Free Kentucky License Plate Lookup and Owner Search

Updated: 15 Jan 2026 5 min read

A Kentucky license plate lookup helps obtain a vehicle's VIN and history (registration status, accidents, liens, etc.) from public databases.

Why Trust EpicVIN's Kentucky License Plate Lookup

Kentucky-scale coverage (1981–2025) - Kentucky reports 4,551,497 vehicle registrations (FHWA; table dated Nov 2024, page last modified Apr 10, 2025); EpicVIN covers vehicles from 1981–2025.
99%+ plate-to-VIN match rate in Kentucky - Our Kentucky license plate lookup reliably resolves plates to the correct 17-character VIN for the vast majority of active registrations (EpicVIN Analytics, 2024–2025).
Official NMVTIS-approved provider - EpicVIN is an authorized NMVTIS data provider and operates in compliance with the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).

What Is a Reverse License Plate Lookup and How Does It Work?

Plate-to-VIN Match

EpicVIN instantly resolves a license plate in Kentucky to the vehicle’s 17-character vehicle identification number - no manual VIN decoding required.

Instant Check

We cross-check NMVTIS and trusted partner records for Kentucky vehicles, surfacing title brands, registration events, theft/salvage activity, and inspection history.

Vehicle History Report

Get a quick snapshot for Kentucky vehicles: accidents/damage, title status, mileage readings (incl. inspection results where available), and open recalls - without exposing personal owner details.

Expect to see the VIN, basic vehicle specs, and any reported incidents (e.g., accidents, salvage titles, or recalls). Private owner details are not included, keeping the process legal and privacy-safe.

How to Look Up a Kentucky (KY) License Plate

Enter the Plate

Type the license plate number exactly as shown (letters/numbers only, no spaces).

Select Kentucky

Confirm the state is Kentucky before you run the license plate search.

Hit "Check Plate"

EpicVIN finds the VIN and basic information instantly; verify the make/model/year match expectations.

Read & Save

Review the free preview, then choose the full report for accidents, title history, lien records, and recalls; save the vehicle history report PDF.

Why run a Kentucky license plate search?

✅ What you can get from the report

Unreported Collision History: Reveal insurer, auction, or police incidents not always shown in listings. Kentucky weather can trigger hail/flood claims affecting value and inspection outcomes.
Vehicle VIN & Manufacturing Details: Confirm the 17-digit VIN, factory specs, engine, and key equipment. Kentucky buyers can verify parts fitment and inspection readiness before registration.
Liens & Recovery Records: Flag recorded lien records, theft/recovery notes, and fleet/taxi use where available. Kentucky transactions benefit from lien clarity at the county clerk’s office.
Current Market Analysis: Estimate today’s value from comparable sales. Kentucky demand patterns and rural mileage can shift pricing more than photos or ads suggest.
Safety & Manufacturer Issues: See open recalls and relevant TSBs. Plan repairs pre-sale so Kentucky registration and inspection go smoothly.
Previous Owner Timeline: Shows the number of owners and the length of ownerhip periods, not names or addresses, helping Kentucky shoppers assess maintenance cadence and usage.

❌ You CANNOT get

Reports don’t reveal the owner’s name or address, live ALPR location, driver’s license, or insurance numbers. The DPPA and applicable state privacy law in Kentucky restrict access; reports are for vehicle information only and not for FCRA-regulated (Fair Credit Reporting Act) credit, employment, or tenant decisions.

Name: Protected personal information under DPPA/state privacy rules.
Address: Not available in public lookups or vehicle history reports.
Phone number: Restricted PII; not disclosed in plate lookup results.
Email: Outside scope; not part of public vehicle records.
Live location: Prohibited; no real-time tracking via public databases.
Driver’s license number: Restricted by DPPA; unavailable to general users.

Report Example

A Kentucky license plate lookup uses the tag number to query public vehicle records. Enter the plate and select Kentucky; EpicVIN resolves the VIN and compiles the record from NMVTIS and partner sources (including inspection history where available).

Works with standard, personalized, and specialty Kentucky plates. Temporary tag in Kentucky is valid for 60 days and costs $2 by statute. Very new or temporary tags may not resolve to a VIN yet - use the VIN directly or retry later.

