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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 281.631: Motor carrier vehicle license -- Applications -- Fees -- Bulk application fees

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 281

-- Requirements for license -- City and county license fees -- Exemption for

nonresident motor carriers -- Partial fees for additional carriers --

Administrative regulations.

(1) No person shall act as a motor carrier without first obtaining a motor carrier vehicle

license from the department for each motor carrier vehicle.

(2) Application for and renewal of a motor carrier vehicle license shall be made in such

form as the department may require. Every motor carrier vehicle license shall be

renewed annually.

(3) (a) Except for driveaway plates issued under KRS 281.724, and except as

permitted under paragraph (b) of this subsection, an applicant or license

holder shall pay to the department the following annual license fees:

1. Thirty dollars ($30) for each taxicab, limousine, TNC, or disabled

persons vehicle;

2. Ten dollars ($10) for each motor carrier vehicle transporting household

goods for hire;

3. One hundred dollars ($100) for each charter bus or bus;

4. Fifteen dollars ($15) for each motor carrier vehicle operating as a U -

Drive-It;

5. Ten dollars ($10) for each motor carrier vehicle transporting property

other than household goods and those exempt under KRS 281.605;

6. Ten dollars ($10) for each automobile utility trailer; and

7. Ten dollars ($10) for each tow truck that is not actively registered with

the unified carrier registration.

(b) The cabinet may promulgate administrative regulations to set forth an optional

motor carrier vehicle license fee schedule under this subsection on a bulk

basis for applicants who employ or contract with more than fifty (50)

vehicles. Bulk application fees under these administrative regulations may use

a tiered system based on the type of certificate and the number of vehicles.

(4) Before the depar tment may issue or renew a motor carrier vehicle license, the

applicant or license holder shall:

(a) Pay the fee established under subsection (3) of this section;

(b) For a taxicab, limousine, disabled persons vehicle, TNC vehicle, charter bus,

and bus, pr ovide a copy of the vehicle registration for each out -of-state

registered motor carrier vehicle being licensed, and if necessary, a statement

showing that the driver is an insured driver of the vehicle, and that the

registered owner or lessee authorizes th e use of the vehicle for TNC services;

and

(c) For a taxicab, limousine, disabled persons vehicle, TNC vehicle, charter bus,

and bus, obtain and retain for a period of at least three (3) years, an inspection

of the motor vehicle in the manner and form as the department may require.

(5) No motor carrier vehicle shall be operated after the expiration of the motor carrier

vehicle license under which it is operated.

(6) All cities or counties of the Commonwealth may impose an annual license fee on an

intrastate taxicab, limousine, or disabled persons vehicle operated from said city or

county. The annual license fee shall not exceed thirty dollars ($30) per vehicle.

(7) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, nonresident motor carriers

engaged in tr ansporting passengers for hire in irregular route interstate charter or

special operations shall be exempt from all fees prescribed in this chapter, if

reciprocal privileges are granted to similar nonresident carriers by the laws and

regulations of his or her state.

(8) If any person required to pay a license fee under subsection (3) of this section

begins the operation of an additional motor carrier vehicle after the date of its

certificate or renewal, the fee shall be as many twelfths of the annual fee as there

are unexpired months in the certificate or renewal year.

(9) The department may promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with

KRS Chapter 13A as it deems necessary to administer this section.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:53:33Z. Source file · JSON

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