Frequently Asked Questions

Effective January 1, 1998 license plates are to be removed by the registrant upon sale or disposal of the vehicle, for possible transfer to a replacement vehicle. Also beginning August 1, 2000, owners may be entitled to a pro rata credit for property classes paid for the remainder of their current tax year. If the vehicle is sold or reassigned, the owner may bring their supporting documents and apply for a tax credit voucher within one year.

In Houston County, the transfer fee is $13.25. In addition to paying the transfer fee, county officials are required to collect any outstanding and current property taxes on the newly acquired vehicle. Also, if the newly acquired vehicle was purchased from someone other than a licensed Alabama motor vehicle dealer, state and local sales or use tax may be due. The State of Alabama has an automotive sales tax rate of 2%. Houston County's rate is .50%. The municipal sales tax rates range from 0.50% to 2%.

• Copy of Alabama title application
• Copy of Bill of Sale
• Used Motor Vehicle Dealer Affidavit (If the application is checked as a used vehicle)
• Proof of Alabama Liability Vehicle Insurance, (NAIC, policy number, effective date)
• Each New Owners Valid Alabama Drivers License or ID Card

Yes. Act 96-733, effective January 1, 1998, provides that the owner shall retain within the vehicle the Motor Vehicle Registration Tag and Tax Receipt (or a photocopy thereof) for possible presentation to law enforcement. The fine, upon conviction, is a minimum of $50. If someone trades vehicles, he/she is required to retain within the vehicle prior to transferring the registration, a copy of the title application from the selling dealer or finance company, or the bill of sale from the individual seller. Also beginning July 1, 2001, proof of vehicle liability insurance is required for presentation to law enforcement.

• Alabama Certificate of Title ($25) for motor vehicles 35 years old and subsequent year model vehicles.
• Assessment and payment of ad valorem (personal property taxes) based on the market value of the vehicle.
• Truck and truck tractor owners are required to provide proof of payment of federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (Form 2290).
• Owner's proof of liability insurance (NAIC, policy number, current effective date) and valid driver's license for each owner or, if company-owned, their current FEIN.
• Payment of the appropriate registration and issuance fee ($36.25 for automobiles and trucks up to 8,000 pounds gross weight).

No.

Yes (NAIC Number, Policy Number, and VIN)

Under Alabama law, if the vehicle is being titled for the first time in Alabama or if a non-titled vehicle is being registered for the first time in a new owner's name, an inspection of the vehicle identification number is required. Thus, it would be necessary for the vehicle to be taken to the county office in order to make an application for a certificate of title and for the vehicle to be registered. Utility trailers are exempt from physical inspections.

One completes an application with the Houston County Motor Vehicle Division. The office will make inquiry to the State Motor Vehicle Division to verify if the requested letters and/or numbers are available for issuance. If so, the issuing official will collect the appropriate registration fee, and issue a registration receipt, a sixty-day temporary license plate, and the month and year decal to be placed on the new license plate. The license plate will be shipped from the manufacturing facility to the registrant (usually 60 days). A search engine for personalized messages is provided by the Alabama Department of Revenue see Reservation for Personalized License Plate.

Bring in a bill of sale to request credit for ad valorem from the date of sale to the expiration of the plate.

If the office is closed on the last day of the month there is a one day grace period on the next business day.

No, MLI has to be paid in full.

You may call 205-263-1573, have your driver's license number and tag number

You will need a copy of the owners ID and written permission. This can be done through a text message.

If you have documentation that you no longer own the vehicle, you can transfer your plate to another vehicle that is in your name upon registration or renewal.

If your dealership out of state will not issue you another temp tag and your paperwork is not ready, you can come in office with bill of sale, insurance, and ID for us to issue you a 20-day temp tag.

When your paperwork has been received for your new purchase, we will call you or email you to let you know to come into office.

You may contact your local law enforcement to come to do the inspection.  You will need to provide the form for the Vehicle Inspection Form

You may go to altagrenewals.com and enter your driver's license and tag number.

Due to value being different on vehicles, we would need to see all the paperwork on the vehicle to give accurate pricing. lf you purchased from an Alabama dealer you can use Easy Tag online.

You may go online to besuretoinsure.com or come in office with proof of insurance.

Clear title- if not, lien holder's fax number or email to request a copy.  Based on verbiage: or -only one party needs to be present, AND-both parties must be present, out of state registration, vehicle must be inspected, ID for each owner, Insurance, current LES and military ID.

If this is your renewal month, bring in your renewal notice, insurance and ID.  If you do not have your renewal notice, just bring in ID, insurance, and a copy of tag number.

