Planning to transfer a vehicle? Do so soon or wait until much later

If you are planning to renew your motor vehicle or boat registration, plan to transfer a motor vehicle or a boat, get a new license plate issued for your vehicle, need to get a disabled parking permit issued or even think you might need to do one of these things in the near future, then you need to do so sooner, or it will be much later until you can.

This is due to the implementation of a new state database for vehicle information that will make online renewals and renewals at every county clerk’s office, including Whitley County, unavailable starting on Friday, Dec. 29, until Thursday, Jan. 11.

This is assuming that everything goes according to plan with the implementation of the state’s new system.

In other words, Thursday, Dec. 28, will be your last day to do this in person in Whitley County before the two-week hiatus starts.

Online renewal is expected to be restored the week of Jan. 8, 2024.

The Whitley County Clerk’s Office will be closed on Dec. 29, 2023, and Jan. 1, 2024. It will reopen on Jan. 2, 2024.

Whitley County Clerk Carolyn Willis noted that the office will still be able to do a number of services between Jan. 2, and Jan. 11, 2024.

The deed room will be open for recording deeds, mortgages, notary renewals, voter registration and candidate filings among other things.

Administered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), the state’s 40-year-old legacy system AVIS (Automated Vehicle Information System) will sunset this year, and the seventh and final module of the new KAVIS (Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System) will be fully integrated by early January. The system upgrade is a part of KYTC’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiencies within the Department of Vehicle Regulation, the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing and County Clerks’ offices throughout the state.

“I am excited about the scheduled implementation in early January,” Willis said. “Even though the County Clerk’s Motor Vehicle Departments will be closed for a short transition period, the positive improvements for our customers and staff will far outweigh the inconvenience this may cause.”

A statewide break of services is necessary to allow for an optimal transfer of more than 350 million records. The move to KAVIS will not impact driver license issuance at Driver Licensing Regional Offices.

The project to migrate to KAVIS kicked off in 2015. Since then, six module releases have been implemented, including a standardized point of sale system, disabled placard improvements, print on demand decals and new flat license plates. With KAVIS in place in early January, new special license plate designs will be available for request at county clerk offices.

“The move to digital plates has resulted in more reflective and readable plates, reduced storage requirements and increased on-demand printing capabilities,” said Department of Vehicle Regulation Commissioner Matt Cole. “Once in place, we’ll be able to continue a stream of new advancements like offering more than 20 new specialty license plates to choose from that promote nonprofit organizations in Kentucky.”