2014 INFINITI QX80

Odometer

No problems
Safety Recalls

3 record
Accidents

1 problem
Last mileage

130,671mi
Auction Sales

1 sale found
Owners

2 owners

Year 2014
Make INFINITI
Model QX80
Fuel Type Gasoline
Engine 5.6L
Made in JAPAN

Kentucky Vehicle Risks

Indicator	Kentucky	Potential Risk
Accidents/Damage	≈117,411 cases (2023)	Hidden damage, reduced safety, and resale value.
Theft	High theft incidence (13,535 cases in 2023)	Elevated theft risk; possible loss/confiscation and insurance complications.
Salvage/Rebuilt Titles	~110,000 titles in 2018 (the latest official statistics)	Serious prior damage; residual defects and safety concerns.
Odometer (mileage)	No statewide official statistics	Mileage fraud risk; overpayment and unexpected repairs.
Open Recalls	No statewide official statistics	Unresolved safety defects; increased accident risk until fixed.
Inspection/Emissions Patterns	The Northern Kentucky emissions program was ended in 2005.	Engine/emissions issues; costly repairs and registration delays.

How to reduce these risks (quick plan)

Run a plate/VIN check first: Start with a fast screen. If red flags appear, buy the full EpicVIN report and review each section before negotiating a used car purchase.
Check recalls directly: Use NHTSA’s VIN recall lookup to confirm open safety recalls and required fixes before you finalize a deal.
Verify theft/salvage status: Run a VIN check in Kentucky to spot reported thefts and insurer-declared salvage where available.
Inspect the car, not just the paper: Always test drive and get a pre-purchase inspection. Reports complement, not replace, mechanical checks.
Match identifiers: Confirm the dash/door VIN matches the report and the plate matches registration to avoid swaps or clerical errors.
Leverage maintenance records: Compare service invoices and auction photos for time-stamped mileage to catch rollbacks or recurring faults.

Kentucky DMV or EpicVIN? Picking the Right Path in Kentucky

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet can release a vehicle record for permitted purposes, but it’s slower and registration-focused; EpicVIN provides an instant, multi-source vin check. (NMVTIS title/brand/lien).

Q: Why not just request from KYTC?
A: It’s formal and registration-centric, often taking days or weeks and typically omitting accident or salvage-auction details.
Q: Will KYTC give me the owner’s name and address?
A: Not for casual inquiries. Owner PII is protected by the DPPA regulations and Kentucky Revised Statutes. Released only for permitted uses like government/law-enforcement requests, court orders, safety/recall & inspection, insurance, or legal proceedings.
Q: Is EpicVIN “official”?
A: Yes. EpicVIN is NMVTIS-approved; title/brand/lien indicators originate from official sources. Reports exclude owner PII, and EpicVIN isn’t a CRA under the FCRA.
Q: When should I use each?
A: Use EpicVIN for fast due diligence before purchasing a used vehicle. Use KYTC for a formal registration record tied to a specific permitted purpose.

Prefer to double-check? Use NHTSA’s recall lookup to corroborate important findings. Alex Black, CMO & auto expert, EpicVIN

Guide to Kentucky License Plates: Styles, Costs, and Rules

In Kentucky, plate costs are part of your overall vehicle registration, administered by the county clerk’s office under the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Key resources are the Drive KY Vehicle Registration & Renewals page (https://drive.ky.gov/Vehicles/Pages/Vehicle-Registration-Renewals.aspx) and the County Clerks Directory (https://kentuckycountyclerks.com/).

Are two plates required in KY? No. One rear plate for most passenger vehicles registered in the state.

Fines: Improper display/covering or no illumination of the rear plate under KRS 186.170 is a violation; fines are set by KRS 534.040 (up to $250).

Standard License Plates

Design: The standard Kentucky license plate has modern license plate designs with county text; formats may change as the series updates.
Cost: Manufacturing is included with registration; your standard plate registration fee is paid at the clerk’s office and may include applicable taxes. You will receive a renewal notice in your birth month.
Renewal: Annual license plate renewals in your birth month; online renewals available for many passenger vehicles.
How to Get: Visit your local county clerk’s office with proof of Kentucky insurance, ID, and accepted forms of payment.

Personalized (Vanity) Plates

Design: Personalized (vanity) plates can be ordered on standard or specialty plates.
Cost: $43 at issuance and at renewal; combining personalization with a special background adds $25 (KRS 186.162(3)).
Rules & Characters: Passenger plates allow up to six alphas; some formats permit fewer characters (e.g., motorcycle license plates). A personalized plate character combination is unique to one plate at a time.
How to Get: Start the personalized plate application process by checking availability via an online request form, securing pre-approved text, and then finalizing at your local office with a completed application.

Specialty License Plates

Design: Choose from many special plates - universities, causes, military plates, and local sports teams - for cars and bikes.
Cost: Most special plates are around $44 to issue/renew, plus any required contributions; check the KYTC Plate List / KRS 186.162 for your plate.
How to Get: After selection, complete issuance with the office; certain special license plates direct funds per the Kentucky Revised Statutes.

