KRS 186.162: Special license plates for members or supporters of certain groups and

organizations -- Initial and renewal fees -- Combination of special license plate

with personalized license plate -- Special license plates for motorcycles.

(Effective until January 1, 2027)

(1) As used in this section and in KRS 186.043, 186.164, 186.166, 186.1722, and

186.174:

(a) "Special license plate" means a unique license plate issued under this chapter

to a group or organization that readily identifies the oper ator of the motor

vehicle or motorcycle bearing the plate as a member of a group or

organization, or a supporter of the work, goals, or mission of a group or

organization. The term shall not include regular license plates issued under

KRS 186.240;

(b) "Street rod" means a modernized private passenger motor vehicle

manufactured prior to the year 1949, or designed or manufactured to resemble

a vehicle manufactured prior to 1949;

(c) "SF" means the portion of an initial or renewal fee to obtain a special licen se

plate that is dedicated for use by the Transportation Cabinet;

(d) "CF" means the county clerk's fee for issuing a motor vehicle registration as

established under KRS 186.040(1). If a CF amount is charged for a license

plate listed in this section, the applicant for that plate shall also pay the fees

identified in KRS 186.040(6). If a CF amount is not charged, the applicant

shall not be required to pay those fees; and

(e) "EF" means the portion of an initial or renewal fee to obtain a special license

plate that is mandated by this chapter to be dedicated for use by a particular

group or organization.

(2) The initial purchase fee and renewal fee for a special license plate created under this

chapter shall be as established in this subsection and includes t he name of group or

organization and the total initial and renewal fee required for the plate. The amount

in parentheses indicates how the total fee is required to be divided:

(a) Disabled veterans who receive assistance to purchase a vehicle from the

United States Department of Veterans' Affairs, veterans declared by the

United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to be one hundred percent

(100%) service -connected disabled, and recipients of the Congressional

Medal of Honor:

1. Initial Fee: $0 ($0 SF/$0 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $0 ($0 SF/$0 CF/$0 EF).

(b) Former prisoners of war, recipients of the Purple Heart, and survivors of Pearl

Harbor:

1. Initial Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

2. Renewal Fee: $11 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

(c) Members of the Kentucky National Guard:

1. Initial Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the National Guard

Association of Kentucky).

2. Renewal Fee: $11 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the National Guard

Association of Kentucky).

(d) Members of the Civil Air Patrol; active, retired, veteran, reserve, or auxiliary

members of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space

Force, or Coast Guard; Merchant Marines who served between December 7,

1941, and August 15, 1945; recipients of the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of

Merit Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, t he Air Medal, the Combat

Action Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge, or the Bronze Star Medal; persons

who wish to receive Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Fathers, or Gold Star

Spouses license plates beyond the two (2) exempted from fees under KRS

186.041(6); individuals eligible for a special military service academy license

plate under KRS 186.041(8); individuals eligible for a special military unit

license plate under KRS 186.163; and disabled veterans who have been

declared to be between fifty percent (50%) a nd ninety -nine percent (99%)

service-connected disabled by the United States Department of Veterans'

Affairs:

1. Initial Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

2. Renewal Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

(e) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force

Cross:

1. Initial Fee: $6 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $6 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

(f) Disabled license plates:

1. Initial Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

(g) Historic vehicles:

1. Initial Fee for two plates: $56 ($50 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: Do not renew annually.

(h) Members of Congress:

1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

(i) Firefighters:

1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

Firefighters Association).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

Firefighters Association).

(j) Emergency management:

1. Initial Fee: $31 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

(k) Fraternal Order of Police:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

FOP Death Benefit Fund).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

FOP Death Benefit Fund).

(l) Law Enforcement Memorial:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, Inc.).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, Inc.).

(m) Personalized plates 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):

1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

(n) Street rods:

1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

(o) Nature plates:

1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to Kentucky

Heritage Land Conservation Fund established under KRS 146.570).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to Kentucky

Heritage Land Conservation Fund established under KRS 146.570).

(p) Amateur radio:

1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

(q) Kentucky General Assembly:

1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

(r) Kentucky Court of Justice:

1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $11 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

(s) Masons:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Masonic

Homes of Kentucky).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Masonic

Homes of Kentucky).

(t) Collegiate plates:

1. Initial Fee: $53 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the general

scholarship fund of the university whose name will be borne on the

plate).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the general

scholarship fund of the university whose name will be borne on the

plate).

(u) Independent Colleges:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Association of

Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities for distribution to the

general scholarship funds of the Association's members).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Association of

Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities for distribution to the

general scholarship funds of the Association's members).

(v) Child Victims:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the child victims'

trust fund established under KRS 41.400).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$ 10 EF to the child victims'

trust fund established under KRS 41.400).

(w) Kentucky Horse Council:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

Horse Council).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

Horse Council).

(x) Ducks Unlimited:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to Kentucky Ducks

Unlimited).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to Kentucky Ducks

Unlimited).

(y) Spay neuter:

1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the animal control

and care fund established under KRS 258.119).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the animal control

and care fund established under KRS 258.119).

(z) Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Fathers, or Gold Star Spouses:

1. Initial Fee: $0 ($0 SF/$0 CF/ $0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $0 ($0 SF/$0 CF/ $0 EF).

3. A person may receive a maximum of two (2) plates under this paragraph

free of charge and may purchase additional plates for fees as established

in subsection (2)(d) of this section.

(aa) I Support Veterans:

1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

Department of Veterans' Affairs).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky

Department of Veterans' Affairs).

(ab) Gold Star Siblings, Gold Star Sons, or Gold Star Daughters:

1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

(ac) POW/MIA Awareness:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the veterans'

program trust fund established under KRS 40.460).

(ad) Personalized plates for a recreational vehicle that is required to be registered

under the provisions of KRS 186.050(11):

1. Initial Fee: $51 ($45 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $51 ($45 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).

(ae) Friends of Kentucky Agriculture:

1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Friends of

Kentucky Agriculture fund established under KRS 246.243).

2. Renewal Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the Friends of

Kentucky Agriculture fund established under KRS 246.243).

(af) Special license plates established under KRS 186.164:

1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF).

2. Renewal Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF).

(3) Any special license plate may be combined with a personalized license plate for a

twenty-five dollar ($25) state fee i n addition to all other fees for the particular

special license plate established in this section and in KRS 186.164(3). The twenty -

five dollar ($25) fee required under this subsection shall be divided between the

cabinet and the county clerk of the county where the applicant is applying for the

license plate with the cabinet receiving twenty dollars ($20) and the county clerk

receiving five dollars ($5).

(4) (a) A sponsoring organization of any special license plate issued under this

section or any special license plate established under the provisions of KRS

186.164 may petition the cabinet for the production of that special license

plate for motorcycles.

(b) The cabinet shall make all of the special military license plates in this section

available for motorcycles owned or leased by eligible individuals.

(c) Owners and lessees of motorcycles registered under KRS 186.050(2) may be

eligible to receive special license plates approved by the cabinet under

paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection. Applicants for a special license plate

for a motorcycle shall be required to pay the fee for a special plate as

prescribed in this section or in KRS 186.164. The fee paid for the special plate

for a motorcycle shall be in lieu of the registration fee required under KR S

186.050(2).

(5) The Transportation Cabinet shall:

(a) Identify the cost of issuing a child victims' trust fund special license plate

under subsection (2)(v) of this section; and

(b) Transfer any revenue received from the initial or renewal SF fee that is in

excess of the cost identified in paragraph (a) of this subsection to the child

victims' trust fund established under KRS 41.400.

Effective: July 15, 2026