To transfer ownership of a vehicle in Alabama
, you’ll have to complete a title transfer. You can do this at your local county license plate issuing office or, in some cases, online through the Alabama Title System
(ALTS). When you buy or sell a vehicle, the sale won’t be official until the title is transferred over to the new owner. This usually requires you to fill out some paperwork, pay a small fee, and take your car to the license plate issuing office in your county.
What is a title transfer?
A car title determines the owner of a vehicle, so when you transfer a car’s title
, you’re transferring the ownership to another person. There are two steps to this process:
The seller must sign the title to release ownership of the car
The buyer must bring the signed title to the DMV (or equivalent department) in order to receive a new title and vehicle registration
from the state
Different states have different processes for this. For example, you may be required to fill out a bill of sale
or a transfer of ownership form in addition to signing the title. Who does the title transfer?
In a private sale, the buyer and seller will complete the title transfer process on their own.
If you’re buying a car from a dealer, the dealership will take care of the paperwork and mail the title to the state DMV.
Reasons for a title transfer
Generally, you would need to complete a title transfer if you are buying a car, selling your car, or moving to another state.
You would also need to transfer a title if you are:
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Car title transfer in Alabama
In Alabama, you must complete a title transfer within 20 days of acquiring a new or used vehicle.
When you buy a used car from a private seller
, you will have to complete the title transfer at the license plate
issuing office in your county, although you may be able to submit an online application through the Alabama Title System’s Public Title Portal. If you are moving to Alabama from a different state, you have 30 days to register and title your car. There is a $15 title application fee, and some counties require additional local fees.
Registering a car in Alabama
Once you’ve transferred the title, you’ll also need to register the vehicle. Your vehicle registration serves as proof that you can legally drive that car in Alabama.
In order to register your car for the first time, you must bring your vehicle to the license plate issuing office in your county, along with the following documents:
Alabama drivers must renew their vehicle registration annually, and some counties offer online renewal services. Your renewal month will be assigned to you based on the first letter of your last name.
The base registration fee is $23, although the exact cost depends on your vehicle type, among other factors. Large trucks, for example, have more expensive registration fees, and some vehicles require additional annual fees.
Finding insurance for your vehicle
In addition to transferring the title and getting your car registered in Alabama, you’ll need to have the right car insurance
to legally drive in the Yellowhammer State. Jerry
is the easiest and most effective way to find a car insurance
policy that is customized for you.After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. They even help cancel your old policy!
So, why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it for you?
“I’ve shaved off at least $50 a month using Jerry
. For now, I chose only to pay for Alabama state minimums, but I am confident that with Jerry, I can upgrade or change my coverage at any time. The process is really intuitive, too!” —Fred D.
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