MEMORANDUM 2021-007
TO: License Plate Issuing Officials
SUBJECT: Registration Updates
Legislative Act 2021-134 (effective June 1, 2021) exempts electric bicycles (defined in 32-6-1.1 as a vehicle less than 750 watts, with a seat, and can’t travel over 25mph) from titling, insurance, and registration requirements.
Beginning October 1, 2021, license plates will no longer include stacked characters. The name of the plate category (TRUCK, TAXI, BUS, etc.) will appear at the bottom of the plate. The license plate will contain up to seven (7) alphanumeric characters including the county indicator (1-67), which will continue to be the first two alphanumeric characters. The registered weight of the vehicle should be reflected on the registration receipt.
Also beginning October 1, 2021, a restricted license plate will be available for motor vehicle wreckers. As defined in Section 40-12-248, Code of Ala. 1975, and administrative rule 810-5-1-.207, a wrecker is a vehicle used primarily to move, tow, or recover disabled motor vehicles or used for impoundment purposes. The registration fees are based on the gross vehicle weight of the wrecker only without regard to the gross vehicle weight of any motor vehicle to be towed by the wrecker. The name the license plate classification “wrecker” will appear at the bottom of the plate.
Legislative Act 2021 – 337 (effective October 1, 2021) amends §40-12-248, Code of Ala. 1975 to remove the limit on farm tags issued to truck-tractors owned by a farmer. The act allows any size truck or truck-tractor transporting forestry products to display the restricted Forestry Products tag. The act also removes the requirement for a paper declared gross vehicle weight affidavit. Refer to Administrative Rule 810-5-1-.442 (updates effective 11/8/2021) for further information.
Beginning October 1, 2021, licensing officials should begin issuing registrations using the revised registration receipt. The revised receipt will allow more space for county fees to be captured on the receipt. The barcode on the receipt will reflect both registrant and vehicle information (registrant name, address, VIN, make, model, plate number, issuance/expiration date, and primary tag type). The registration record should also be revised to reflect the additional data fields. Below is the link to the revised registration record on the MVD website:
https://revenue.alabama.gov/motor-vehicle/registration-file-information/
The rotation of multiple validation decal colors (red, green, and yellow) has been eliminated and going forward with the 2022 registration year, decals will remain yellow. If licensing offices have any red or green validation decals in their inventory, please contact the Motor Vehicle Division to arrange for pickup and destruction of the decals.
Please contact the Motor Vehicle Division at 334-242-9000 or email MVD@revenue.alabama.gov if you have any questions regarding this memo.
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