(1) A person who is at least sixteen (16) years of age may apply for an instruction permit to operate a motor vehicle. Except as provided in subsection (9) of this section, a person who possesses a valid intermediate motor vehicle operator‘s license issued under KRS § 186.452 or a person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age may apply for an instruction permit to operate a motorcycle. A holder of either a motor vehicle or motorcycle instruction permit may also operate a moped under that permit. A person applying for an instruction permit under this section shall make application to the Transportation Cabinet. A person applying for an instruction permit shall be required to comply with the following:
(a) If the person is under the age of eighteen (18), the instruction permit application shall be signed by the applicant’s parent or legal guardian. If the person does not have a living parent or does not have a legal guardian, the instruction permit application shall be signed by a person willing to assume responsibility for the applicant pursuant to KRS § 186.590;

Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 186.450

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Highway: means every way or place of whatever nature when any part of it is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, license, or privilege, for the purpose of vehicular traffic. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • Instruction permit: includes both motor vehicle instruction permits and motorcycle instruction permits. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • Moped: means either a motorized bicycle whose frame design may include one (1) or more horizontal crossbars supporting a fuel tank so long as it also has pedals, or a motorized bicycle with a step-through type frame which may or may not have pedals rated no more than two (2) brake horsepower, a cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty (50) cubic centimeters, an automatic transmission not requiring clutching or shifting by the operator after the drive system is engaged, and capable of a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • Motor vehicle: means in KRS §. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • Motorcycle: means any motor driven vehicle that has a maximum speed that exceeds fifty (50) miles per hour, has a seat or saddle for the use of the operator, and is designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, including vehicles on which the operator and passengers ride in an enclosed cab. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • Operator: means any person in actual control of a motor vehicle upon a highway. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • vehicle: means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, except electric low-speed scooters, devices moved by human and animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, or which derives its power from overhead wires. See Kentucky Statutes 186.010
  • Year: means calendar year. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010

