Motor Vehicle Division - Registration FAQs

Motor vehicles are registered through the offices of county license plate issuing officials.

Trucks and truck tractors operating to points outside the State of Alabama are registered through the Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, Motor Carrier Services Unit.

Motor vehicles owned by the State, a county, municipality, public utility department, or volunteer fire department are registered through the Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, Registration Section.

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What are the prerequisites for registering a vehicle in Alabama?

For any motor vehicle requiring a certificate of title, the vehicle owner must first apply for an Alabama certificate of title through a designated agent of the Alabama Department of Revenue.

When a certificate of title is not required, only a registration is issued. The designated agent or their appointed deputy is required to inspect the vehicle prior to issuing a registration each time there is a change in ownership of the vehicle. An inspection is not required for a registration renewal.

The motor vehicle must be covered by a liability insurance policy prior to registration. By signing the registration receipt, registrants affirm that the vehicle being registered is insured.

After the prerequisites are met, the license plate issuing official will collect the necessary fees and taxes and issue a license plate. Click here to view registration fees for the various Alabama license plates. Images of Alabama license plates may be viewed by selecting a license plate category under the "License Plate Information" menu item on our home page.

When registering trucks and truck tractors with gross vehicle weight of 55,000 lbs or more, the registrant must provide proof of payment of the federal heavy vehicle use tax before the registration can be issued. This tax is paid to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a Form 2290 is received as receipt of payment.

The vehicle owner has twenty (20) calendar days from the date of vehicle purchase or acquisition to register the vehicle without penalty.

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Is the registrant required to prove that he/she has liability insurance when registering a motor vehicle?

Alabama law does not require registrants to show proof of insurance prior to registering a vehicle. Registrants are required, however, to maintain liability insurance by a company licensed to conduct business in Alabama. Registrants affirm, by signing the registration receipt, that the vehicle being registered is insured.

Click here to view liability insurance FAQs.

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Is emissions testing a prerequisite to registration?

No. Alabama law does not provide for emissions testing of motor vehicles.

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In what months are license plates renewed?

Alabama registers vehicles under a staggered registration system, January through November, based on the first letter of the owner’s last name. Motor vehicle registrations expire on the last day of the designated renewal month. For example, someone whose last name begins with the letter F, G, or N is required to register his/her vehicle in the month of April, and the previous registration expires on April 30.

Leased, commercial and fleet vehicles are subject to renewal in the months of October and November and the registrations for these type of vehicles expire on November 30.

Vehicles registered pursuant to the International Registration Plan (IRP) are assigned renewal registration months by the Department.

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Do all counties mail registration renewal notices?

No. While many counties have received authorization through the Legislature to mail renewal notices, many counties do not mail the notices. It is important to note that failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve a vehicle owner from timely renewing the vehicle’s registration.

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I have moved from my previous address and want to ensure that my renewal notice is received at my new address. What do I need to do?

Please contact the county license plate issuing official in your new county of residency and provide them with your address.

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Which counties in Alabama offer online registration renewals?

Select "Online Registration" under the "E-Services" menu item on our home page to view counties that offer online registration renewals.

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I just acquired a vehicle. How many days do I have to title and register this vehicle?

Alabama law provides that any person acquiring a new or used motor vehicle shall obtain a license plate within twenty (20) calendar days from the date of acquisition. In order to register a vehicle subject to the Alabama title law, a title application must be completed before a registration can be processed. When a certificate of title is not required, only a registration is issued. A designated agent or their appointed deputy is required to inspect the vehicle prior to issuing a registration.

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I just moved to Alabama. How long do I have before I must register my vehicle?

Section 40-12-262, Code of Alabama, provides that the owner of a non-commercial vehicle which has a valid registration from another jurisdiction has thirty (30) days from the date the vehicle enters the state to register the vehicle.

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I am military member stationed in Alabama. Am I required to title and register my vehicle in Alabama?

Military members whose vehicles are titled and registered in their legal jurisdictions of residency may maintain their valid out-of-state registration while they are stationed in Alabama. However, they may choose to title and register their vehicle in Alabama while they are stationed in this state. Click here to view the prerequisites to registering a vehicle in Alabama.

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When I sell or otherwise dispose of my vehicle, does the license plate remain on the vehicle?

License plates are to be removed by the registrant upon sale or disposal of the vehicle.

