Welcome to the License Commissioner's Office website. We are pleased
to offer you this online doorway into our office and
our services. You will find our website constantly growing in
order to meet your needs.
This web site is designed to assist you in the registration of your
vehicle in Limestone County, as well as to
provide you with information on other services offered by the office of
License Commissioner.
From The News
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State
Unveils New License Plate 'Sweet Home Alabama', Montgomery Advertiser,
10-07-08
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Idea Of Raising Age For Driver License, WAAY-TV,
9-10-08
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Mother-in-law On A Mission For Organ Donors,
Baldwin County NOW, 9-10-08
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License Plate To Help Spay/Neuter Pets,
Montgomery Advertiser, 9-04-08
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More Specialty Tags In Works For 2009,
Huntsville Times, 8-15-08
From The Capital
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Act 2008-393, New Minimum Limits For Auto
Insurance
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Act 2008-336, Creates State Exemptions For
Farmers From Federal Motor Carrier Act
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Alabama Department of Revenue Allows New Search Feature For Tracking
Motor Vehicle Title Issuance
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Online Appointments Now Available for
Road Skills Testing in Huntsville DPS Office
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Act
2007-420, Changes in Boat Registration Law
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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.
Expiration dates are shown on the removable blue windshield placard and on
the month and year decals on the distinctive license plate.
All individuals seeking disability access parking privileges either for the
first time or for renewal must obtain the signature of a certified physician
verifying that the individual qualifies for the parking credentials prior to
receiving them. The new revised Application for Disability Access Parking
Privileges form must be completed by the certified physician before an Alabama
disability access placard and/or disability access license plate is issued in
2007.
(Click here to download
form.)
The new five-year removable windshield is issued free by the county licensing
office and will expire at the end of the individual's registration renewal month
in 2012. The registration fee for the disability access parking license plate is
the same as the fee for a standard license plate ($23.00), plus the county
issuance fee of $1.25.
A qualified person may obtain a maximum of two windshield placards. If an
individual wishes to obtain a license plate and a placard, then only one placard
may be issued. There are no limits placed upon the number of disability license
plates to a qualified individual as long the recipient is owner or joint owner
of the assigned vehicle.
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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:
- Vietnam Veteran
- Pearl Harbor
Survivor
- World War II
(all three campaigns)
- Korean War
- Battle of the
Bulge
- Desert
Shield/Desert Storm
- 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.
Back to the Top
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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