(b) If the person is under the age of eighteen (18) and in the custody of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the instruction permit application shall be signed by:
1. The applicant’s parent, legal guardian, grandparent, adult sibling, aunt, or uncle if the parental rights have not been terminated in accordance with KRS Chapter 625;
2. The foster parent with whom the applicant resides;
3. Another person who is at least age eighteen (18) and is willing to assume responsibility for the applicant pursuant to KRS § 186.590; or
4. The applicant, without another person, upon verification by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in accordance with KRS § 605.102 that shall include proof of financial responsibility in accordance with KRS
186.590(2); and
(c) All applicants for an instruction permit shall comply with the examinations required by KRS § 186.480.
(2) If an applicant successfully passes the examinations required by KRS § 186.480, the applicant shall be issued an instruction permit upon payment of the fee set forth in KRS § 186.531.
(3) (a) An instruction permit to operate a motor vehicle shall be valid for three (3) years and may be renewed. An instruction permit to operate a motorcycle shall be valid for one (1) year and may be renewed one (1) time.
(b) Except as provided in KRS § 186.415, a person who has attained the age of sixteen (16) years and is under the age of eighteen (18) years shall have the instruction permit a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days before applying for an intermediate license and shall have an intermediate license for
a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days before applying for an operator’s license.
(c) A person who was under eighteen (18) years of age at the time of application for an instruction permit and is eighteen (18) years of age or older shall have the instruction permit a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days and complete a driver training program under KRS § 186.410(4) before applying for an operator’s license.
(d) A person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age and is under the age of twenty-one (21) years at the time of application for an instruction permit shall have the instruction permit a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days before applying for an operator’s license.
(e) A person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of application for an instruction permit shall have the instruction permit a minimum of thirty (30) days before applying for an operator’s license.
(f) In accordance with KRS § 176.5062(5), a person whose motorcycle instruction permit has expired may apply to the cabinet to receive a motorcycle operator’s license or endorsement if the person presents proof of successful completion of a motorcycle safety education course approved by the Transportation Cabinet under KRS § 176.5061 to KRS § 176.5069.
(4) (a) A person shall have the instruction permit in his or her possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped upon the highway.
(b) When operating a motor vehicle, a motor vehicle instruction permit holder shall be accompanied by a person with a valid operator’s license who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age occupying the seat beside the operator at all times.
(c) The requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection shall not apply to a motor vehicle instruction permit holder being supervised on a multiple- vehicle driving range by a driver training instructor affiliated with a driver training school licensed under KRS Chapter 332 or a public or nonpublic secondary school.
(5) A person with an instruction permit who is under the age of eighteen (18) shall not operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 a.m. unless the person can demonstrate good cause for driving, including but not limited to emergencies, involvement in school-related activities, or involvement in work-related activities.
(6) Except when accompanied by a driver training instructor affiliated with a driver training school licensed under KRS Chapter 332 or a public or nonpublic secondary school, a person with an instruction permit who is under the age of eighteen (18) years shall not operate a motor vehicle at any time when accompanied by more than one (1) unrelated person who is under the age of twenty (20) years. A peace officer shall not stop or seize a person nor issue a uniform citation for a violation of this subsection if the officer has no other cause to stop or seize the person other than a violation of this subsection. This subsection shall not apply to any operator of a vehicle registered under the provisions of KRS § 186.050(4) who is engaged in agricultural activities.
(7) A violation under subsection (4), (5), or (6) of this section, a conviction for a moving violation under KRS Chapter 189 for which points are assessed by the cabinet, or a conviction for a violation of KRS § 189A.010(1) shall add an additional minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the violation before a person who is under the age of eighteen (18) years may apply for an intermediate license to operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped.
(8) A person under the age of eighteen (18) who accumulates more than six (6) points against his or her driving privilege may have the driving privilege suspended pursuant to KRS Chapter 186 or probated by the court.
(9) An applicant who presents evidence of successful completion of an approved rider training course under KRS § 176.5062 shall not be required to obtain a motorcycle instruction permit prior to obtaining a motorcycle operator’s license.
(10) The Transportation Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations, in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A, to establish procedures for:
(a) Minors who reside with individuals in informal guardianship arrangements to have an adult who resides with them sign the minor’s application and assume responsibility in accordance with subsection (1) of this section;
(b) Individuals who have signed for responsibility under subsection (1) of this section to rescind that assumption of responsibility;
(c) Notifying minors when an adult has rescinded responsibility under subsection
(1) of this section; and
(d) Allowing minors for whom an adult has rescinded responsibility under subsection (1) of this section, to obtain a new signature of an individual assuming responsibility without having to retake any examinations the minor has successfully passed.
Effective: June 29, 2023
History: Amended 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 17, sec. 4, effective June 29, 2023. — Amended
2021 Ky. Acts ch. 190, sec. 10, effective June 29, 2021; and ch. 190, sec. 17, effective June 29, 2021. — Amended 2020 Ky. Acts ch. 51, sec. 16, effective March
27, 2020. — Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 11, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2017; and ch.
100, sec. 18, effective January 1, 2019. — Amended 2012 Ky. Acts ch. 16. sec. 1, effective July 12, 2012; and ch. 79, sec. 1, effective July 12, 2012. — Amended 2009
Ky. Acts ch. 46, sec. 3, effective June 25, 2009. — Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 65, sec. 1, effective July 12, 2006. — Amended 2001 Ky. Acts ch. 43, sec. 1, effective June 21, 2001. — Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 52, sec. 2, effective March 16, 1998. — Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 198, sec. 2, effective October 1, 1996. — Amended 1994
Ky. Acts ch. 503, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1994. — Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 234, sec. 3, effective July 13, 1990. — Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 123, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1986. — Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 1, effective July 13, 1984. — Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 266, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1982. — Amended 1978
Ky. Acts ch. 349, sec. 5, effective June 17, 1978. — Amended 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 22, sec. 3. — Amended 1958 Ky. Acts ch. 60, sec. 4. — Amended 1946 Ky. Acts ch. 127, sec. 3. — Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2739m-39.
Legislative Research Commission Note (7/12/2006). 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 65, sec, 9, provides: “The amendments to Section 1 of this Act (this statute) shall apply to any person who obtains an original or renewal instruction permit pursuant to KRS
186.450 on or after October 1, 2006.”