Kentucky Launches Online Boat Registration Renewal Service
Summary
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announces the launch of online boat registration renewal effective April 1, 2026. Boat owners may renew via drive.ky.gov using their KY boat number and title number. Registrations expire April 30 annually; boat property taxes must be paid simultaneously with renewal. The service is part of the Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System (KAVIS) that replaced the state's 40-year-old mainframe system.
What changed
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announces a new optional online service for boat registration renewals effective April 1, 2026. Boat owners can now renew through drive.ky.gov rather than visiting County Clerk offices in person. The online option requires the KY boat number, title number, and simultaneous payment of boat property taxes. Registrations expire April 30 of each year. This change does not create new compliance obligations—boat owners may continue renewing in person at County Clerk offices as before.
Affected parties include Kentucky boat owners who will benefit from increased convenience and time savings. No regulatory requirements are imposed beyond existing boat registration obligations. The service expansion is part of Kentucky's broader modernization of vehicle and vessel registration systems under KAVIS, which launched in January 2024.
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Media Contacts: Naitore Djigbenou FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 502.782.4829 Naitore.Djigbenou@ky.gov Allen Blair 606.748.3716 Allen.Blair@ky.gov New, Convenient Online Boat Registration Renewal Launches April 1
Kentuckians reminded current boat registrations expire April 30 of each year
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 1, 2026) - Team Kentucky is making it easier for boat owners to stay current on their vessel registrations with the launch of a new online renewal option beginning April 1. Boat owners can now skip a trip to their local County Clerk's office and renew their registration online to save valuable time. "We're excited to give Kentucky boat owners even more choices this spring to spend less time in an office and more time enjoying the open waters," said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. "This new boat renewal option expands our existing online vehicle registration service to give Kentuckians a more convenient way to be served." To renew online, boat owners will need their Kentucky boat (KY) number and the vessel's title number. The boat registration must be active and expire this year to be eligible for online renewal. Boat property taxes must be paid at the same time as the renewal. Boat owners who prefer in-person service may still renew at their local County Clerk's office. To renew boat registration online and review more eligibility criteria, visit https://drive.ky.gov/Pages/Online- Registration-Renewal.aspx. Boat registrations expire on April 30 each year, so Kentuckians are encouraged to renew in April to avoid any late fees on property taxes. Every motorboat registered in Kentucky must display a valid, unexpired registration tag. A boat's unique registration number is issued through the County Clerk's office and must be displayed on each side of the vessel. Registration decals will be mailed to boat owners after their local County Clerk offices process the online renewal request.
The online renewal service is another benefit of Kentucky's January 2024 launch of the Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System (KAVIS), which replaced the state's nearly 40- year-old mainframe vehicle registration system. ###
transportation.ky.gov
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