The KY licensing action explained
After a DUI arrest in Kentucky, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver Licensing (drive.ky.gov) opens its own case against your driving privilege. It is administrative, it moves faster than the criminal case, and it is decided regardless of what the court later does with the charge.
The request for an administrative hearing is due within 30 days of arrest. Miss it and the suspension usually takes effect automatically.
Hearing requests, suspension notices, reinstatement fees and interlock paperwork.
Deadlines, forms and how the hearing is conducted.
How the KY agency runs the licence case
- The Cabinet applies a fixed suspension period keyed to the type of DUI conviction.
- KRS 189A.070 requires the Cabinet to suspend the licence in addition to the criminal penalties under KRS 189A.010.
- Reinstatement generally requires completing an alcohol or substance abuse education or treatment programme.
- Reinstatement services and forms are available through the Cabinet's DRIVE and myDrive portals.
- Eligible offenders may take part in the Kentucky Ignition Interlock Program as part of restoring the licence.
Kentucky licence facts
Kentucky DUI law at a glance
Sourced from the Kentucky code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.
- Offense name
- DUI (Kentucky)
- Controlling statute
- KRS 189A.010
- Implied consent
- KRS 189A.103
- Per se BAC limit
- 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
- Licence hearing deadline
- 30 days after arrest
- Prior-offense lookback
- 10 years
- First-offense fine
- $200–$500
- First-offense jail exposure
- up to 30 days
- Licence suspension
- 4 months
- Ignition interlock
- Required on a first offense in most cases
- Trial court
- the District Court
- High-risk filing
- SR-22 for 2 years
A first offense carries a fine, possible jail, suspension, and interlock eligibility.
Getting the licence back
- Serve the full suspension or hard-suspension period the agency sets.
- Complete any ordered assessment, education or treatment programme.
- Install an approved ignition interlock device — Kentucky requires one in most first-offense cases.
- Kentucky requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 2 years before a licence is reinstated after a DUI conviction.
- Pay the reinstatement fee and any licence-issuance fee in full.
Fees and processing times change; confirm the current amounts on drive.ky.gov before you travel to an office.
Kentucky ZIP codes covered
These Kentucky ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Kentucky resources
Counties
Other Kentucky official resources
Frequently asked questions
- How long do I have to challenge a Kentucky licence suspension?
- The administrative hearing request is due within 30 days of arrest. Confirm the current deadline and filing method with the KY licensing agency at drive.ky.gov before relying on it.
- How long is a first-offense suspension in Kentucky?
- A first DUI offense generally carries a 4 months suspension in Kentucky. Reinstatement conditions, fees and any interlock requirement are set by the licensing agency.