LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A third Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Driver Licensing Regional Office is opening in Jefferson County, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday. Located at 4919 Dixie Highway Suite A, the office was formerly a branch location of the Jefferson County Office of Circuit Court Clerk. KYTC is taking over the office as part of its phased adoption of driver licensing services for all of Kentucky.
What You Need To Know
- Gov. Andy Beshear announced a third KYTC Driver Licensing Regional Office is opening in Jefferson County
- The office will be located on Dixie Highway
- KYTC is taking over the office as part of its phased aoption of driver licensing services for Kentucky
- The new location is the 18th KYTC regional office opened to date
The traditional model of the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in each county issuing licenses and permits is being phased out statewide and will conclude by June 30, 2022.
"In its place will be a new, more secure regional model in which licenses, learner permits and ID cards will be issued and renewed by KYTC at Driver Licensing Regional Offices located around the state," said a release from KYTC. "Regional offices offer Kentuckians more modern services and user choice, including the flexibility to visit any regional office, regardless of where they live, and the choice of an eight-year driver’s license."
So far, 20 counties have made the transition, the release said.
The Dixie Highway location is the 18th KYTC regional office opened to date. Operating hours will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. Initially, it will be open by appointment only and applicants may make appointments online at drive.ky.gov.
The new location will process applications for REAL ID or standard licenses and ID cards. Kentuckians who require driver testing must successfully do so with the Kentucky State Police (KSP) before applying at a licensing office.
Application for a REAL ID must be done in person at a KYTC regional office. A guide of documents that will be needed is online.
No Kentuckian will be required to obtain a REAL ID to operate a motor vehicle, according to KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. However, a REAL ID or another form of federally approved identification will be required for air travel in the United States and admission to military bases and other federal installations beginning May 3, 2023.
“I encourage Kentuckians who plan to travel by air in the future, or visit a restricted federal facility, to prepare now and get the proper ID, whether at the Dixie Highway office or any of the other KYTC Driver Licensing Regional Offices,” Gray said.
People who want to renew or replace a standard-issue license or ID card can do so by mail or drop-off with the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the license holder's county of residence, as long as there's been no change of name or address and the license holder doesn't require testing by KSP. More information about testing is available online.
Circuit Court Clerks will be processing mail applications through June 30, forms for which are also available online.
Other KYTC regional driver licensing offices are in Bowling Green, Burlington, Catlettsburg, Columbia, Elizabethtown, Frankfort, Jackson, Lexington, Louisville/Bowman Field, Louisville/Hurstbourne, Madisonville, Morehead, Owensboro, Paducah, Prestonsburg, Richmond, and Somerset. The Louisville/Bowman Field office operates by appointment only.