In late March, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) operated Driver Licensing Regional Offices will become the new home for driver licensing services for Franklin County and Woodford County residents. Beginning Monday, March 22, 2021, the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in those two counties will no longer serve as the application site to request operator licenses, learner permits, or state identification cards.

Across the Commonwealth, driver licensing services offered by circuit court clerks in the Judicial Branch will gradually transfer to KYTC’s new network of Driver Licensing Regional Offices. Instead of visiting the Office of Circuit Court Clerk, Franklin and Woodford County residents will visit ANY Driver Licensing Regional Office to apply for or renew driver licenses, permits, commercial driver licenses (CDLs), and ID cards. Regional offices offer all credentials in either a standard or REAL ID card version. REAL ID versions meet federal requirements to board U.S. commercial flights, enter military bases or enter federal buildings that require ID once REAL ID enforcement starts Oct. 1, 2021. To schedule an appointment at a regional office, visit drive.ky.gov. Walk-in customers are also welcome.

KYTC Driver Licensing Regional Offices are open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Only debit and credit cards are accepted (no cash or check) at this time.

Driver Licensing Regional Offices are located in: Paducah, Madisonville, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Louisville/Hurstbourne, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Lexington, Burlington, Richmond, Columbia, Somerset, Jackson, Morehead, and Prestonsburg. There also are smaller, temporary field offices at Louisville/Bowman Field and Catlettsburg.

Circuit court clerks will temporarily continue to process card renewal or replacement requests submitted remotely by standard-issue cardholders whose credential expires on or before June 30, 2021. This option only applies to applicants who have not had a change of address or name and do not require driver testing performed by the Kentucky State Police. Information about the remote renewal process can be found here.

REAL IDs must be requested in person and cannot be renewed remotely through the Circuit Court Clerks' temporary mail-in renewal program. 

Kentuckians who require driver testing (primarily first-time cardholders) must successfully do so with the Kentucky State Police before applying at a licensing office.

DRIVER TESTING

Kentucky State Police will continue to oversee all permit and license testing. Franklin County and Woodford County residents may make an appointment online for written or road testing by visiting kentuckystatepolice.org/driver-testing. KSP will honor all existing scheduled appointments at the dates, times, and locations offered when scheduled initially.

Franklin County Residents: Testing takes place at the Frankfort Driver Licensing Regional Office 200 Mero Street. Written and road tests continue to be offered by appointment on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Woodford County Residents: Starting March 23, testing will take place at the Lexington Driver Licensing Regional Office at 141 Leestown Center Way.  Appointments for the new testing location will be released on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Road tests will continue to be offered on Tuesdays only and written tests are offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

NEXT LEVEL LICENSING

The shift is more than a change in locations. It represents a new licensing model that provides Kentuckians with modern services that offer more choices in how they want to be served.

- Book an appointment online to visit an office to better plan your day. Walk-in customers are always welcome.

- You will soon be able to renew your license online! If your name or address has not changed, you can renew your standard or REAL ID card version online.

- All Driver Licensing Regional Offices will offer applicants a choice between a REAL ID or a new standard card version.

- Applicants can choose their preferred card version to be valid for four or eight years!  That doubles the current lifespan of four years.

- Licensing is our only business. Our focus is on providing an excellent, uniform experience across our network of offices.

- You can visit ANY regional office, regardless of where you live in Kentucky.

- Periodic “Popup Driver Licensing” visits will occur in counties without a regional office to offer on-site application and renewal services.

- New card versions and office buildings offer state-of-the-art security to protect your information better.

- No more waiting for your card to be printed after taking your photo. You’ll get a temporary document at the end of your transaction and the permanent card will be sent to you in the mail. This change improves security in the card issuance process.