements in the Commonwealth include the following:

• Valid photo identification
• Notarized Kentucky Certificate of Title with the seller's signature at the back
• Current address (buyer/owner)
• Kentucky proof of insurance card in the buyer's name. The policy must be effective within 45 days of the car being transferred.

A seller's signature on the back of a vehicle title is not enough to sign over the ownership of the vehicle to a buyer. The buyer must take the notarized, signed title, other required documents, and money for transfer fees ($9) and applicable taxes to their local County Clerk's Office. A completed Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title or Registration Form (TC96-182) may be required to complete the title transfer process for vehicles older than 2000. If the vehicle is an out-of-state vehicle from a state that only issues a bill of sale or registration rather than a title, the buyer can bring the available document to the local County Clerk's office.

Kentucky Insurance and Registration Requirements

In Kentucky, operating a vehicle without insurance is illegal, as an insurance policy is mandatory for vehicle registration. Motor vehicle owners in the Commonwealth must carry minimum liability coverage, which includes the following:

• $25,000 for all claims of bodily injury sustained per person in an accident
• $50,000 for all bodily injury sustained by everyone in an accident
• $25,000 for all property damage per accident

The Commonwealth also accepts a policy with a single limit of $60,000. In Kentucky, it is mandatory to maintain insurance on a vehicle that has a current, active registration. You must return your license plate to the County Clerk's office if you do not plan to keep your vehicle registration current. This way, you can cancel your insurance without penalty. The only exceptions to this rule are students attending college in or outside colleges, provided they have current student identification cards from a Kentucky university or college when driving within the Commonwealth. Active duty military personnel are also exempted. They can use out-of-state insurance to register and title a motor vehicle in their name in Kentucky.

Kentucky Titling Requirements and Sales Tax

All vehicles operated in Kentucky must be titled and registered. However, if buying a previously used vehicle, performing a VIN check to confirm the vehicle's true owner before applying for title is recommended. The following are titling requirements in Kentucky:

• Valid photo ID
• Proof of vehicle ownership or the manufacturer's certificate of origin properly assigned to the buyer.
• Evidence of Kentucky insurance issued within 45 days
• Signed over Kentucky title with notarized signatures (for in-state vehicles)
• For out-of-state vehicles, a completed Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title or Registration Form (TC 96-182) and signed-over title with notarized signatures. A registration or bill of sale issued from another state can be used instead of a signed-over title if the state does not issue a title
• Where the name listed on a vehicle title is different from the name on the ID, the applicant must provide an affidavit stating they are the same

All these required documents should be submitted at a local County Clerk's office, either in the owner's county of residence or the county where the vehicle will be mostly driven. Kentucky charges a $6 sales tax on all vehicle sales (total purchase price), which is also called usage tax, with no additional taxes imposed by individual counties or municipalities. However, there are a few exceptions where sales tax on vehicle purchases are waived in the commonwealth. They include the following:

• If the buyer is an educational/charitable group

• A vehicle is being transferred by order of a court/will
• A dealer is applying for registration
• A vehicle is repossessed
• The buyer qualifies for military exemption
• The sale of a vehicle among relatives

Kentucky-Assigned VINs

Kentucky issues vehicle identification or hull numbers (VIN/HIN) for rebuilt vehicles, such as homemade trailers and certain vehicles with no original manufacturer VIN tags. To apply for the state's VIN/HIN, an interested person should submit the following documents to the County Clerk's office in their county of residence:

• A completed Application for Vehicle of Hull Identification Number Form (TC 96-169)
• Proof of vehicle ownership, like notarized title, registration, bill of sale, court order, or an affidavit of ownership
• Rebuilt proof of ownership. A minimum of five years of ownership is needed for a vehicle that does not have a VIN before the owner can apply for a state-issued VIN/HIN.

If you live in Kentucky and buy a vehicle without a manufacturer's VIN tag, you must get a state-assigned VIN/HIN to avoid losing the vehicle or ending up in an expensive legal suit. A car with a Kentucky-assigned VIN will not be difficult to sell, as many believe, because it is backed up by legally issued paperwork.