Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 186.230 – County clerk's duties -- Lien on vehicle, effect -- Issuance of plate without collecting taxes and fees prohibited. (Effective July 15, 2026)

Issue the receipts on blanks furnished by the cabinet;

(1) Take all applications as provided in KRS 186.005 to 186.260;
(2)
(3) Collect the fees due the state;
(4) Distribute the registration plates furnished by the Transportation Cabinet and Department of Vehicle Regulation and keep a complete public record of all registrations for the county in the clerk's office;
1. (a) Report and remit each Monday to the Transportation Cabinet all moneys collected during the previous week, together with an electronic copy of all receipts issued by the clerk during the same period. The clerk shall make all forms of payment payable to the State Treasurer. If the clerk fails to file the report and remit the moneys required under this subsection within seven (7) days after the report and remittance are due, the clerk shall pay a penalty of one percent (1%) per month or fraction thereof on the amount of money shown to be due on the report.
2. (b)
(5)
(c) The cabinet may grant a county clerk an extension of up to ten (10) days to file the report and remit all moneys. The extension must be requested prior to the end of the seven (7) day period and shall begin to run at the end of that period.
(d) All penalties collected under this subsection shall be paid into the State Treasury as a part of the revenue collected under KRS 186.005 to 186.260;
(6) Account to the Transportation Cabinet for all registration plates and receipt forms consigned to the clerk, at such time or times as the Transportation Cabinet may direct, and give the appropriate cabinet timely notice of a probable deficiency of plates or other supplies;
(7) Place a lien on any vehicle or manufactured home for which the county clerk, in collecting the taxes and fees due the state or county clerk, accepts in payment a check which is not honored upon presentment. The lien on the vehicle or manufactured home under this subsection shall be for the amount of the check. A lien under this subsection shall be subordinate to any prior perfected lien, either contractual or statutory;
(8) Not permit a person to sell, trade, or transfer ownership of a motor vehicle or manufactured home if evidence is presented to the county clerk that any lien exists on the motor vehicle or manufactured home; and
(9) Not issue to any manufacturer or dealer any registration plate other than a manufacturer's or dealer's plate, or registration plate which is under a dealer assignment pursuant to KRS 186A.230, except when the dealer registers a motor vehicle under a U-Drive-It permit, without collecting designated registration fees and applicable taxes. Effective: July 15, 2026

The county clerk shall see that KRS 186.005 to 186.260 are enforced. In so doing, the clerk shall:

History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 135, sec. 12, effective July 15, 2026. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 431, sec. 13, effective July 15, 1986. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 239, sec. 16, effective June 17, 1978. -- Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 133, sec. 13, effective June 19, 1976. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 74, Art. IV, sec. 20(2), (7), (9). -- Amended 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 59, sec. 3. -- Amended 1962 Ky. Acts ch. 62, sec. 14, effective January 1, 1963. -- Amended 1960 Ky. Acts ch. 37, sec. 3. -- Amended 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 78, sec. 11. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. secs. 2739g-62, 2739g-63.