​​The Passenger Section handles the processing of vehicles for various different types of intrastate for-hire passenger Certificates. 

  •  Buses
  •  Transportation Network Company (TNC)
  •  Disabled Person Vehicles
  •  Limousine
  •  Taxi

Passenger Carrier Application

General

  • Before applying for intrastate passenger authority please read instructions and applications.
  • An insurance carrier authorized to transact business in Kentucky must file a Form E, Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Certificate of Insurance with Motor Carriers prior to submitting an application.  Liability coverage must be in compliance with KRS 281.655.
  • You must have at least one vehicle available before Motor Carriers will grant a certificate. All passenger vehicles require a county clerk-issued plate.
  • Complete all vehicle inspections by an automotive service technician and all nationwide criminal background checks prior to submitting the application.  
  • For an approved listing of criminal background check companies. Click Here

If you have not yet applied for authority to operate as a passenger carrier, you may obtain an application and any necessary forms from the Forms Library Online and through the Division of Motor Carriers at (502) 564-1257.

Authority-Specific Instructions for Applying

Transportation Network Company (TNC) complete the following:

Taxicab certificate complete the following:
  • TC 95-632 Taxicab Authority Application. You may obtain an application for new authority or additional vehicles from the           Forms Library Online – instructions are included. 
  • Vehicles operating under a taxicab certificate may not be more than eight (8) regular seats.

Limousine Certificate complete the following
  • TC 95-633 Limousine Authority Application. You may obtain an application for new authority or additional trailers from the Forms Library Online – instructions are included.
  • Vehicles operating under a limousine certificate may not be more than fifteen (15) regular seats.

Disabled Person’s Vehicle Certificate complete the following:
  • TC 95-594  Disabled Persons. Vehicle Authority Application You may obtain an application for new authority or additional vehicles from the Forms Library Online – instructions are included.
  •  Vehicles operating under a disabled person’s certificate must be ADA compliant and may not be more than fifteen (15) regular seats. 
 Note: Disabled Persons Vehicles (DPV) must meet specifications set forth by 49 CFR part 38 which requires mobility aid accessibility and an integrated mechanical lift or ramp. If you have questions please contact Motor Carriers.

Charter Bus Certificate complete the following:
  • TC 95-308 Charter Bus Authority Application. You may obtain an application for new authority or additional vehicle from the Forms Library Online – instructions are included.

  • To obtain a USDOT number visit FMCSA at www.fmcsa.dot.gov
  • If an interstate carrier, authority not required.  To obtain Interstate Operating Authority, visit FMCSA at www.fmcsa.dot.gov
  • International Registration Plan (IRP) will be required for all interstate vehicles that have a gross weight over 26,001  lbs. or greater. KY IRP

  • Additional Passenger Documents (only used once a certificate has been granted)
  • To add vehicles to your existing authority,  you may select an authority application listed above. 
  • To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged plate or decal please complete the TC 95-628 Affidavit for Replacement of Passenger Credentials. 
  • To update your company information, please complete the TC 95-609 Passenger & Household Goods Change of Company Information form.
Bus Certificate complete the following:
  • TC 95-631 Bus Authority Application; instructions are included.

Consumer Complaint
  • Have a complaint about a passenger carrier, please complete the TC 95-622 Consumer Complaint document.
 

Utility Trailer Certificate

 
  • Complete the following  TC 95-635 Kentucky Utility Trailer Authority Application. You may obtain an application for new authority or additional trailers from the Forms Library Online
  • Submit a Form E, Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Certificate of Insurance.   This comes directly from the insurance company.
 

Kentucky Drive-A-Way Certificate

 
  • Complete the following TC 95-634 Kentucky Drive-A-Way Authority Application. You may obtain an application for new authority or additional vehicles from the Forms Library Online

Processing

 
  • Please allow up to 14 business days for the processing of all applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

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No. If the church bus is used to transport church members only and is not for compensation, this authority is not needed. However, if the bus is over 10,000 lbs. or is designed to transport more than 15 passengers and is not for compensation, a USDOT number is required.
The vehicle must be manufactured to carry 17 passengers or more, including the driver.
To obtain a new certificate or to add additional vehicles to an existing certificate, form TC 95-308 must be completed. Each vehicle must have a valid vehicle registration from the county clerk’s office for the rear of the vehicle. A $250 application fee and a per vehicle fee are required for a new certificate. A per vehicle fee only is required to add additional vehicles to an existing certificate. See the prorated vehicle fee chart to determine the per vehicle fee based on the qualification month. Prior to qualifying vehicles, all vehicle inspections by an ASE certified technician and criminal background checks must be completed.
A Fee Receipt Card is issued for each vehicle to show vehicle specific information. The original Fee Receipt Card must be kept in the vehicle. A plate is issued and is to be displayed on the front of the vehicle.
Yes. Larger limousines may operate under a charter bus certificate. The charter bus plate will be displayed on the front of the vehicle. The limousine is required to have a valid vehicle registration from the county clerk’s office for the rear of the vehicle. If licensed outside of Kentucky, a copy of the vehicle registration from the state of license is required.
Yes. All vehicles designed to transport more than eight (9) passengers (including the driver) and for compensation are required to have a USDOT number. They may be applied for online at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ or an application (MCS-150) may be requested from Motor Carriers.
No. The Operating Authority (MC Number) to cross state lines for-hire is obtained from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration at (800) 832-5660 or online at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is also required for all for-hire passenger vehicles in interstate commerce with a USDOT number and a seating capacity of 11 passengers or more including the driver. You may contact this office for a form or apply online at https://www.ucr.in.gov/ucrHome.html.

