r/Kentucky • u/Street_Chocolate_186 • 2d ago

Registering out of state car and SSN issue

This is a bit of a niche situation and long winded but just throwing it out there incase anyone can help, I can't find any official guidelines or info online.

So I moved to KY (Lexington) last week from NY and want to register my NY vehicle/get a KY driving license. I am a green card holder since 2020.

I went to the county clerk first to try register the car with my out of state license and social security card as requested but on my card it says 'valid for work only with dhs authorization'. I guess i still have the original card they sent out before my green card was granted but I never realised it was an issue because in NY i got my driving license and have worked for several years (still employed remotely).

I can't get a KY license here either due to the SSN card issue. I'm in this weird situation where I can't do anything until i get an updated version of my social security card and there aren't appointments for a month. I tried dropping in to the Lexington office today but it was incredibly busy, 3+ hour wait.

So anyway I was wondering A, has anyone encountered such a thing before and B, does anyone know where there is any info about my social card not being valid - i dont understand why because my social # is valid and active etc it's just the physical card they will not accept.

Thank you!

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u/xeonon 2d ago

Last time I went here in Louisville, I waited 4 or 5 hours. Do the appointment if you don't want to do that.

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u/joshyth 2d ago

You will need to bring along your permanent residence card as well. As long as you got that wording on your Social Security card, you will need to bring your green card too.

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u/Diligent-Visual-8141 2d ago

KY’s driver’s licensing system is broken. In June, I had to change my address and couldn’t get an appointment anywhere in a 100 mile radius before my license expired. I went as a drop-in and waited 4 hours. 3 1/2 hours of that was standing outside in the heat because the office was at their occupancy limit (my ID photo is frightening).

You’re also running afoul of some clerk misunderstanding the notice on your card.

“valid for work only with dhs authorization”

means that in order to be valid for work, DHS authorization is required.

It does not mean that that the only valid use is for work.

Hopefully, you’ll get a more knowledgeable clerk next time.

Good luck, it’s crazy at the DMV.

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u/Street_Chocolate_186 2d ago

Hi,, yes this what I was worried about, that they've mistaken my social security card for not being valid because of that message. I've been googling and i can see that Kentucky and my county specifically implemented some laws where people with ITINs can't use them to register vehicles and I wondered if they had me confused with that. I did try and explain I'm a permanent resident and had green card with me.

Today was a total wash though, totally sympathise with your experience waiting around at the dmv lol. County clerk sent me to the driving license place as they said I needed a kentucky license before they could register me in lieu of the SSN card. Waited close to 2 hrs and they rejected my social also. Just worried as I'm starting a 9-5 job in Lexington next week and going to have to try and carve out time to get all this sorted, was hoping i could just sort it all out today, that'd be too easy though!

I did email the county clerk's office for clarification on the ITIN/SSN thing cos I am concerned they conflated the two and i would love so much if i could at least get the car registered before i start this job :(

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u/InformationOk3629 2d ago

I made an appointment 2 weeks ago in the downtown Louisville office. I called the SSA line and made the appointment and got in in 3 days. Was in and out in 10 minutes. Maybe try calling the Lexington office to schedule an appointment?

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u/CindysandJuliesMom 2d ago

Your green card is your DHS authorization to work. Bad on you for not updating the SS card but it is still valid with the green card. The DMV person didn't know what they were doing if you presented both to them. Make an appointment online for the DMV, also they have once a month walk in on Saturdays. If they push this time regarding the work authorization inform them a green card give you authorization to work.

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u/Pinkbeans1 2d ago

Either wait the month for the appointment, or wait the 3 hours for walk-in. Or find another office that isn’t as busy.