If a new vehicle is acquired, you may be able to transfer your license plate to the new vehicle. Please contact your county license plate issuing official's office for further information.

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If I move out of Alabama and register my vehicle in another jurisdiction, am I required to return the license plate to the State of Alabama?

No. Alabama law provides that no refund may be granted for the unused portion of registration fees. Due to this requirement, registrants are not required to surrender Alabama license plates when they move to another jurisdiction.

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In which situations does the State of Alabama charge a delinquent penalty for the registration of a motor vehicle?

A penalty of $15.00 plus interest is assessed for anyone who:

is delinquent in registering newly acquired vehicles.
fails to timely transfer a valid license plate to a newly acquired vehicle.
fails to renew in their designated renewal month.
moves to Alabama and fails to register their vehicle in Alabama within thirty (30) days from the date they enter the state.

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What is the fee to transfer a license plate?

The state transfer fee is $1.25. Additionally, a number of Alabama counties have imposed local issuance fees.

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Does Alabama law require the vehicle operator to retain registration documents within the vehicle?

Yes. Section 40-12-260, Code of Alabama 1975, provides that the vehicle owner shall retain the Motor Vehicle Registration Tag and Tax Receipt within the vehicle for possible presentation to law enforcement. The fine for failure to provide evidence of current registration to a law enforcement officer is a minimum of $50.

If someone trades vehicles, he/she is required to retain within the vehicle a copy of the title application, bill of sale, or a temporary tag prior to transferring the registration.

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How does one obtain a personalized license plate?

The requestor may search and reserve a personalized message on our website or visit the county license plate issuing official's office to determine if the requested letters and/or numbers are available for issuance. If available, the issuing official will collect the appropriate registration fees and taxes and issue a registration receipt, a sixty (60) day temporary license plate, and month and year decals to be placed on the new license plate. The license plate will be shipped from the manufacturing facility to the registrant (usually within 4-6 weeks).

The fee to reserve a personalized license plate online is $2.00 and is charged to the requestor’s credit card. Once the message has been approved by the Department, the requestor has five (5) business days to visit the county license plate issuing official’s office to place an order and pay all required fees. If the requestor fails to register the message within the prescribed timeframe, the message becomes available to the general public. If the Department rejects the personalized message request, the $2.00 reservation fee will not be charged to the credit card.

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What is the fee for a personalized license plate?

The registrant is subject to payment of the standard registration fees based on the vehicle type, plus an annual additional fee. Click here to view registration fees for the various Alabama license plates. Images of Alabama license plates may be viewed by selecting a license plate category under the "License Plate Information" menu item on our home page.

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What types of vehicles are permitted to display distinctive and personalized license plates?

Alabama law authorizes the issuance of distinctive and personalized license plates to automobiles and pickup trucks with a gross vehicle weight not to exceed 12,000 lbs., and, in many cases, motor homes. It is important to note that military plates and license plates with the International Symbol of Access are restricted to pickup trucks with a gross vehicle weight not to exceed 8,000 lbs.

Click on an image of a license plate in a category under the "License Plate Information" menu item on our home page to determine what types of vehicles a license plate may be displayed on.

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Are all distinctive license plates available to the general public?

No. Some plates are available only to members of a particular organization. Select a license plate category under the "License Plate Information" menu item on our home page to determine the availability of a license plate. The message under each plate image indicates whether the plate can be personalized, how many alphanumeric characters are permitted, and who is permitted to obtain the plates.

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How does one obtain disability access parking credentials?

A person with disabilities may obtain an application form from the license plate issuing official or downloaded the form here. The application form is to be completed by a licensed physician wherein the physician certifies that the individual meets one or more of the federal criteria listed on the form to obtain disability access parking credentials.

In order to obtain the disability access license plates, the vehicle (or vehicles) must be fully or partially owned by the person with the disability. It should be noted that to qualify for disability access parking credentials, the disability must be a mobility disability (the applicant must have problems in walking). There is no limit on the number of license plates that may be obtained. Anyone obtaining the disability access license plate may obtain one (1) placard; anyone who does not obtain the license plate may qualify for two (2) placards. Temporary placards are available upon certification by the physician, using the application form, that the disability meets the federal criteria and is temporary. The maximum length of time for a temporary parking placard under federal law is six (6) months.

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