From The News

• State Unveils New License Plate 'Sweet Home Alabama', Montgomery Advertiser, 10-07-08

• Idea Of Raising Age For Driver License, WAAY-TV, 9-10-08

• Mother-in-law On A Mission For Organ Donors, Baldwin County NOW, 9-10-08

• License Plate To Help Spay/Neuter Pets, Montgomery Advertiser, 9-04-08

• More Specialty Tags In Works For 2009, Huntsville Times, 8-15-08

From The Capital

• Act 2008-393, New Minimum Limits For Auto Insurance
• Act 2008-336, Creates State Exemptions For Farmers From Federal Motor Carrier Act
• Alabama Department of Revenue Allows New Search Feature For Tracking Motor Vehicle Title Issuance
• Online Appointments Now Available for Road Skills Testing in Huntsville DPS Office
• Act 2007-420, Changes in Boat Registration Law
• In June, 2007, Alabama Department of Public Safety began requiring all Commercial Driver License applicants to renew at State Examining Offices.
• Don't Forget - Update Disability Parking Access Privileges for 2007
• Act 2006-422, Firefighter License Plate Must Be Approved by Local Fire Chiefs
• Act 2006-624, Educator License Plate Now Available For Personnel in Public and Private Schools
• Act 2006-388, Personalized Messages Allowed For Veteran License Plates
• Act 2006-387, Increase in Additional Fee for Vietnam Veteran License Plates
• Act 2006-276, Permanent Trailer Plates Created and Heavy Truck Fee Increased
• Act 2006-550, New License Plate for Cotton Module Trucks
• Act 2006-213, New Title Brand for Flood Vehicles
• Act 2006-356, Change in Gross Vehicle Weight Determination for Non-business Pickup Trucks
• Act 2006-571, God Bless America Distinctive License Plates
• Act 2006-612, Vintage Motor Vehicle Plates
• Act 2006-414, Abandoned Motor Vehicle Process Revisited

Act 2008-393, New Minimum Limits For Auto Insurance

In May, 2008, Governor Riley signed new legislation that increases the auto liability insurance minimum limits. In Alabama the minimum car insurance limits increase to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death and $25,000 for property damage liability. The previous limits were 20/40/10.

The new limits will take effect on or after August 30, 2008 for new business and on or after November 28, 2008 for policy renewals.

Act 2008-336, Creates State Exemptions For Farmers From Federal Motor Carrier Act

The Alabama legislature granted exemption to farm vehicles operating in Alabama from intrastate federal regulations related to the Motor Carrier Act. The exemption expanded the limit of GVWR or Gross Combination Weight Ratings from 10,000 pounds to 26,000 pounds or less for straight farm trucks and farm trucks with trailers.

Farm-owned vehicles operating within 150 miles of the farm will not be required to display DOT marking or DOT registration.

For additional information view the presentation from the Alabama Department of Public Safety at dps.alabama.gov/mc.

New Online Search Feature For Alabama Title Applications

A new search feature is available for all title applications that are sent to the Alabama Department of Revenue through the new Web-based electronic title application processing system called ETAPS, which began use in this office December, 2007.

Motor vehicle owners, lienholders and other designated title agents may track the processing status of Alabama title applications anytime they choose by logging onto the web site at ADOR - Motor Vehicle Division and following the prompts provided on the title search feature. Search results will indicate whether the title application has been received by ADOR and is currently reviewed, whether the title has been approved, or whether the title application has been rejected for additional information or action.

Schedule Your Road Skills Test In Huntsville

The Alabama Department of Public Safety is now accepting appointments for road skill tests for their office locations in Montgomery, Mobile and now, Huntsville.

Appointments will be scheduled up to two weeks in advance and may be requested by phone during regular business hours or by e-mail.

An e-mail confirmation will be sent once an appointment has been approved.

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Act 2007-420, Changes in Boat Registration Law

The Alabama Legislature passed a new law that increases fee amounts for boat registrations beginning September 1, 2007.

The increases impacted all four boat vessel class categories. The fees will change as follows:

Class I-less than 16 feet, $20

Class II-less than 26 feet, $25

Class III-less than 40 feet, $75

Class IV-40 feet or greater, $100

Transfer registrations and replacement or duplicate registrations will incur a $5.00 fee under the new state law.

