Selling a car in Kentucky: the paperwork
| Kentucky seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notarized title signature | Required |
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Report the sale | Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer, form TC 96-3 |
| Duplicate title | Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title, TC 96-182; $6 plus notary fee |
| Junk without a title | Title required |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (titles through your County Clerk). Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Kentucky
We buy cars in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro and Covington, and in every other town in Kentucky a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in Kentucky
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Kentucky, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in Kentucky
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Kentucky too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Kentucky car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Kentucky?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Kentucky title, apply to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (titles through your County Clerk) with Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title, TC 96-182. The fee is $6 plus notary fee.
Can I junk a car without a title in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky's junk title application (Form TC 96-351) requires the paper title in hand, and KRS 186.190(2)(a) bars selling a vehicle without delivering the title to the county clerk. To replace a lost Kentucky title, apply to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (titles through your County Clerk) with Application for Kentucky Certificate of Title, TC 96-182. The fee is $6 plus notary fee.
Does the title need to be notarized in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky requires the seller's signature on the title to be notarized, so plan a stop at a bank, shipping store or mobile notary before pickup. Sign the seller section exactly as your name appears on the front of the title.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Seller keeps plates with unexpired registration and may move them to a same-class vehicle for $11. Expired plates go to the county clerk.
How do I tell the Kentucky DMV that I sold my car?
File the Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer, form TC 96-3, with the state after the sale. It records that the car is no longer yours. Filing it protects you from tickets, tolls and liability for anything that happens after the car leaves.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Kentucky?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Kentucky a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Drive.ky.gov: Vehicle Titling
- Drive.ky.gov: Keep Your License Plate
- KRS 186.190 (plate retained by seller)
- 601 KAR 9:160 (Affidavit of Incomplete Transfer)
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Form TC 96-351, Application to Junk a Vehicle Title
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.