If the charter buses cross state lines and have operating authority (MC number) with FMCSA, the intrastate charter bus certificate with Kentucky is not required.
Yes and No. If the company stays in Kentucky only, all buses in Kentucky are exempt from paying the KIT fuel tax license. However, if the company crosses state lines, some other states may not have the same exemption. Therefore, the IFTA fuel tax license may be required. IFTA may be applied for on the Kentucky Trucking Application (Form TC 95-1)
All forms require an original signature. Therefore, they must be submitted by mail.
The Affidavit for Passenger Plate Transfer (Form TC 95-37) must be completed and mailed to Motor Carriers. Prior to submitting a transfer, the new vehicle must be inspected by an ASE certified technician and the criminal background check must be completed if a new driver. The original Kentucky Fee Receipt Card previously issued must be returned. There is not a fee to transfer.
The motor carrier plate and original Fee Receipt Card may be turned in to this office to be removed from the certificate. Once removed, a prorated fee will be credited to your vehicle fee account and may be used at a later time.
The Affidavit for Replacement of Passenger Credentials (Form TC 95-628) must be completed, notarized, and mailed to Motor Carriers. The original Fee Receipt Card for the vehicle will be required to be returned. Once processed, a new plate and new Fee Receipt Card will be issued.
All permanent Certificates and Fee Receipt Cards are effective until December 31 of each year. The effective date will be displayed on the Fee Receipt Card. All passenger carriers with permanent certificates will receive a renewal packet in October to renew before December 31. All renewals must be submitted no later than December 1 to ensure processing before December 31. After December 1, same day service at our One Stop Shop is unavailable. There is not a grace period. Those not renewed by December 31 and operating will be considered illegal.
Effective June 24, 2015, KRS Chapter 281 was amended to allow statewide transportation.
If the vehicle is licensed outside of Kentucky, a copy of the vehicle registration from the state of license is required.
In accordance with KRS 281.010, a charter bus is defined as a motor vehicle operating under a charter bus certificate providing for-hire intrastate transportation of a group of persons who, pursuant to a common purpose under a single contract at a fixed charge for the motor vehicle, have acquired the exclusive use of the motor vehicle to travel together under an itinerary either specified in advance or modified after having left the place of origin.
After a Form E, Uniform Motor Carrier Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Certificate of Insurance, is filed with Motor Carriers, you must obtain an application to apply for a new certificate or add additional vehicles to an existing certificate. All company and vehicle information must be included along with an original signature from the legal name listed on the authority for the sole proprietorship or from the registered agent/officer on file with the Kentucky Secretary of State for the Corporation, Partnership, or LLC and mailed to Motor Carriers. All vehicle inspections by an ASE certified technician and all criminal background checks must be completed prior to qualifying vehicles and kept in your records for three years. All vehicles licensed outside of Kentucky must supply a copy of the vehicle registration from the state of license.
All applications for a new certificates require a $250 application fee and a per vehicle fee. All applications to add additional vehicles to an existing certificate require a per vehicle fee only. Based on the vehicle type (TAXI, BUS, LIMO, DPV, TNC), the per vehicle fee may range from $2.50 – $100. Each application will have a prorated vehicle fee chart to determine the per vehicle fee based on the qualification month.
Taxicab (TAXI) and Transportation Network Company (TNC) vehicles may not exceed more than eight (8) regular seats. Limousine (LIMO) and Disabled Person’s Vehicle (DPV) vehicles, may not exceed fifteen (15) regular seats. Charter Bus (CHBUS) vehicles may not be less than seventeen (17) regular seats. DPV vehicles must be equipped for the transportation of passengers with disabilities according to 49 C.F.R. pt. 38.
A Form E must be submitted directly to the Division of Motor Carriers from the insurance company as proof of company’s public liability insurance. The Form E must be filed under the same name as it appears on the Order from the Office of Legal Services application for authority. The Form E filing must display the liability limits and must be in compliance with KRS 281.655. The original Form E may only be mailed or filed electronically. Faxed copies will not be accepted. Please allow 5 to 10 business days for the processing of a Form E.
A Fee Receipt Card is issued for each vehicle to show vehicle specific information. The original Fee Receipt Card must be kept in the vehicle. A certificate is issued to show what type of statewide authority the company has and how many vehicles have been qualified. Based on the type of authority, a plate may also be issued. All passenger plates issued by Motor Carriers must be displayed on the front of the vehicles.
The application process may take up to 14 business days upon receipt of the application. All applications will be returned if any required documentation is missing or fees were submitted incorrectly.
Yes. You may come in to the One Stop Shop. If all application requirements are met, including insurance on file, inspections, and criminal background checks, you may have your application processed in the same day. The One Stop Shop is open from 8:00am - 4:00pm (ET), Monday to Friday. Same day service does not apply after December 1 for renewal paperwork.