Does Kentucky require a front license plate?

No. Kentucky law requires the plate on the rear of the vehicle only.

What does a Kentucky plate number look like?

Current plates have six characters: a letter, a number, a letter and three numbers, like A1B234. Older plates use three letters and three numbers.

How long is a Kentucky temporary tag good for?

Sixty days from the date the dealer delivers the car.

What do I do with my Kentucky plate when I sell my car?

Keep it. You can move the plate and unexpired registration to another vehicle of the same class you own for a one-time $11 fee. If the registration has expired, return the plate to the county clerk.

Can I get a VIN from a Kentucky license plate?

Yes. Enter the license plate number with Kentucky selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.

Can I find the owner of a Kentucky license plate?

Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Kentucky vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.

Kentucky License Plate Lookup

Enter a Kentucky plate number to get the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, model and trim.

Kentucky plates are run by the Transportation Cabinet, but you register, renew and pick up plates at your county clerk’s office. Only a rear plate is required, and current plates mix letters and numbers, like A1B234.

Kentucky plate to VIN

A Kentucky platenumber points to one current registration, and the registration records the vehicle’s 17-character VIN. Enter the plate above to get the VIN with the year, make, model, trim, body and engine. It is the quickest way to get the VIN of a car you are not standing next to: one in a listing, one you are quoting a repair for, or your own when the title is in a drawer somewhere.

Kentucky license plate formats

Standard passenger plates use these formats. Personalized, specialty, commercial and motorcycle plates follow their own rules, and every format works in the lookup.

Format	What it is
A1B234	Six characters: a letter, a number, a letter and three numbers, issued since 2021.
ABC 123	Three letters and three numbers, used on earlier plates.

Kentucky issues one plate, for the rear of the vehicle.

Who issues plates in Kentucky

Plates and registrations in Kentucky come from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and people go in person to county clerk offices. Plate Decoder is an independent service and is not affiliated with the KYTC or any other government agency.

Temporary tags in Kentucky

Kentucky dealers issue temporary tags valid for 60 days from the date the car is delivered. If you trade in a car, the dealer can instead put your existing Kentucky plate on the new car until it is registered.

Personalized and specialty plates

Personalized plates can have up to six letters and numbers, plus a space or dash. You can check availability online, and every request must be approved by the Cabinet before you apply at your county clerk’s office.

Your plate goes with you

Since January 2024, Kentucky sellers keep their plates when a car is sold with unexpired registration. Before that, a standard plate went to the buyer with the car.

What a Kentuckyplate lookup can and can’t show

You get the vehicle: VIN, year, make, model, trim, body and engine. You do not get the person. See what a plate lookup shows for the full list.

What we don’t show, and why

No owner names, addresses, phone numbers or photos. Owner details in DMV records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, and looking someone up out of curiosity is not a purpose it allows. Any site that promises the owner of a plate for a few dollars is either breaking that law or not going to deliver.

Who can get owner records, and what to do instead

FAQ

Kentucky plate lookup questions

Does Kentucky require a front license plate?: No. Kentucky law requires the plate on the rear of the vehicle only.
What does a Kentucky plate number look like?: Current plates have six characters: a letter, a number, a letter and three numbers, like A1B234. Older plates use three letters and three numbers.
How long is a Kentucky temporary tag good for?: Sixty days from the date the dealer delivers the car.
What do I do with my Kentucky plate when I sell my car?: Keep it. You can move the plate and unexpired registration to another vehicle of the same class you own for a one-time $11 fee. If the registration has expired, return the plate to the county clerk.
Can I get a VIN from a Kentucky license plate?: Yes. Enter the license plate number with Kentucky selected and the lookup returns the VIN of the vehicle it is registered to, with the year, make, model and trim.
Can I find the owner of a Kentucky license plate?: Not through a public lookup. Owner details in Kentucky vehicle records are protected by the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act and released only for purposes the law allows, such as by court order or to an insurer handling a claim.