Tag Requirements - Effective January 1, 1998
1998 brought major changes for vehicle owners who sell or trade their vehicles.
No longer will the tag remain with the vehicle when it is sold or traded; instead,
the tag will follow its owner.
Act 96 746, passed during the 1996 regular session at the Alabama Legislature, requires
vehicle tags to remain with the current license plate owner when a vehicle is sold
or title is transferred, beginning January, 1. 1998.
According to Revenue Commissioner H.E. "Gene. Monroe Jr., this change in Alabama's
registration law is a very important one for all vehicle owners. "Beginning Jan.
1, 1998, the passenger license plate or tag will be issued to the applicant or vehicle
owner, not to the vehicle,. explained Mr. Monroe.
"This will be a major change for Alabamians who in the past have left the tag on
a vehicle that was sold or traded,. added Mr. Monroe. "This legislation was enacted
primarily to aid law enforcement personnel in providing accurate information on
vehicle ownership. Further, Act 96-146 will protect the sellers of used vehicles
from false charges against them when the new owner intentionally delays changing
the registration of the vehicle," explained Mr. Monroe.
"Previously, only certain specialty tags or distinctive tags (e.g., Collegiate,
Veteran's tags, etc.) were transferable from one vehicle to another vehicle an owner
purchased or acquired. Beginning Jan. 1, 1998, all tags with the exception of the
vintage tag will remain with the current tag owner for use on any subsequent vehicle
the individual may own, as long as the subsequent vehicle requires the same tag
classification and fee as the previously owned vehicle," explained Mr. Monroe.
If an individual purchases or acquires a vehicle having a current and valid tag
after Jan. 1, the new owner is required to remove the tag and turn it in to the
tag-issuing official of his resident county. If the tag has expired, the new owner
of the vehicle is not required to turn in the expired license plate.
Beginning Jan. 1, 1998, new owners will have ten calendar days in which to transfer
their license plates from their old vehicles to their new vehicles. January 1 also
brings Important changes related to the registration transfer fee and the delinquent
registration penalty amounts. Effective January 1, the transfer fee will increase
from $1 to $1.25, and failure to register a vehicle within the 10 day period will
result in a $10 delinquent penalty. The current escalating $2, $15 and $25 delinquent
registration penalties will be eliminated, as well as the $15 penalty for late "initial"
registration of a vehicle, and will be replaced with a $10 delinquent penalty, effective
January 1.
The last major change brought about by the law is the proof of ownership requirement.
Effective upon their 1998 registration renewal month, Alabama motorists will be
required to keep a copy of their 1998 vehicle registration (tag) receipt in their
vehicles. If stopped by law enforcement, motorists may be asked to present their
1998 registration receipt. failure to do so could result in a minimum $50 fine Trailers
are excluded from the proof of registration/ownership requirement.
For more information concerning Alabama's tag law, contact your local tag issuing
official or the Alabama Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division at (334)
242-9000.