Titles
Titled Vehicles
The State of Alabama requires the following types of vehicles to be titled:
- Motor vehicles 35 model years old or newer
- Motorcycles and autocycles 35 model years old or newer
- Motor homes (RVs) 35 model years old or newer
- Travel trailers (including horse trailers with sleeping quarters) 20 model years old or newer,
- Collapsible/folding/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
- Boats (as indicated below):
- Boats at least 18 ft long but less than 26 ft that were constructed in 2024 and later must be titled.
- Boats less than 18 ft long with a motor of at least 75 hp that were manufactured in 2024 and later must be titled.
- If a boat is titled, it must continue to be titled in the future even if the motor is changed to a lower-horsepower motor.
- Boats 26 ft and longer have the option of being titled regardless of the construction date.
- If a boat that had the option of being titled is titled, then it must continue to be titled in the future. In this situation, the title will no longer be optional.
Non-Titled Vehicles
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 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
- Vehicles moved solely by animal power
- Implements of husbandry (farm equipment)
- Special mobile equipment
- Pole trailers
- 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
- 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.)
- Low-speed vehicles
- Mini-trucks
- Motor-driven cycles (including every motor scooter) containing motors which do not exceed five brake horsepower nor exceed 150 cubic centimeter engine displacement and weighing less than 200 pounds fully equipped
- Electric bicycles
- Dune buggies, golf carts, ATVs, UTVs, and ROVs
- Junk, parts only, and scrap vehicles
- Boats (as indicated below):
- Boats less than 26 ft long that were constructed prior to 2024.
- Boats less than 18 ft long with a motor of less than 75 hp that were constructed in 2024 or later (unless the boat was previously titled).
- Boats 26 ft and longer have the option of being titled regardless of the construction date (unless the boat was previously titled).
Title Application Fees
Vehicle Type | Application Type | Application Fee |
|---|---|---|
Motor Vehicles | Most Types* | $18.00 |
Motorcycles & Autocycles | Most Types* | $18.00 |
Motor Homes (aka RVs) | Most Types* | $18.00 |
Trailers – Travel | Most Types* | $18.00 |
Trailers – Semi & Folding/Collapsible | Most Types* | $18.00 |
Boats | Most Types* | $25.00 |
Manufactured Homes** | Most Types* | $23.00 |
Manufactured Homes** | Corrections, Replacements, Add Liens* | $18.00 |
* Lien Release Only – There is no charge to release a lien (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 and a replacement title fee would be due.
** Manufactured Homes – The application fees listed for manufactured homes are due for each separate side or section of the manufactured home. For example, the cost to transfer the title for a doublewide would be $46.00 ($23 x 2) because a doublewide has two titles.
Transferring Titles
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 must be present to apply for the title. If there is not a conjunction between the two names or if there is simply a “/” between the names, then both parties must be present to apply for the title (because the State of Alabama automatically considers the conjunction to be “and” in these situations).
Some states mail the valid original title to the owner, not to the lienholder. People registering vehicles from the following states must surrender their out-of-state titles 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. People registering vehicles from these 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:
- Original Alabama Title (Properly Assigned to the Buyer)
- Bill of Sale
- Unexpired Driver’s License (for both buyers if there are two)
- Alabama Insurance Card (hard copy, not electronic)
If transferring a manufacturer’s statement/certificate of origin or an out-of-state title, you will need to bring the following:
- Original Title or Manufacturer’s Statement/Certificate of Origin (Properly Assigned to the Buyer)
- Bill of Sale
- Unexpired Driver’s License (for both buyers if there are two)
- Alabama Insurance Card (hard copy, not electronic)
- The vehicle must be taken to the License Office for inspection (Please note that our office does not inspect vehicles in the rain.)
If the vehicle is leased (and does not contain a lienholder), you will need to bring the following:
- Original Title
- Power of Attorney
- Unexpired Driver’s License (for both lessees if there are two)
- Alabama Insurance Card (hard copy, not electronic)
- The vehicle must be taken to the License Office for inspection (Please note that our office does not inspect vehicles in the rain.)
If the vehicle owner (seller) is deceased, you will need to bring the following:
- Original Title
- If the will was probated – Letters of Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- If the will was not probated – Copy of Death Certificate and Original Next of Kin Affidavit*
- Alabama Insurance Card (hard copy, not electronic)
- Unexpired Driver’s License (for both buyers if there are two)
* The Next of Kin Affidavit is available at the License Office or online by clicking here.
If there is a name change, you will need to bring the following:
- Original Title
- Legal Name Change Document (e.g. Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Name Change
- Form from Probate Judge’s Office, etc.)
- Alabama Insurance Card (hard copy, not electronic)
- Unexpired Driver’s License (for both buyers if there are two)
Where to Apply for Titles
Applications for titles may be processed at any of the four Tuscaloosa County License Commission’s office locations.
Vehicle owners may apply online for replacement tiles (and select other title transactions) directly to the Alabama Department of Revenue using its MyDMV Portal.
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 to remove the lienholder’s name from the title. However, in cases where the vehicle is 12 model years old or older, a lien may automatically be removed from the title if 4 years or more have passed from the recorded lien date. Liens for travel trailers and vehicles with a gross weight of 12,000 pounds or more (including manufactured homes and motor homes) are not covered under the 12-year rule and must have a lien release.
Should you have any questions regarding titles, feel free to contact our Title Department at (205) 464-8233 or titles@tuscco.com.
Disclaimer: This information 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.