Need a driver’s license in Lexington? There’s a new location for that.
Lexington now has a a regional driver licensing office that will handle the issuance and renewals of drivers’ licenses, including REAL ID licenses needed next year to board domestic airline flights.
The office opened Wednesday at 141 Leestown Center Way in suite 125 — the latest in a network of regional offices operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. It initially will provide limited services because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Unlike other state regional driver licensing offices that operate alongside local circuit court clerk offices, the Lexington office will serve as the only in-person driver licensing application site in Fayette County. It also will issue special security REAL ID licenses to qualified residents of Kentucky.
This means that, in addition to those seeking REAL IDs, all Fayette County residents who need standard dirivers’ licenses, permits and ID cards, or renewals, will apply at the new regional office.
The two Fayette Circuit Court Clerk’s driver licensing offices in Lexington — located on Keithshire Boulevard and Winchester Road — have closed.
The Fayette County Circuit Court Clerk office is still accepting license renewals requests by mail through July 31, 2020 to those who qualify.
Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release that the new regional office in Lexington is “a giant step in our successful reopening plan to safely restore access to government operations that serve Kentuckians.”
Transportation Cabinet spokesman Chuck Wolfe said the Lexington office is the latest in a network of regional offices operated by the cabinet.
He said it offers easy access on and off New Circle Road and ample free parking. It will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. but will be closed this Friday in observance of the Fourth of July.
Customers are encouraged to make an appointment, which can be done online at drive.ky.gov. Walk-in customers also will be served but the online service Wednesday afternoon showed no openings available until July 21.
The new office only accepts debit and credit cards for payment.
Persons requesting a Real ID must present documentation to prove your identity, social security number and proof of residency. If your names on the proof documents do not match, additional documentation may be required (like a marriage certificate or divorce decree) to link the name change. For more information, go to realidky.com.
Over the next two years, driver’s license and personal ID issuance across Kentucky will gradually shift from circuit court clerks offices to state regional driver licensing offices as a result of a new law enacted this year.
While Kentucky will continue offering the option of a standard driver’s license, a form of REAL ID will be needed as of Oct. 1, 2021, for passing through airport security and boarding a U.S. commercial flight, visiting a military base or accessing a federal building or facility that requires verified identification.
This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 2:27 PM.
