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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 186.010: Definitions for chapter.

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  1. KRS Chapter 186

As used in this chapter, unless otherwise indicated:

(1) "Cabinet," as used in KRS 186.400 to 186.640, means the Transportation Cabinet;

except as specifically designated, "cabinet," as used in KRS 186.020 to 186.270,

means the Transportation Cabinet only with respect to motor vehicles, other than

commercial vehicles; "cabinet," as used in KRS 186.020 to 186.270, means the

Department of Vehicle Regulation when used with respect to commercial vehicles;

(2) "Highway" means every way or place of whatever natur e when any part of it is

open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, license, or privilege, for the

purpose of vehicular traffic;

(3) "Manufacturer" means any person engaged in manufacturing motor vehicles who

will, under normal conditions during the year, manufacture or assemble at least ten

(10) new motor vehicles;

(4) "Motor vehicle" means in KRS 186.020 to 186.260, all vehicles, as defined in

subsection (8)(a) of this section, which are propelled otherwise than by muscular

power. As used in KRS 186.400 to 186.640, it means all vehicles, as defined in

subsection (8)(b) of this section, which are self -propelled. "Motor vehicle" shall not

include a moped as defined in this section, but for registration purposes shall

include low-speed vehicles and military surplus vehicles as defined in this section

and vehicles operating under KRS 189.283;

(5) "Moped" means either a motorized bicycle whose frame design may include one (1)

or more horizontal crossbars supporting a fuel tank so long as it also has pe dals, or

a motorized bicycle with a step -through type frame which may or may not have

pedals rated no more than two (2) brake horsepower, a cylinder capacity not

exceeding fifty (50) cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission not requiring

clutching or shifting by the operator after the drive system is engaged, and capable

of a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour;

(6) "Operator" means any person in actual control of a motor vehicle upon a highway;

(7) (a) "Owner" means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle or a person who

pursuant to a bona fide sale has received physical possession of the vehicle

subject to any applicable security interest.

(b) A vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease, with

the vendee or lessee entitled to possession of the vehicle, upon performance of

the contract terms, for a period of three hundred sixty -five (365) days or more

and with the ri ght of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in

the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the

conditional vendee or lessee, or if a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to

possession, the conditional vendee or lessee or m ortgagor shall be deemed the

owner.

(c) A licensed motor vehicle dealer who transfers physical possession of a motor

vehicle to a purchaser pursuant to a bona fide sale, and complies with the

requirements of KRS 186A.220, shall not be deemed the owner of t hat motor

vehicle solely due to an assignment to his dealership or a certificate of title in

the dealership's name. Rather, under these circumstances, ownership shall

transfer upon delivery of the vehicle to the purchaser, subject to any

applicable security interest;

(8) (a) "Vehicle," as used in KRS 186.020 to 186.260, includes all agencies for the

transportation of persons or property over or upon the public highways of this

Commonwealth and all vehicles passing over or upon said highways, except

electric low-speed scooters, road rollers, road graders, farm tractors, vehicles

on which power shovels are mounted, such other construction equipment

customarily used only on the site of construction and which is not practical for

the transportation of persons or property upon the highways, such vehicles as

travel exclusively upon rails, and such vehicles as are propelled by electric

power obtained from overhead wires while being operated within any

municipality or where said vehicles do not travel more than five (5) miles

beyond the city limit of any municipality.

(b) As used in KRS 186.400 to 186.640, "vehicle" means every device in, upon,

or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a

public highway, except electric low -speed scooters, devices moved by human

and animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, or which

derives its power from overhead wires;

(9) KRS 186.020 to 186.270 apply to motor vehicle licenses. KRS 186.400 to 186.640

apply to operator's licenses;

(10) "Dealer" means any person engaging in the business of buying or selling motor

vehicles;

(11) "Commercial vehicles" means all motor vehicles that are required to be registered

under the terms of KRS 186.050, but not including vehicles primarily design ed for

carrying passengers and having provisions for not more than nine (9) passengers

(including driver), motorcycles, sidecar attachments, pickup trucks and passenger

vans which are not being used for commercial or business purposes, and motor

vehicles registered under KRS 186.060;

(12) "Resident" means any person who has established Kentucky as his or her state of

domicile. Proof of residency shall include but not be limited to a deed or property

tax bill, utility agreement or utility bill, or rental housing agreement. The possession

by an operator of a vehicle of a valid Kentucky operator's license shall be prima -

facie evidence that the operator is a resident of Kentucky;

(13) "Special status individual" means:

(a) "Asylee" means any person lawfully pres ent in the United States who

possesses an I -94 card issued by the United States Department of Justice,

Immigration and Naturalization Service, on which it states "asylum status

granted indefinitely pursuant to Section 208 of the Immigration & Nationality

Act";

