Changes in vehicle registration process could mean long delays

Posted November 22, 2023 at 1:44 pm

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is weeks away from making a major change in the way records are maintained in regards to the vehicle registration and titling process.
Because of the amount of time necessary to transfer the data from the current system, known as AVIS, an acronym for Automated Vehicle Identification System, to the new system, KAVIS, Kentucky Automated Vehicle Identification System, vehicle owners should be prepared for anticipated delays in the process beginning in 2024.
Clinton County Clerk Nathan Collins, whose office is responsible for vehicle registration and titling, told the Clinton County News that the new KAVIS system is scheduled to go online after the 2024 New Year’s holiday.
In an email to the Clinton County News this week, Collins noted that because of the amount of data being transferred from the old system to the new system, the process will take an unprecedented amount of time.
“As you can imagine, the amount of data is massive,” Collins said. “The time to transfer the data is not estimated in minutes and hours, but rather days and weeks.”
The County Clerk also noted that because of the scheduled changeover after the first of the year, his office will not be accepting any vehicle transactions beginning January 2 through January 10.
Clinton County is scheduled to have its data transfer complete on January 10, but Collins said that there is always the possibility of unforeseen delays when a data transfer this massive takes place.
“If there are any delays, which is not only possible, but highly plausible, that date (January 10), would be delayed,” Collins said.
He further explained that during this data transaction period, his office would continue to be open to take care of other matters that are dealt with in his County Clerk’s office, including land record filing, marriage license, election duties, voter registration and the payment of delinquent real property taxes, and any other duties generally dealt with by his staff.
“We will resume motor vehicle transactions as soon as technologically possible,” Collins added.
The current AVIS data system has been in place since 1976.
Additional information concerning the data transfer issue being mandated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet can be learned by contacting Collins’ office at 606-387-5943.
A detailed explanation of the changover and what it might mean to customers wanting to take care of vehicle registration and titline during this time can be found in this week’s Clinton County News on page X.