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Don't Forget - Update Disability Parking Access Privileges for 2007

Individuals who currently hold five-year disability parking placards and/or license plates are reminded to renew their placards and license plates during their designated renewal month beginning in January, 2007.

Act 2006-422, Firefighter License Plate Must Be Approved by Local Fire Chiefs

Previously, county licensing officials reviewed a list of certified firefighters before issuing or renewing license plates to fire fighters. If a firefighter's name was not on the list provided each year by the Alabama Forestry Commission, then the fire fighter could not obtain the special plate.

This amendment now requires the individual fire fighters to present a certificate signed by their local fire chief officer. The county official will issue the desired number of license plates for vehicle's owned by the qualified fire fighter. If a fire fighter fails to present the prescribed certificate, then the license plates may not be assigned or renewed.

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Act 2006-624, Educator License Plate Now Available For Personnel in Public and Private Schools

Previously, educators of public education school systems in Alabama, who are residents of Alabama, may obtain the Educator license plate. The new law provides that educators in the private education system may also obtain the special license plate. Also, educators may be employed in-state or out-of-state as long as they are Alabama residents.

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Act 2006-388, Personalized Tag Messages Allowed For Veteran License Plates

The law established personalized license plates for the following categories of commemorative veteran plates:

1. Vietnam Veteran
2. Pearl Harbor Survivor
3. World War II (all three campaigns)
4. Korean War
5. Battle of the Bulge
6. Desert Shield/Desert Storm
7. Atomic Nuked

The annual additional fee to personalize the veteran license plates is $50. There is an additional $3 collected in the year that a metal license plate is issued.  Due to Act 2006-387, the Vietnam Veteran personalized license plate is subject to two additional fees ($6 and $50) in the year that a new license plate is issued.

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Act 2006-387, Increase in Additional Fee for Vietnam Veteran License Plates

In the years when a new metal Vietnam Veteran license plate is issued, the additional fee is increased from $3 to $6. The additional $3 collected will be distributed to the Vietnam Veteran's of America Inc., Alabama State Council.

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Act 2006-276, Permanent Trailer Plates Created and Heavy Truck Fee Increased

Effective October 1, 2006, owners of truck trailers, tractor trailers and semi-trailers may purchase a permanent trailer plate for a one-time registration fee of $60.

In order for a registrant to obtain a permanent trailer license plate, an Alabama certificate of title must have been applied for in the name of the current trailer owner. 

Permanent trailer license plates will not be transferable between owners or trailers. If a registrant sells, totally wrecks, or otherwise disposes of the trailer, then the license plate must be removed from the trailer and surrendered to the county licensing official. No refund or credit of registration fees is allowed.  

Trailer plates with the TM designation will no longer be issued or renewed for fleet trailer owners after October 1, 2006. A trailer owner may choose to continue pay an annual registration fee of $20.00 for the semi-trailer license plate with the designation TR. 

Two other changes for heavy trucks resulted from the new law. Beginning January 1, 2007, Alabama-based apportioned registrants will begin receiving multi-year license plates that will be validated by decals for a period of five years. Previously registrants were receiving a new plate each year.

The second change relates to an increase in registration fees for trucks and truck tractors registered with license plates bearing the X8 and X9 designations. The registration fee for x8 license plates increased from $780 to $815, and the registration fee for X9 plates increased from $845 to $890.

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Act 2006-550, New License Plate for Cotton Module Trucks

A new license plate category is created for cotton module trucks designed to transport raw cotton from harvest to the cotton gin. The use of the license plate is limited and may not be used by similar trucks carrying anything other than raw cotton. Registrants will pay a license fee of $250 regardless of the gross vehicle weight of the truck.

Registrations for the Cotton Module truck will be renewed each year during the months of October and November. Vehicle owners must declare the GVWR of their vehicles on the registration tag and tax receipt. Trucks with GVWR exceeding 55,000 lbs. remain subject to reporting to the IRS for federal heavy vehicle use tax.

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Act 2006-213, New Title Brand for Flood Vehicles

Beginning March 9, 2006, the Alabama Department of Revenue began issuing titles with a brand indicating "flood vehicle." A "flood vehicle" is defined as "any motor vehicle for which an insurance company has paid a total loss due, in part, to being damaged by water."

When a vehicle with a flood vehicle brand is sold, donated, or exchanged, the seller shall provide the purchaser with a written disclosure that the vehicle's title has a flood vehicle designation. The disclosure is required at the time of or prior to the vehicle being transferred to another owner.

