Kentucky driver's license offices closing statewide for social distancing

In keeping with Governor Andy Beshear’s order to cancel in-person government services, driver’s licensing offices statewide will close by 5 p.m. EDT/CDT March 17. Citizens who are due to renew a motor vehicle license, including commercial driver’s licenses, will have an additional three months to obtain the renewal.

Offices of Circuit Court Clerk handle driver’s licensing in all 120 counties for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Offices of Circuit Court Clerk will remain open other than the driver’s license portion, with 3-month extension granted for renewing licenses.

Gov. Beshear ordered Monday that state government offices stop providing in-person services to the public starting at 5 p.m. today with limited exceptions in order to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Circuit Court Clerks

Circuit court clerks are responsible for managing the records of Kentucky’s Circuit and District courts. Circuit clerks are constitutionally elected officials from all 120 counties and serve a six-year term. They provide professional recordkeeping, receive money due the courts, pay money to required parties and to the state, record legal documents, provide legal documents and other legal materials, maintain the jury system, administer oaths, handle affidavits and issue driver licenses and non-driver ID cards.

Administrative Office of the Courts

The Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort is the operations arm for the state court system. The AOC supports the activities of nearly 3,400 court system employees and 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.