KRS 186A.097: Registration of imported motor vehicles -- Transfer of title -- Inspection

of vehicle.

(1) No county clerk shall accept an initial application for a certificate of registration or

title, or license plate, from an importer of a motor vehicle not manuf actured for sale

or distribution in the United States unless the importer of such a vehicle shall

furnish to the county clerk of the county where the vehicle is sought to be titled or

registered the following:

(a) A manufacturer's certificate of origin in the English language issued by the

actual vehicle manufacturer;

(b) The original documents constituting valid proof of ownership in the country in

which the vehicle was originally purchased, together with a complete

translation of the documents into the En glish language verified as to accuracy

of the translation by affidavit of a competent translator; or

(c) In the case of a vehicle imported from a country that cancels the vehicle

registration and title for export, the documents assigned to the vehicle after the

registration and title have been canceled, together with a complete translation

of the documents into the English language, verified as to accuracy of the

translation by affidavit of the translator.

(2) Upon the initial transfer of a vehicle not manu factured for sale or distribution in the

United States by an importer of a vehicle, or upon registration of such a vehicle by

the importer for their own use, no county clerk shall accept an application for

certificate of registration or title or license pl ate until the following information is

provided:

(a) A bond release letter, with all attachments, issued by the United States

Department of Transportation acknowledging receipt of a statement of

compliance submitted by the importer of the vehicle and that the statement

meets the safety requirements of 19 C.F.R. 12.80 (e);

(b) A bond release letter, with all attachments, issued by the United States

Environmental Protection Agency stating that the vehicle has been tested and

shown to be in conformity with federal emission requirements;

(c) A receipt or certificate issued by the United States Department of Treasury

showing that any and all gas guzzler taxes due on the vehicle under the

provision of Public Law 95 -618, Title II, Section 201(a), (26 U.S.C. Sec.

4064), have been fully paid; and

(d) True and accurate copies of all documents, photographs, reports and all other

records submitted to and used in obtaining United States customs bond release

authorization from the United States Environmental Protection Age ncy and

the United States Department of Transportation, and on which the

authorization to release the bond was based.

(3) Upon the initial transfer of a vehicle not manufactured for sale or distribution in the

United States by an importer of a vehicle, or upon registration of such a vehicle by

the importer for their own use, the applicant shall, before submitting his application

to the county clerk, have the vehicle together with his application for title or

registration and its supporting documents inspect ed by a certified inspector

according to the provisions of the KRS 186A.115. When requested to inspect a

vehicle pursuant to this section, the certified inspector shall personally and

physically inspect the vehicle, together with the application for title or registration,

and its supporting documentation. He shall insure that the documents, photographs,

reports and other records submitted to the United States Department of

Transportation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, upon which

the decision to issue bond release authorization to the United States Customs

Service was based, correspond with the vehicle he is physically inspecting, by

matching such records with the following:

(a) The vehicle identification number;

(b) The engine serial number;

(c) The make and model of the vehicle; and

(d) Photographs of the vehicle (if submitted).

(4) In lieu of the foregoing requirements, the applicant shall furnish to the county clerk

proof satisfactory that the vehicle for which reg istration or title is sought was

manufactured in the United States, or that such was lawfully imported into the

United States by an authorized distributor from the manufacturer of the motor

vehicle.