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License Plates

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Obtain License Plate in Alabama

Eligibility for Alabama License Plates

Alabama issues a single rear plate for every registered motor vehicle. The Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR) sets statewide rules, but county licensing officials handle the actual transactions at local offices across all 67 counties.

  • Residency: New residents must register within 30 days of entering the state, per Ala. Code § 40-12-262. Anyone who acquires a vehicle already in Alabama has 20 calendar days to register it under § 32-6-61. Active-duty military stationed in Alabama may keep valid home-state registration or choose to title and register here.
  • Vehicle: Passenger cars, pickup trucks up to 12,000 pounds, motorcycles, motor homes, commercial trucks, and trailers all qualify for registration. A certificate of title must be issued before registration can be processed for any vehicle subject to Alabama’s title law. Salvage and junk titles carry their own application path through ALDOR.
  • Applicant: The licensing official or deputy inspects the VIN and ownership documentation (bill of sale, assigned title, or certificate of origin) at every change of ownership. Alabama liability insurance must be in force, verified through the state’s Online Insurance Verification System before a plate is issued.
  • Plate categories: Beyond the standard passenger plate, ALDOR offers over 200 specialty plates with statutory standing, including Disabled Veteran, Gold Star Family, Purple Heart, Firefighter, Vintage Vehicle, and university plates. Each category has its own eligibility gate defined in Chapter 6, Division 6 onward of Title 32.

How to Get a License Plate in Alabama?

First-time registration runs through your county’s license plate issuing office. Alabama does not centralize walk-in transactions at a state DMV office.

  • Bring the assigned Alabama certificate of title (or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin for a new vehicle), proof of Alabama liability insurance, and your driver license. For trucks and truck-tractors at 55,000 pounds or above, you also need IRS Form 2290 showing federal heavy vehicle use tax payment.
  • The licensing official inspects the VIN and ownership documents at the counter. Alabama does not require safety or emissions inspections for registration.
  • Pay the registration fee, ad valorem tax, and any local issuance fee. You leave with a plate, a registration receipt (which must stay in the vehicle per § 40-12-260), and month/year decals.
  • Renewals are annual, staggered by the first letter of the owner’s last name. Renewal months run January through November under § 32-6-61. Not all counties mail renewal notices; the obligation to renew on time rests with the owner regardless.

The fees in the next section sit on top of these steps.

How Much Does a License Plate Cost in Alabama?

The base registration fee is the straightforward part; the ad valorem tax layered on top is where the total climbs, because it varies by county millage rate and vehicle market value.

  • Passenger cars run $23 for the lightest class, scaling to $105 by weight. Motorcycles cost $15. Travel and utility trailers are $12; permanent trailers, $60.
  • Ad valorem tax applies to every registration. Private passenger vehicles are assessed at 15% of market value; all others at 20%. The actual tax depends on the county’s combined state, county, and municipal millage, so the dollar amount varies significantly across Alabama’s 67 counties.
  • A $50 annual add-on covers personalized plates (Ala. Code § 32-6-150). Most specialty plates also carry a $50 annual fee plus $5 when the metal plate is manufactured, though some categories run lower.
  • Battery electric vehicles pay $203 annually on top of the standard fee; plug-in hybrids pay $103. Both figures increase by $3 every four years starting from July 1, 2023 (§ 40-12-242).
  • Title issuance costs $15 (§ 32-8-6), plus a $1.50 designated agent fee and a $3 licensing official fee. The state transfer fee is $1.25, and counties may add their own local issuance fees.
  • Late registration or renewal triggers a $15 penalty plus interest.

Can I Get a License Plate Online in Alabama?

Online registration in Alabama is limited and county-dependent. First-time plate issuance cannot be completed online; you must visit the county licensing office for the VIN inspection and title processing.

For renewals, some counties offer online systems. The ALDOR Vehicle Licensing Offices directory lists which counties support online renewal. Jefferson County runs its own portal at tagit.jccal.org; Mobile and Shelby counties operate through altags.com and license.shelbyal.com, respectively. Larger counties are more likely to offer online renewal than rural ones.

Personalized plate messages can be reserved through ALDOR’s PROS portal on MyDMV. Once ALDOR approves the message, you have five calendar days to visit your licensing office, pay all fees, and finalize the order. The plate ships to you in six to eight weeks.

Mail-in renewal packets should go to your county licensing office, not to ALDOR in Montgomery. Include the renewal notice (if received), payment by check or money order, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. If Alabama can handle your renewal online through your county’s portal, that is the faster path; otherwise, the county office window is the fallback for every other transaction.