ALABAMA VEHICLE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
1. New
owners of vehicles 1975 and above must have:
a. An original title from the
seller -or-
b. Manufacturers certificate
of origin -or-
c. A copy of the Alabama
Certificate of Title Application completely filled out to the new
owners.
2. A
bill of sale giving:
a. Cost of vehicle -and-
b. A full description of the
vehicle -and-
c. The complete name and
address of the new owner -and-
d. The trade-in allowance, if
any -and-
e. A breakdown of the sales
tax paid.
This breakdown must show the percentage of State, County, and City tax
paid. If all the sales tax has not been paid, we will collect at this
time.
3. On
vehicles that are model year 1974 and older, we need a bill of sale
giving:
a. Cost of vehicle -and-
b. A full description of the
vehicle -and-
c. The complete name and
address of the new owner -and-
d. The trade-in allowance, if
any -and-
e. A breakdown of the sales
tax paid.
4. You
are allowed TEN (10) calendar days to register your newly purchased
vehicle. After this time there will be, according to state law, a TEN
DOLLAR ($10.00) penalty added.
5. All
vehicles model year 1975 and newer, not having an Alabama title must be
brought to the courthouse so that the Vehicle Identification Number may
be checked.
VEHICLE RENEWAL SCHEDULE
Once a vehicle is registered in your name it is necessary to renew the registration each year according to the renewal schedule listed below:
VEHICLE REGISTRATION
To renew registration, you must show previous tag receipt in your name or a renewal card which is being mailed to you as a courtesy of the Revenue Commissioner's Office in most cases.
NOTE-Please place the decals on your license plates.
If the month on your plate has passed, your tag is expired.
EXAMPLE-If the plate shows August, the renewal must be made before
September 1st
As of January 1, 1998 Alabama Law States:
Any person operating a self propelled vehicle, required to be registered
in this state, on the public roads and highways of this state shall
retain within the vehicle a current and valid Alabama motor vehicle
registration receipt to the vehicle being operated.
As of January 1, 1998 Alabama Law States:
When a current and valid Alabama motor vehicle license plate has been
obtained for the current tax year for use on a motor vehicle and the
vehicle has been sold or otherwise transferred to a new owner, the
license plate shall be removed from the vehicle and returned to the
original plate owner.
In the event the owner purchases, trades, or otherwise acquires another vehicle they may come in to the Revenue Commissioner's Office and transfer that plate to the replacement vehicle for use during the remainder of the current tax year.
At this point the licensing official will collect a transfer fee plus any Ad Valorem or sales tax due on replacement vehicle.
AD VALOREM TAXES
Ad Valorem Tax on a motor vehicle is a property tax. The state of Alabama provides values for all vehicles based on current market value. Ad Valorem taxes on motor vehicles shall be assessed and collected forward on a current basis to coincide with the collection of motor vehicle registration fees.
If a vehicle is sold, traded, completely destroyed, or permanently removed from Alabama, the owner of the vehicle is entitled to a pro rata credit for the remainder of the current period for which taxes have been paid. This credit of Ad Valorem taxes will be issued in the form of a voucher.
CREDIT VOUCHERS
1. No voucher will be
issued later than sixty (60) days after the date motor vehicle is sold,
traded, totally destroyed or permanently removed from Alabama.
2. Vouchers will be valid
for twelve (12) months from the date of issue.
3. Vouchers can only be
used in the county in which issued.
4. Vouchers cannot be used
or reissued if lost.
The Revenue Commissioner is also responsible for the issuance of State and County business licenses. These licenses expire September 30th of every year and are renewable during the month of October.
Boat renewals are subject to the same staggered schedule as motor vehicles.