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Act 2006-356, Change in Gross Vehicle Weight Determination for Non-business Pickup Trucks

Effective July 1, 2006, there will be two different definitions of gross vehicle weight related to pickup trucks. 

If a pickup truck is used for personal or agricultural purposes and is not operated for any commercial purposes, then the gross vehicle weight is defined as the empty weight of the truck only. This is the case regardless of whether the pickup truck is used in combination with a personal utility trailer, travel trailer or boat.

Trucks used for commercial purposes will continue to be registered based on the gross weight of the vehicle. Gross weight means the heaviest load to be carried on the vehicle or the vehicle combination.

In 2005, Alabama pickup truck owners were provided a new license plate category that provides additional weight above the standard license plate, yet stays under the 10,001 lb. Federal threshold that requires DOT compliance.

By adding the new P1 license plate category, the most common options for pickup trucks are as follows:

• PC category, up to 8,000 lbs., $23.00,
• P1 category, 8,001 to 10,000 lbs, $35.00,
• XM category, 10,001 to 12,000 lbs., $105.00,
• X1 category, 12,001 to 18,000 lbs., $170.00.

A truck owner must determine the correct weight potential for his/her vehicle and declare the gross weight of the truck or truck combination at the time of registration. The vehicle tag and tax registration receipt will disclose the owner's declared weight for presentation to law enforcement personnel.

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Act 2006-571, God Bless America Distinctive License Plates

A new license plate category, God Bless America, was created by Act 2006-571. Upon request, the registrant may pay regular license fee to obtain this license plate instead of the standard plate "Stars Fell On Alabama." No additional fee applies to this new category of plates.

The license plates may be displayed on private passenger vehicles, motor homes (all weights), pickup trucks with a gross weight not exceeding 10,000 lbs. and church and private school buses.

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Act 2006-612, Vintage Motor Vehicle Plates

This law provides that owners of older motor vehicles designated a 1976 model year or earlier that qualify as a Vintage Motor Vehicle have an option of requesting the existing distinctive license plate or displaying an original Alabama license plate that was issued in the year corresponding to the model year of the vehicle.

For instance, Davis has a 1957 private passenger automobile that qualifies as a Vintage Motor Vehicle as defined by Section 40-12-290, Code of Alabama, 1975. Davis has an original Alabama license plate that was issued in 1957. The owner may opt to register his classic vehicle with the 1957 license plate rather than the Vintage Motor Vehicle plate.

Alabama original license plates registered to vehicles under the provisions of this act are restricted use plates and the vehicles registered with such plates may not be used for general transportation. A permanent Vintage decal will be affixed on the license plate by the county licensing official and a registration tag and tax receipt will be issued to the owner.

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Act 2006-414, Abandoned Motor Vehicle Process Revisited

By passing Act 2006-414, the Alabama Legislature amended key provisions of Alabama's abandoned vehicle law by removing the circuit court clerks from the process that leads to the transfer of title for an abandoned motor vehicle. The new law is effective July 1, 2006.

An abandoned vehicle refers to a vehicle that has been left by an owner with an automobile dealer, mechanic, or wrecker service and has remained unattended within a period of 60 days. A vehicle may be abandoned on a public highway or other public property for at least seven days; or left unattended continuously for at least seven days in a business or residential district. 

The law details specific notification procedures that sellers of abandoned vehicles must follow before a vehicle may be offered for sale. For instance, the seller must include the following actions:

• Request the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) to conduct a title search to determine the current owner and possible lienholders.
• Notify the owner of record and possible lienholders by certified mail of the intent to sell the vehicle.
• Publish 30 days prior to the sale a notice advertising the sale in a newspaper.
• The potential seller will no longer file a copy of the "Report of Sale" with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the sale occurs.
• The potential seller will give the buyer the original certified Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Response, MVT 32-13R, received from the Alabama Department of Revenue and a notarized bill of sale for an abandoned motor vehicle, MVT 32-13B, (download form).

If the seller cannot identify the owner or lienholder through a title search with ADOR, then the seller is required to publish 30 days before the sale date a notice of intent to sell the abandoned vehicle, with a second notice following the next week.

The amended law provides that if the seller fails to provide notice to the owners and secured parties, then a sale of the abandoned vehicle would be void. 

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