You can log into altagrenewals.com to renew during your renewal month or call 205-263-1573 to renew by phone.

This can be caused by several different reasons. If you have moved, changed insurance companies, or active military are a few reasons. 

If your name has changed and your vehicle is paid off.  Bring in your title, along with updated ID, documents supporting name change in order to update your title and registration to match your legal name.

If your decal has been lost in the mail, you can come in office with your ID and current Al insurance and request a replacement decal for $4.

Within 30 days of dropping your insurance, you will need to surrender your license plate to the local office to prevent from getting a Verification letter from the state for Missing liability Insurance.

This will need to be taken care of in office. On the letter will be a verification date. lf you did not have insurance on this day you will need to pay a fine of $2O2 or $402. If you did have insurance on the date, please bring in that insurance card so we can clear this up for you.

This cannot be handled in this office. This is ususally a scam message. 

Bring in the title application where the lender has updated your title in order for us to update your registration.

If the tag is processed on the same day a refund will be issued. If not in the same day a bill of sale will be required to receive a refund.

You will need to turn in your tag to the local office within 30 days.  Bring in a copy of the bill of sale to request a receipt for credit for the ad valorem not used based upon the date of sale and expiration of the plate.

You will need to call office at 334-677-4785.

Contact your dealer to issue you another temp tag until your paperwork is ready.

If there is an estate that has been probated, we will need the letters of Testamentary or letters of Administraiton to transfer ownership.  If there was no estate, then we will need title and death certificate to transfer ownership to next of kin.

Title Application, Bill of Sale, Dealer Affidavit, Driver's License or ID for Each owner, and Alabama Insurance, 

Title, Bill of Sale, Vehicle VIN inspection (inspections not done in the rain), and Driver's License or ID for Each owner

The registrant is subject to payment of the standard registration fees based on the type of vehicle, plus an additional fee. The additional fee for a standard personalized license plate or a personalized motorcycle license plate or most distinctive license plates is $50 each time the tag is renewed.

You can log into altagrenewals.com to access your renewal price during your renewal month or call 205-263-1573 to renew by phone.

Due to pricing changes because of late fees or insurance issues, we woutd need to see all paperwork to confirm a price. Please come in the office if you need pricing on a tag.

Clear title- if not, lien holder's fax number or email to request a copy.  Based on verbiage: or -only one party needs to be present, AND-both parties must be present, out of state registration, vehicle must be inspected (insepctions are not done in the rain), ID for each owner, and proof of Alabama Insurance.

Respond within 30 days of the letter with proof of insurance for the one date in question or come in office to ask about a possible exemption due to vehicle being stored, inoperable, or otherwise unused.

Checks are made out to Patrick H Davenport Judge of Probate

This will need to be done in office due to requiring a current LES for ad valorem exemption.  OR if the active military has a military plate this requires current military eligibility every year in order to renew.

There may be flags/address changes preventing from renewing online, this will need to be done in office.

Sometimes the County system and State system miscommunicate when plate has been surrendered, or the state had already started process of letter request for verification prior to plate being surrendered.

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. There is no limit on the number of license plates that may be obtained. Anyone obtaining the disability access license plate may obtain one placard; anyone who does not obtain the license plate may qualify for two placards. One temporary placard is 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 months. As of January 2022, physician recertification is not required for persons with long-term disabilities, instead, these individuals may self-certify.

Yes. If the vehicle was in exempt (stored, inoperable, or other unused) status the registrant should visit their local licensing official to surrender the license plate within thirty days of the MLI verification notice.

Failure to surrender the license plate within 30 calendar days of the MLI verification Notice will result in suspension of their vehicle registration.

Failure to surrender the license plate or completion of the "Request for Registration Revocation" form (MV32-7A-5) within 30 days of the MLI verification notice will result in a registration suspension. However, if the registrant was unable to surrender the plate within 30 days due to any of the reasons listed on MV Form 32-7A-11 (on the DOR website), the registrant may qualify for a "good cause" extension. The form should be completed (along with necessary documentation) and submitted to their local licensing official within 30 calendar days from the date that the "good cause" event ended. If the plate and/or a completed form MV32-7A-5 was not submitted to the local licensing official within 30 days of the MLI verification notice and if the registrant does not qualify for any of the good cause reasons listed on MV32-7A-11, reinstatement fees ($200 for first suspension; $400 for second and subsequent suspension) and evidence of current Alabama liability insurance coverage must be provided to their local licensing official to remove the registration suspension.