Titles

Attention: Title applications will NOT be processed beginning 30 minutes prior to closing time.

GENERAL TITLE INFORMATION

The State of Alabama requires the following types of vehicles to be titled:

• Motor vehicles 35 model years old or newer,
• Motorcycles 35 model years old or newer,
• Motor homes (RV’s) 35 model years old or newer,
• Travel trailers (including horse trailers with sleeping quarters) 20 model years old or newer,
• Collapsible/Pop-up trailers 20 model years old or newer,
• Semi-trailers (including goosenecks, fifth wheels, and horse trailers) 20 model years old or newer,
• Manufactured homes model years 2000 and newer.

The following types of vehicles are NOT titled in Alabama:

• Motor vehicles more than 35 model years old,
• Vehicles owned by the United States or any agency thereof,
• Vehicles owned by a manufacturer or dealer and held for sale, even though incidentally moved on the highway or used for the purpose of testing or demonstration, or vehicles used by a manufacturer solely for testing,
• Vehicles owned by a non-resident of Alabama and not required by law to be registered in Alabama,
• Vehicles moved solely by animal power,
• Implements of husbandry (farm equipment),
• Special mobile equipment,
• Pole trailers,
• ATVs,
• Snowmobiles,
• Off-road vehicles,
• Junked vehicles,
• Boats,
• Manufactured homes model years 1999 and older.
• Utility trailers, (A utility trailer is any length or weight trailer without motive power designed to be drawn by a passenger car or pickup truck with a bumper hitch.)
• Semi-trailers (including, but not limited to, goosenecks, fifth wheels and horse trailers), travel trailers and folding or collapsible camping trailers more than 20 model years old,
• Vehicles for which the Alabama license plate issuing official has verified that the current owner or operator is recorded as the owner or operator on a currently effective certificate of title issued by another state and the certificate of title is being held by the recorded lienholder,
• Low-speed vehicles,
• Mini-trucks
• Motor-driven cycles (including every motor scooter and every bicycle with motor attached) containing motors which do not exceed five brake horsepower nor exceed 150 cubic centimeter engine displacement and weighing less than 200 pounds fully equipped.

TITLE APPLICATION FEES

Most applications for Alabama certificates of title cost $18. Motor vehicles, motorcycles, motor homes, travel and semi-trailers, all fall into this category.

Manufactured home certificate of title applications cost $23 per side or section of the manufactured home. Those transactions include transfers of ownership, corrected titles, adding liens, etc.

Replacement titles cost $18 each, unless application is made directly to the state for the replacement.

There is no charge to remove a lienholder from a title. However, if the original title with the lien listed has been lost, a replacement title will have to be ordered, in which case a replacement title fee will be due.

TRANSFERRING TITLES

Please be aware that the requirements below are general, and that other documentation is sometimes required in order to process a title and/or registration. Every situation is different, and until all paperwork can be examined, there is no way to know whether or not any additional documentation is necessary.

The conjunction used between the names on a title or certificate of origin is very important. If the two names are joined by “or” or “and/or,” either party may be present to process a title application. However, if the names are joined by “and,” both parties are required to be present in order to apply for title. If there is not a conjunction between the two names, both parties must be present to apply for title, because the State of Alabama automatically considers the conjunction to be “and.”

Some states send the valid original title to the owner, not to the lienholder. Persons registering vehicles from the following states must surrender their out-of-state titles in order to apply for Alabama titles: Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

Michigan, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming give the vehicle owner the choice of having the title mailed to the owner or to the lienholder. Persons registering vehicles from these four states must either surrender the original title or provide proof that the original title was mailed to the lienholder.

If transferring an Alabama title, you will need to bring the following:

1. Original Alabama Title (Properly Assigned to the Buyer)
2. Bill of Sale
3. Unexpired Driver License
4. Insurance (Policy Number & NAIC Number)

If transferring a manufacturer’s statement of origin or an out-of-state title, you will need to bring the following:

1. Original Title or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (Properly Assigned to the Buyer)
2. Bill of Sale
3. Unexpired Driver License
4. Insurance (Policy Number & NAIC Number)
5. Vehicle must be brought to the License Office for inspection

If the vehicle is leased (and does not contain a lienholder), you will need to bring the following:

1. Original Title
2. Power of Attorney
3. Unexpired Driver License
4. Insurance (Policy Number & NAIC Number)
5. Vehicle must be brought to the License Office for inspection

If there is death, you will need to bring the following:

1. Original Title
2. If will was probated – Letter of Testamentary
3. If will was not probated – Copy of Death Certificate and Original Next of Kin Affidavit*
4. Insurance (Policy Number & NAIC Number)
5. Unexpired Driver License (for the New Owner)

* The Next of Kin Affidavit is avaible at the License Office or online by clicking here. 

If there is a name change, you will need to bring the following:

1. Original Title
2. Legal Name Change Document (e.g. Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Name Change Form from Probate Judge’s Office, etc.)
3. Insurance (Policy Number & NAIC Number)
4. Unexpired Driver License

REPLACEMENT TITLES

Applications for replacement titles may be processed at any of the four Tuscaloosa County License Office locations for a cost of $18 each. Vehicle owners may apply directly to the Alabama Department of Revenue online using the Public Title Portal at https://title.mvtrip.alabama.gov.

Attention: Title applications will NOT be processed beginning 30 minutes prior to closing time.

Please note that if the previously issued title had a lienholder listed, the replacement title will be mailed back to the lienholder unless the vehicle’s owner provides a lien release stating the lienholder’s interest in the vehicle has been paid in full. In cases where the vehicle is less than 12 model years old, a lien release will be required in order to remove the lienholder’s name from the title. However, in cases where the vehicle is 12 model years old or older, a lien can automatically be removed from the title if 4 years or more have passed from the recorded lien date. The liens for travel trailers and vehicles with a gross weight of 12,000 (including manufactured homes and motor homes) or more are not covered under the 12 year rule, and must generally have a lien release.

Should you have any questions regarding titles, feel free to contact our Title Department at (205)464-8442.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is current as of June 8, 2020. It is not all-inclusive, and is only meant to provide general information regarding licensing and registration requirements in Tuscaloosa County. Please note that changes in the law and directives from the Alabama Department of Revenue can alter, negate or compound the requirements contained herein.