I, Vernon Barnett, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Revenue, pursuant to the power granted to me under §40-2-11, Code of Alabama 1975, hereby declare that due to the extreme hardships placed on Alabama motor vehicle registrants across the state who may be unable to register or renew their motor vehicle registrations or pay property taxes on their motor vehicles because there is a state of emergency resulting from the potential spread of the coronavirus named COVID-19, it is necessary to assist and expedite all efforts of relief. In order to accommodate this need and provide assistance to Alabama citizens, I hereby issue the following order:
I. GENERAL RULE
(a) EXTENSION OF TIME FOR OBTAINING MARCH 2020 MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS AND PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON VEHICLES.
For the purposes of applying Alabama’s motor vehicle registration laws and property tax laws as related to the annual registration and renewal of vehicles during the month of March 2020, the registration deadline has been extended through April 15, 2020.
The extension includes the registration of vehicles purchased or otherwise acquired whereby the twenty (20) day registration requirement as provided for in §32-6-61, Code of Alabama 1975, falls during the period of March 17, 2020 through April 15, 2020. The extension also applies to motor vehicle registrations and renewals for vehicles registered pursuant to the International Registration Plan (IRP). Registrants will also be granted an extension to surrender license plates in order to comply with the mandatory liability insurance law.
(b) PENALTY CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH MARCH 2020 MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS/RENEWALS AND PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON MOTOR VEHICLES.
Penalty charges associated with motor vehicle registrations and renewals extended through April 15, 2020, will not be charged until April 16, 2020. Additionally, penalty charges associated with motor vehicle property tax payments extended through April 15, 2020, will not be charged until April 16, 2020.
Entered this 16th day of March 2020
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