Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.590 (2026)

Minor's negligence imputed to person signing application or allowing

✓ current as of May 2026
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him or her to drive. (1) Any negligence of a minor under the age of eighteen (18) who has been licensed upon an application signed as provided by KRS 186.470, when driving any motor vehicle upon a highway, shall be imputed to the person who signed the application, if required, of the minor for the license. That person shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for any damages caused by the negligence. (2) If a minor deposits or there is deposited in his or her behalf, a proof of financial responsibility in form and amounts required by KRS 304.39-110, the person who signed the application shall not, while such proof is maintained, be subject to the liability imposed by subsection (1). If the minor is the owner of a motor vehicle, the proof of financial responsibility shall be with respect to the operation of that motor vehicle; if not an owner, then with respect to the operation of any motor vehicle. (3) Every motor vehicle owner who causes or knowingly permits a minor under the age of eighteen (18) to drive the vehicle upon a highway, and any person who gives or furnishes a motor vehicle to the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for damage caused by the negligence of the minor in driving the vehicle. Effective:June 29, 2017 History: Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 11, sec. 3, effective June 29, 2017. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. secs. 2739m-41, 2739m-53, 2739m-54.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 30 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1944–2026 · leading case: Wolford v. Wolford, 662 S.W.2d 835 (Ky. 1984).
Wolford v. Wolford, 662 S.W.2d 835 (Ky. 1984). · cites it 3× “This appeal is from a decision of the Court of Appeals affirming a summary judgment which determined that there was no insurance coverage for an automobile accident where a 17-year-old son was driving his father’s vehicle without permission, and that under KRS 186.590(1) both…”
State Auto. Ins. Co. v. Reynolds, 32 S.W.3d 508 (Ky. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 11× “The court found that Sarah was emancipated from her parents and accordingly determined that her status of emancipation terminated “her relationship to them as a minor for all purposes including KRS 186.590(3)_” (Emphasis original.) The court held that James could not be held…”
Estes v. Gibson, 257 S.W.2d 604 (Ky. Ct. App. 1953). · cites it 4× “It may be further observed that the same statute, KRS 186.590, and KRS 186.470 qualify the right of a minor under eighteen years of age to have an operator's license, and KRS 186.”
Falender v. Hankins, 177 S.W.2d 382 (Ky. Ct. App. 1944). · cites it 4× “" Therefore, the scope of KRS 186.590 is not limited by the title, as it was when adopted in the first instance and compiled in Section 2739m-54, Carroll’s Kentucky Statutes; and, since the adoption of the Kentucky Revised Statutes was, as held in Fidelity & Columbia Trust Co.”
McGrew v. Stone, 998 S.W.2d 5 (Ky. 1999). · cites it 2× “In Kentucky, KRS 186.590(3) imposes joint and several liability on the owner of a motor vehicle for damages resulting from its negligent operation by a minor under the age of eighteen if the owner caused or permitted the minor to operate the vehicle.”
Sizemore v. Bailey's Adm'r, 293 S.W.2d 165 (Ky. Ct. App. 1956). · cites it 5× “, contributory negligence) from the other son, Shatter Bailey, to the parent may only result from an interpretation of subsection (1) of KRS 186.590 which reads: “Any negligence of a minor under the age of eighteen who has been licensed upon an application signed as provided by…”
Young v. Beck, 251 P.3d 380 (Ariz. 2011). “493 (2)(a) (2010) (same); Ky.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 186.590(3) (West 2010) (holding owner liable for negligence of any permissive user who is a minor); Mich.”
Commonwealth Fire & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Manis, 549 S.W.2d 303 (Ky. Ct. App. 1977). · cites it 3× “The claim against Buel Downey was based upon the fact that he had signed for the operator’s license for his infant son, KRS 186.590. The claim against Mrs. Raspberry was based upon the allegation that she permitted Kenneth to operate her automobile.”
Anderson v. Anderson Ex Rel. Anderson, 1999 ND 57 (N.D. 1999). · cites it 2× “§ 41-2-10 ); Ky. Rev.Stat. Ann. § 186.590(2); S.C.Code Ann.”
Pike v. George, 434 S.W.2d 626 (Ky. Ct. App. 1968). “2d 847 (1968), we held the allegations of a complaint sufficient in an action in which the defendant was sought to be held responsible under KRS 186.590(3) which makes a person “jointly and severally liable with the minor for damages caused by the negligence of the minor in…”
Toche v. Am. Watercraft Ass'n, 176 S.W.3d 694 (Ky. Ct. App. 2005). “” Appellant therefore sought to recover the amount of the judgment from the appellee (the minor’s father) pursuant to then section 2739m-53 of the Kentucky Statutes (now KRS 186.590) which provided that “[a]ny negligence of a minor .”
Peters v. Frey, 429 S.W.2d 847 (Ky. Ct. App. 1968). · cites it 2× “In his complaint appellant alleeged the following grounds for recovery: (1) That June Frey was the “person” within the meaning of KRS 186.590(3) who gave and furnished a vehicle to Edward Lee McKinney, a minor seventeen years of age; (2) that June Frey, and not the corporation,…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.590(1) — 2 cases
Wolford v. Wolford, 662 S.W.2d 835 (Ky. 1984). “This appeal is from a decision of the Court of Appeals affirming a summary judgment which determined that there was no insurance coverage for an automobile accident where a 17-year-old son was driving his father’s vehicle without permission, and that under KRS 186.590(1) both…”
Bryan ex rel. Bryan v. Bear, 560 S.W.2d 827 (Ky. Ct. App. 1977).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.590(2) — 3 cases
Anderson v. Anderson Ex Rel. Anderson, 1999 ND 57 (N.D. 1999). “§ 41-2-10 ); Ky. Rev.Stat. Ann. § 186.590(2); S.C.Code Ann.”
Bryan ex rel. Bryan v. Bear, 560 S.W.2d 827 (Ky. Ct. App. 1977).
Beardon v. Derry, 645 S.W.2d 356 (Ky. Ct. App. 1983).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.590(3) — 15 cases
State Auto. Ins. Co. v. Reynolds, 32 S.W.3d 508 (Ky. Ct. App. 2000). “The court found that Sarah was emancipated from her parents and accordingly determined that her status of emancipation terminated “her relationship to them as a minor for all purposes including KRS 186.590(3)_” (Emphasis original.) The court held that James could not be held…”
McGrew v. Stone, 998 S.W.2d 5 (Ky. 1999). “In Kentucky, KRS 186.590(3) imposes joint and several liability on the owner of a motor vehicle for damages resulting from its negligent operation by a minor under the age of eighteen if the owner caused or permitted the minor to operate the vehicle.”
Young v. Beck, 251 P.3d 380 (Ariz. 2011). “493 (2)(a) (2010) (same); Ky.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 186.590(3) (West 2010) (holding owner liable for negligence of any permissive user who is a minor); Mich.”
Estes v. Gibson, 257 S.W.2d 604 (Ky. Ct. App. 1953). “It may be further observed that the same statute, KRS 186.590, and KRS 186.470 qualify the right of a minor under eighteen years of age to have an operator's license, and KRS 186.”
Pike v. George, 434 S.W.2d 626 (Ky. Ct. App. 1968). “2d 847 (1968), we held the allegations of a complaint sufficient in an action in which the defendant was sought to be held responsible under KRS 186.590(3) which makes a person “jointly and severally liable with the minor for damages caused by the negligence of the minor in…”
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