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CURRENT RULEKentuckyShop operations✓ Human reviewed

Can your Kentucky shop preserve its lien for unpaid repairs or storage?

Kentucky gives businesses that sell, repair, or furnish accessories or supplies for motor vehicles a lien for reasonable or agreed repair, work, accessory, supply, and storage charges. A shop may detain a vehicle in its possession until the reasonable or agreed charge is paid. If the vehicle leaves the shop, the lien can still be preserved by asserting it within six months through the required county-clerk filing, unless the parties agree in writing to a longer period.

Quick check

Document the charges and possession. If the vehicle leaves unpaid, verify any required county-clerk lien statement is filed within six months unless a written extension applies.

At a glance
JurisdictionKentucky
TopicShop operations
VerifiedOct 5, 2026
Review cadenceReview before detaining, releasing, filing a lien on, or selling an unpaid vehicle and whenever Kentucky lien law changes.
When this applies

Your Kentucky shop has unpaid reasonable or agreed charges for vehicle repairs, work, accessories, supplies, storage, or keeping a vehicle and may rely on a lien.

Keep documentation of the agreed or reasonable charges and possession. If the vehicle leaves before payment and you intend to preserve the lien, calendar the six-month filing period and follow the county-clerk lien procedure before relying on the lien.

Official evidence

Source and verification

Verified
Oct 5, 2026
Applies to
All shop types

Quick-reference compliance planning only; not legal advice or an exhaustive statement of every applicable Federal, state, or local rule. Always verify the official source.

Regulatory history

Related Kentucky changes

View state page →
EFFECTIVEJul 15, 2026Kentucky expanded warranty reimbursement for heavy-truck dealersHeavy-truck dealership service departments should update warranty claim submissions to capture actual technician hours and parts acq…Open update →PROPOSEDAug 31, 2026Kentucky proposed allowing qualifying dealership employees to become special vehicle inspectorsKentucky dealerships interested in using employees as special inspectors should track final adoption before relying on the proposed …Open update →EFFECTIVEApr 14, 2026Kentucky extended its $2 new-tire fee through June 2034Tire retailers should keep collecting and remitting the $2 fee after July 1, 2026, keep the 5% timely-payment handling allowance, an…Open update →EFFECTIVEFeb 1, 2022Kentucky updated motor-vehicle body-shop sales and use tax guidanceKentucky body shops should use current 103 KAR 27:230 when deciding which parts/materials may be bought for resale, how repair labor…Open update →