Historic & Collector Plates

Design: “Historic Motor Vehicle” license plates identify eligible vehicles; once issued, they’re permanent (no annual renewal).
Rules & Requirements: Vehicles 25+ years old used mainly for exhibitions/parades may qualify.
Cost: Historic Motor Vehicle plates are permanent (no annual renewal); initial issue $56 (two plates).

Other Plate Rules and Processes

Temporary & Replacement: Temporary tag valid 30 days costs $2. Replacement plate fee is $6 per plate ($3 plate + $3 clerk).
Transfers & Surrenders: Keeping your current license plate when selling is allowed; additional costs concern transferring to another motor vehicle - $11 (“Keep Your License Plate”).
Where to Handle: Most motor vehicle licensing services occur at the office. Authorized users at government agencies can guide vehicle owners on public records and vehicle identification number verification before a full report.

Kentucky - Fees at a glance

Plate type/Action	One-time plate fee	Where to obtain	Form/official link
Vanity (personalized) plates - initial order	$43	County Clerk’s Office	KRS 186.162 - Personalized plates
Specialty background plates - initial issue	$28–$53 (varies by group)	County Clerk’s Office	KRS 186.162 - Special plates fee groups
Historic vehicle plates - initial issue (two plates)	$56	County Clerk’s Office	KRS 186.043 - Historic motor vehicles
Replacement plate - lost/stolen/damaged	$6 per plate ($3 plate + $3 clerk)	County Clerk’s Office	KRS 186.180 - Duplicate plates
Transfer plate/registration to another vehicle	$11	County Clerk’s Office	Drive KY - Keep Your License Plate
Temporary tag (non-commercial, 30-day)	$2	County Clerk’s Office	Washington County Clerk - Temporary Tag

- County/municipal components may apply; amounts above exclude registration & taxes.
- Some programs use annual contributions (charity/college backgrounds); we list only one-time issuance/transaction fees here.
- Fees verified: Sep 2025.

How Your Personal Information is Protected in Kentucky

Federal Law:
The federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act protects personal information in motor vehicle records; Kentucky implements DPPA limits when releasing driver/vehicle data.
Local Law:
601 KAR 2:020 (Drivers’ privacy protection) defines “personal information” (e.g., name, address, SSN, DL/ID number, photo) and restricts disclosure to specific, authorized purposes or with the person’s written consent; requesters must use KYTC forms (e.g., TC 96-16A) and agencies retain these records for two (2) years.

EpicVIN complies with the DPPA and 601 KAR 2:020; we do not sell vehicle owners' personal data (only de-identified vehicle data). We do not provide the owner's name, address, or contact information — this is prohibited.

Official Kentucky Resources

Drive KY - License Plates - Overview of standard, specialty, and personalized plates and character rules.
Drive KY - Vehicle Registration & Renewals - Steps for vehicle registration and renewals.
Drive KY - County Clerks Directory - Find your local county clerk for motor vehicle services.
Drive KY - Title History Requests - Request official vehicle history items like odometer readings, liens, and titles.
KRS 186.162 - Special Plate Fees - Statutory pricing for specialty plates, military plates, and personalized license plates.

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States Base

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Kansas
Kentucky

Louisiana

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Utah

Kentucky Plate Lookup – FAQ

Double-check the entry (0 vs O, I vs 1) and make sure Kentucky is selected. Very new or temporary tags may not be linked yet—try later or use the VIN. You can contact our support via chat or email.

Temporary tags and freshly issued plates often aren’t in statewide databases yet. Ask the seller for the VIN or retry in a few days.

Yes. We don’t notify anyone about your lookup, and we don’t display owner PII. Results focus on vehicle data, not personal identity.

No - the DPPA and the Revised Statutes prohibit access to personal identity; the license plate lookup surfaces vehicle-focused data only.

Yes - plate lookup works for motorcycle license plates, including select specialty and military plates; some layouts allow fewer characters.

Yes. Personalized license plates resolve to the VIN; you’ll see a preview and can buy a comprehensive report for detailed information.

Since Kentucky lets sellers keep plates, run a Kentucky license plate lookup or VIN check to ensure the title history matches the vehicle.

Yes - third-party websites aggregate public records for a license plate search, but they don’t access personal information.

Authorized users with a permitted purpose use official systems; formal copies come from the local office.

Many KY license plates qualify for such renewals; otherwise, motor vehicle licensing happens in person.

No. Results focus on relevant information like accident records, salvage records, liens, vehicle identification number ties, title brands, recalls, and vehicle history - not driver tickets.

Save Thousands of Dollars

Learn everything there is to know about your next car.

Why Trust EpicVIN's Kentucky License Plate Lookup

What Is a Reverse License Plate Lookup and How Does It Work?

How to Look Up a Kentucky (KY) License Plate