KENTUCKY — Nine more counties will transition their driver licensing services to Driver Licensing Regional Offices operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet this month, which will replace the usual trip to the local Office of Circuit Court Clerk.

“To make a better Kentucky, we have to strive for constant improvement in our public services and the manner in which they’re delivered,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “The transition to licensing through a network of Driver Licensing Regional Offices, with greater flexibility for customers and greater security for personal information, takes this essential service to the next level.”

This month, Adair, Breathitt, Floyd, Hopkins, Madison, McCracken, Pulaski, Rowan and Russell counties will make the transition. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in each county will cease nearly all in-person driver licensing services on Monday, April 26. More info about regional offices can be found online.

The lone, temporary exception is the processing of remotely submitted applications for renewal or replacement of standard-issue licenses and IDs, an emergency measure to limit person-to-person contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. Circuit clerks in every county except Fayette will continue that processing until June 30, 2021.

However, the remote renewal options - by mail or by leaving applications in drop boxes - are not available to anyone whose name or address has changed or who requires testing by the Kentucky State Police (KSP).

Fayette, Franklin and Woodford counties already made the transition. The new system is to be phased in for every Kentucky county by June 30, 2022.

“Our driver licensing regional offices are exclusively dedicated to licensing services,” KYTC Secretary Jim Gray said. “It’s a modernized system that offers convenience and choices to the customer, plus greater security for personal information and the credentials themselves.”

Residents of counties making the transition may renew or apply for a REAL ID or new standard card version of driver licenses, permits, commercial driver licenses (CDLs) and ID cards at any KYTC Driver Licensing Regional Office.

Regional offices, which are the only places to get a REAL ID, currently operate in Paducah, Madisonville, Owensboro, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Louisville/Hurstbourne, Burlington, Frankfort, Lexington, Richmond, Morehead, Prestonburg, Catlettsburg, Somerset, Columbia and Jackson with more offices on the way. There's also a temporary, appointment-only office at Louisville/Bowman Field.

All customers are encouraged to make an appointment online, and a limited number of walk-ins will be served due to COVID-19 safety guidelines.

KSP will continue to oversee all permit and license testing, appointments for which can be made online. Testing will continue in current locations for counties making the transition until further notice. Once testing is completed, customers will visit a Driver Licensing Regional Office to apply for the permit or license.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story said nine new regional drivers license offices will open in Kentucky this month. Rather, nine counties will transition their driver licensing services to already existing KYTC Driver Licensing Regional Offices. The error has been corrected.