Kentucky Driver License

You can renew your Kentucky driver license in person, online or by mail, depending on the circumstances and eligibility requirements.

Steps to get a Kentucky learner’s permit

In the state of Kentucky, learner’s (instruction) permit holders may drive legally when accompanied by an adult licensed driver (at least 21 years of age).

Permit requirements

• Before you start the process of getting the permit, you must be at least 16 years old and a Kentucky resident
• If you comply with these requirements, you can start the process by visiting a Circuit Court Clerk’s office in a Kentucky county
• Then, you must request an application form and apply for the learner’s permit in person, answering the given questions correctly
• When applying for the permit, you must have your parents or legal guardian with you to sign the application and take responsibility for financial affairs
• The next step is to take the written test and answer the questions on traffic rules and regulations
• Another important step is to take the vision test and get at least 20/40. If you do not meet the vision standards, you will need to wear corrective lenses or visit a specialist
• Your final step is to pay the permit fee of $12 and receive your permit

Bring the following documents

• Social Security card
• Original or certified copy of your birth certificate
• Evidence of Kentucky residency (for example, a utility bill, mortgage documents)
• School Compliance Verification Form

Driving restrictions

• Not driving between 12:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M. (except for school, work or emergency causes)
• Only carrying one unrelated person in your car (under 20 years old)

Steps to get a Kentucky intermediate driver’s license

If you are between the ages of 16 ½ and 18, then you can apply for an intermediate driver’s license to drive with some restrictions. It is important to know that those restrictions will drop once you get your adult driver’s license.

License requirements

• Before you start, you must have held your learner’s (instruction) permit for at least 182 days
• Secondly, you should have practiced supervised driving for at least 60 hours and 10 hours of those must be in nighttime driving
• Thirdly, you must take the driving skills test and pass it

It might be useful to know that your vehicle must be in safe operating condition and all equipment must be in good working order.

Otherwise, you will not be able to fully demonstrate your driving skills and may have unnecessary problems.

Steps to get a Kentucky adult driver’s license

An adult driver’s license allows the licensee to drive legally, but without any supervision or driving restrictions. Nevertheless, there might be some restrictions placed on the license based on different cases and conditions.

Requirements for a license

• To start with, you must have held your learner’s permit for at least 180 days (for 30 days if you are older than 21)
• Secondly, you must complete approved driver education courses in case you got your permit when you were still a teenager. Note that you can also select an online course or a private school to complete the driver education program
• Thirdly, you should schedule a driving test and successfully pass it before you get the license
• Not to forget that you will also need to see the eligibility requirements and print the letter for the Kentucky State Police License Examiner

Bring the following documents

• Valid forms of identity (for example, a US issued passport or passport card)
• Social Security Number (Social Security Card)
• Kentucky residential address
• Certificate of proper vehicle registration
• Vehicle insurance confirmation documents

Learn how to renew a Kentucky driver’s license and how long it is valid

In the state of Kentucky, drivers are required to renew their licenses before the license is due to expire. Thus, you can renew the license six months before the expiration date as long as you are older than 21.

To renew the license in person, you must visit the Circuit Clerk’s Office of your residency county and request license renewal. You will need to present proper forms of identification, you current driver’s license, as well as documents of name change and address change (if applicable).

The last step is to pay the renewal fee of $20 for a standard Class D license and renew the license.
Note that you will be required to take and pass both the vision and written tests again in case you let the license expire for more than a year.

US military personnel may renew the driver’s license by mail providing that they complete the application properly and send the required fee.

Kentucky driver’s license classifications

Class D

To clarify, this license is for operating common cars, station wagons, pickup trucks, utility vehicles, and most panel trucks.

Class A (Commercial)

This license, in short, is for operating any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more.

Class B (Commercial)

This license, in short, is for operating a any straight truck with two or more axles and a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more.

Class C (Commercial)

This license, in short, is for operating any vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds and is used for transporting hazardous materials, as well as 16 or more passengers.

Class M

To clarify, the license allows the licensee to ride a motorcycle on the roads of Kentucky.

Class E

To clarify, the license allows the licensee to ride a moped.

Kentucky driver’s license restriction codes

Restriction 1

This one, in short, is for corrective lenses.

Restriction 2

This one, in short, is for power brakes.

Restriction 3

This one, in short, is for automatic transmission.

Restriction 4

This one, in short, is for only daylight driving.

Restriction 5

This one, in short, is for power steering.

Restriction 6

This one, in short, is for hand accelerator.

Restriction 7

This one, in short, is for hand brake.

Restriction E

To clarify, it is for CMV auto transmission

Restriction K

To clarify, it is for only intrastate driving.

Restriction L

This one, in short, is for no airbrakes.

Restriction P

To clarify, this one indicates no passengers in bus.

Restriction V

This one, in short, is for medical variance.

Restriction W

This one, in short, is for farm related services.