1. (1) For purposes of this section, "personalized license plate" means a license plate manufactured by the cabinet upon an applicant's request with specific letters or numbers or combinations of letters and numbers significant to the applicant.
2. (2) Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle that is required to be registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(1), (3)(a), (4)(a), or (11), or any owner or lessee of a motorcycle required to be registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(2) may obtain a personalized license plate by submitting an application through a website designated by the cabinet. The cabinet shall produce the requested license plate upon approval and receipt of the fee required in subsection (4) of this section for a special license plate, or the fee required in KRS 186.162 for a standard issue license plate.

3. (3) Personalized license plates shall expire on the last day of the birth month of the person to whom the license plate is registered.

   1. (a) A personalized license plate shall be replaced on the same schedule as regular
4. (4) issue license plates unless it is damaged or unreadable.
5. (b) A standard issued license plate may be personalized: 1. 2. For the fee established in KRS 186.162(2)(m) for a motor vehicle that is required to be registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(1), (3)(a), or (4)(a), or a motorcycle required to be registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(2); or For the fee established in KRS 186.162(2)(ad) for a recreational vehicle that is required to be registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(11).
6. (c) Any special license plate may be combined with a personalized license plate for a twenty-five dollar ($25) state fee in addition to all other fees for the particular special license plate established in this section and in KRS 186.164. The twenty-five dollar ($25) fee required under this paragraph shall be divided between the cabinet and the county clerk of the county where the applicant resides with the cabinet receiving twenty dollars ($20) and the county clerk receiving five dollars ($5).

7. (5)

   1. (a) A personalized plate shall not be issued that would conflict with or duplicate any current issued license plate.
   2. (b) A personalized plate shall not be issued if the cabinet determines: 1. 2. 3. The message to be placed on the license plate, if created, discriminates against a race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; The plate message is the name of a trademarked or copyrighted product or brand name; or The plate's lettering or message is obscene or profane, as determined by the cabinet.
   3. (c) Once an applicant obtains a personalized plate, he or she will have first priority on that plate for each of the following years that he or she makes timely renewal payments.

Effective: January 1, 2025

History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 95, sec. 1, effective January 1, 2025. -- Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 155, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2022. -- Amended 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 107, sec. 4, effective June 27, 2019. -- Amended 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 148, sec. 1, effective July 14, 2018. -- Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 133, sec. 8, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 347, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 543, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 200, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 428, sec. 22, effective July 15, 1994. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 296, sec. 4, effective July 13, 1990; and ch. 498, sec. 4, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 143, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1988; ch. 150, sec. 10, effective July 15, 1988; and ch. 241, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1988. -- Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 203, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1982. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 335, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 239, sec. 9, effective June 17, 1978. -- Created 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 153, sec. 3, effective January 1, 1977.