Chilton County Revenue: Motor Vehicles

Motor Vehicles

GUIDELINES FOR REGISTERING A VEHICLE
The Alabama Department of Revenue sets all vehicle values, all title regulations and all other regulations regarding motor vehicle laws. These laws and regulations get their basis from the laws passed by the Alabama legislature. The following are guidelines for registering a vehicle based on different factors.

Current Alabama Resident (20 DAYS TO REGISTER)

VEHICLE HAS AN ALABAMA TITLE & IS 1975 OR NEWER

1. TITLE (Alabama Title)

   (a) An original title properly executed by the seller to the new owner (new owner must be present) or
   (b) Title application completely filled out to the new owner or
   (c) Manufacturers Certificate of Origin (new owner & vehicle must be present) or
   (d) Title in new owners name

2. BILL OF SALE FORM

   (a) Cost of vehicle and date of sale
   (b) Full description of the vehicle
   (c) Complete name and address of the new owner
   (d) Trade-in allowance, if any
   (e) A breakdown of the sales tax paid. (This is required when purchased from a dealer. It must show the percent and amount of State, County and City tax paid. If all sales tax has not been paid we collect a percentage based on location of residency)

3. INSURANCE

According to Alabama law a vehicle must have a minimum of liability insurance before it may be registered. Proof of insurance is required upon registering.

4. DRIVER LICENSE NUMBER

Alabama law requires the owner as listed on the title/registration to provide his/her drivers license or non-driver identification number. Companies registering vehicles are required to provide their federal employer identification number (FEIN)

VEHICLE HAS AN OUT OF STATE TITLE AND IS 1975 OR NEWER

1. TITLE (out of state)
(a) An original title properly executed by the seller to the new owner (new owner must be present and vehicle must be present)
2. Steps 2, 3, and 4 as shown for an Alabama title

New Resident to the State (30 Days to Register)

VEHICLE HAS OUT OF STATE TITLE WITHOUT A LIEN, 1975 & NEWER AND THE OWNER STAYS THE SAME

1. If there is no lien against the vehicle, you must bring the out of State title, the vehicle, the out of State registration and the titled owner
2. Steps 3 and 4 as shown for an Alabama title.

VEHICLE HAS OUT OF STATE TITLE WITH A LIEN, 1975 OR NEWER AND THE OWNER STAYS THE SAME

The vehicle and titled owner must be present and:
1. Provide a copy of the front of the title
2. Provide the name of the lien holder
3. Provide the lien holder mailing address
4. Provide the loan or account number
5. Provide the date of the lien
6. Steps 3, and 4 as shown for an Alabama title

ALL VEHICLES THAT ARE 1974 OR OLDER REQUIRE:

#2, #3 AND #4 AS SHOWN FOR VEHICLE WITH ALABAMA TITLE ABOVE, NO TITLE IS REQUIRED.

VEHICLE RENEWAL SCHEDULE

After the vehicle has been registered, the annual renewal month for your tag is as follows:

Renewal Month/First letter of last name:
January: A & D
February: B
March:  C & E
April:  F, G & N
May:  H & O
June:  M & I
July:  P & L
August: J, K& R
September: Q, S & T
October: U, V, W, X, Y & Z
Oct/Nov: National Guard, Commercial & Fleet Vehicles

The tax on used vehicles is paid in advance from time of registration until your renewal month. Taxes on new vehicles are deferred until your subsequent renewal month.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ON-LINE RENEWAL

Some tags require certain documentation which we must receive before the tag can be renewed (Firefighters, Heavy trucks, Veterans, National Guard).

Online payments for tag renewals will be disabled three days before the end of the month in order to ensure timely receipt & processing of renewals and avoid tag expirations. However, taxpayers can still mail in payments as long as it is postmarked by the last day of the month to 407 2nd Ave North, Clanton, AL 35045. Online customers will be charged a convenience fee, processing fee, and a mail fee. The mail fee is the only fee the office receives; all other fees are to the credit card processor.

Decals, tags, and tag receipts processed before the 20th of each month should be mailed out on the next business day after they are renewed.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to high volumes of renewals after the 20th of each month, please allow 10 business days for your decal to be mailed.

A printable receipt will be available for proof of online payment only; it is not to be used as a valid tag receipt. Your official receipt will be mailed with your renewal.

Vehicle owner must be a resident of Chilton County. If you no longer live in Chilton County, you must register where you now live. If your renewal notice or current registration has an incorrect address, please contact our office.

Any transaction requiring an affidavit or supporting documents will have to be made in person at our tag office or through the mail.

A change in license plates such as regular plate to a personalized will have to be made in the tag office.

If there is a problem processing your renewal, we will attempt to contact you by phone Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. If we are unable to reach you we will void your registration and refund your payment. (some tags require us to have certain forms in house before we can renew them and without them we can not renew your tag.

PENALTY SCHEDULE

   (a) Failure to renew your tag in your renewal month: $15.00 plus interest
   (b) Failure to transfer a purchased vehicle within 20 calendar days: $15.00
   (c) Failure to register a vehicle within 30 days of an individual moving into the State with a valid out-of state license: $15.00

AD VALOREM TAX VOUCHER

1. In order to receive a voucher, one of the following criteria must be met: selling of a vehicle, trading of a vehicle, total destruction of a vehicle, theft without recovery or other transfer. Documents to support this criteria:

   (a) Casual sale or trade...affidavit of buyer and address
   (b) Sale or trade to license dealer...dealer's bill of sale
   (c) Theft of vehicle...report from law authority
   (d) Lease trade-in...odometer statement or condition report
   (e) Statement from insurance of company stating date of total loss

2. The voucher shall only be issued to the registered owner and proof of identification must be provided
3. The credit shall be applied to pay the ad valorem tax on another vehicle.
4. Alabama law sets the eligibility time period to receive a credit voucher one year from sale or other transfer date.
5. In the event that a credit voucher cannot be applied toward taxes due, then a receipt for credit is issued (in other words a check is issued).