(b) "K-1 status" means the status of any person lawfully present in the United

States who has been granted permission by the United States Department of

Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service to enter the United States for

the purpose of marr ying a United States citizen within ninety (90) days from

the date of that entry;

(c) "Refugee" means any person lawfully present in the United States who

possesses an I -94 card issued by the United States Department of Justice,

Immigration and Naturalizat ion Service, on which it states "admitted as a

refugee pursuant to Section 207 of the Immigration & Nationality Act"; and

(d) "Paroled in the Public Interest" means any person lawfully present in the

United States who possesses an I -94 card issued by the U nited States

Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, on which it

states "paroled pursuant to Section 212 of the Immigration & Nationality Act

for an indefinite period of time";

(14) "Instruction permit" includes both motor vehicle instruction permits and motorcycle

instruction permits;

(15) "Motorcycle" means any motor driven vehicle that has a maximum speed that

exceeds fifty (50) miles per hour, has a seat or saddle for the use of the operator,

and is designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the

ground, including vehicles on which the operator and passengers ride in an enclosed

cab. Only for purposes of registration, "motorcycle" shall include a motor scooter,

an alternative -speed motorcycle, and an autocy cle as defined in this section, but

shall not include a tractor or a moped as defined in this section;

(16) "Low-speed vehicle" means a motor vehicle that:

(a) Is self -propelled using an electric motor, combustion -driven motor, or a

combination thereof;

(b) Is four (4) wheeled; and

(c) Is designed to operate at a speed not to exceed twenty-five (25) miles per hour

as certified by the manufacturer;

(17) "Alternative-speed motorcycle" means a motorcycle that:

(a) Is self-propelled using an electric motor;

(b) Is three (3) wheeled;

(c) Has a fully enclosed cab and includes at least one (1) door for entry;

(d) Is designed to operate at a speed not to exceed forty (40) miles per hour as

certified by the manufacturer; and

(e) Is not an autocycle as defined in this section;

(18) "Multiple-vehicle driving range" means an enclosed area that is not part of a

highway or otherwise open to the public on which a number of motor vehicles may

be used simultaneously to provide driver training under the supervision of one (1)

or more driver training instructors;

(19) "Autocycle" means any motor vehicle that:

(a) Is equipped with a seat that does not require the operator to straddle or sit

astride it;

(b) Is designed to travel on three (3) wheels in contact with the ground;

(c) Is designed to operate at a speed that exceeds forty (40) miles per hour as

certified by the manufacturer;

(d) Allows the operator and passenger to ride either side-by-side or in tandem in a

seating area that may be enclosed with a removable or fixed top;

(e) Is equipped with a three (3) point safety belt system;

(f) May be equipped with a manufacturer-installed air bags or a roll cage;

(g) Is designed to be controlled with a steering wheel and pedals; and

(h) Is not an alternative-speed motorcycle as defined in this section;

(20) "Military surplus vehicle" means a multipurpose wheeled surplus military vehicle

that:

(a) Is not operated using continuous tracks;

(b) Was originally manufactured for and sold directly to the Armed Forces of the

United States; and

(c) Was originally manufactured under the federally mandated requirements set

forth in 49 C.F.R. sec. 571.7;

(21) "Livestock" means cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, alpacas, llamas, buffaloes,

and any other animals of the bovine, ovine, porcine, caprine, equine, or camelid

species;

(22) "Identity document" means an instruction permit, op erator's license, or personal

identification card issued under KRS 186.4102, 186.412, 186.4121, 186.4122, and

186.4123 or a commercial driver's license issued under KRS Chapter 281A;

(23) "Travel ID," as it refers to an identity document, means a document that complies

with Pub. L. No. 109-13, Title II;

(24) "Motor scooter" means a low-speed motorcycle that is:

(a) Equipped with wheels greater than sixteen (16) inches in diameter;

(b) Equipped with an engine greater than fifty (50) cubic centimeters;

(c) Designed to operate at a speed not to exceed fifty (50) miles per hour;

(d) Equipped with brake horsepower of two (2) or greater; and

(e) Equipped with a step-through frame or a platform for the operator's feet;

(25) "Alternative technology," as used in KRS 186.400 to 186.640, means methods used

by the cabinet to facilitate the issuance of operator's licenses and personal

identification cards outside of the normal in -person application at a cabinet office,

including but not limited to a cabinet mobile unit or online services;

(26) "Electric motorcycle" means the same as "motorcycle" or "motor scooter" as

defined in this section, that is powered by a:

(a) Battery or equivalent energy storage device that can be charged with an

electric plug using an external electricity source; or

(b) Combination of an internal combustion engine and electric motor;

(27) "Electric vehicle" means any vehicle that has plug-in charging capability, regardless

of whether the vehicle is powered by:

(a) An electric motor only; or

(b) A combination of an internal combustion engine and electric power; and

(28) "Manufactured home" has the same meaning as in KRS 227.550.

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