Driving without a license in Kentucky is against a few of the sections of the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS). One section is KRS 186.510 that notes that a motorist must have in his or her immediate possession at all times a driver's license and shall display it upon demand.

Then in KRS 185.620 it says that it is unlawful to drive or permit another to drive without a license. Here it states:

(1) No person shall authorize or knowingly permit a motor vehicle owned or controlled by him to be driven by any person who has no legal right to drive it or in violation of any of the provisions of KRS 186.400 to 186.640.

(2) No person who has not applied for an operator's license or whose operator's license has been denied, canceled, suspended or revoked, or whose privilege to operate a motor vehicle has been withdrawn, shall operate any motor vehicle upon the highways while the license is denied, canceled, suspended, or revoked or his privilege to operate a motor vehicle is withdrawn, or the license has not been applied for.

The penalties section in Kentucky law notes that a person who violates any of the provisions of KRS 186.400 to 186.640 shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

So driving without a license in KY is a Class B misdemeanor. It is also a Class B misdemeanor for the person allowing you to drive their car knowing that you are not licensed and thus he or she could also be cited and penalized for letting an unlicensed driver operate their vehicle. A Class B misdemeanor in KY can come with up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $250.

At 17 one is still a minor and a serious offense such as driving without a license may cause a delay in you being able to obtain your driver's license. You would need to check with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to determine how this violation could affect your licensing process.