Alabama Car Inspection
Alabama car inspection laws require a safety inspection before selling or transferring ownership of a vehicle and a VIN inspection when registering an out-of-state vehicle.
Written by Jason Tushinski
Reviewed by Carrie Adkins
Table of Contents
- What are the vehicle inspection requirements in Alabama?
- Where to get a car inspection in Alabama
- How often do you need a car inspection?
- Finding affordable car insurance
- FAQs
Load full table of contents
In
Alabama
, safety inspections are required before selling a vehicle
, and VIN inspections are necessary when buying an out-of-state vehicle
. Alabama does not require emissions inspections, though cities and municipalities are permitted to enact laws that require them.To help you understand how to stay on the right side of Alabama’s inspection laws, the
car insurance
comparison and broker app, Jerry
, has put together everything you need to know about car inspections in Alabama.RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
What are the vehicle inspection requirements in Alabama?
In Alabama,
vehicle safety inspections
are required only when you are selling a vehicle or if the vehicle’s ownership is being transferred to another individual.A vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection is only required if registering an out-of-state vehicle in Alabama. Once a VIN inspection is completed, you can then proceed to register your vehicle in Alabama. You have 20 days to complete the process.
At the state level, emissions inspections are not legally required in Alabama. However, cities and municipalities are allowed to enact legislation for smog testing.
Where to get a car inspection in Alabama
All car inspections in Alabama must be done at The Motor Vehicle Title & Tag Office prior to registering your vehicle.
For a VIN inspection, you’ll need the following documentation:
How often do you need a car inspection?
In Alabama, a safety inspection is required before the sale of a vehicle or before
transferring a vehicle’s ownership
to someone else. A VIN inspection is only necessary if you are registering an out-of-state vehicle in Alabama.Finding affordable car insurance
Once your vehicle has passed any required inspections in Alabama, make sure the vehicle is properly insured with a robust car insurance policy! With Jerry, it has never been easier to find a
cheap car insurance
policy at affordable prices. This car insurance app provides you with more than 50 competitive quotes after a quick, 45-second sign-up process!RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
FAQs
Do I have to get an inspection before I sell my car?
Do I have to get an inspection before I sell my car?
In Alabama, you are required to get a safety inspection before selling the car or transferring ownership to another person or party. However, you are not required to get a VIN inspection or an emissions test before selling a vehicle.
How much do inspections cost?
The costs for inspections range between $15 and $23, depending on the inspections needed. These costs will be included in your registration fee.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7You might also be interested
