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View All Title Applications, Titles, Vessel Titles FAQs

What are the requirements for names and signatures?

The name of the owner(s) to be shown on the application for certificate of title must be the current legal name of the owner(s) of the motor vehicle or manufactured home for which a certificate of title is requested. Owner name(s) on the title application must agree with the name on supporting documents. The seller information listed on the title application must agree with supporting documents.

In lieu of handprinted names and signatures, an electronic signature is acceptable when authorized by the department.

See Administrative Rule: 810-5-75-.40 Requirements for Names and Signatures on Title Applications, Title Assignments, and Motor Vehicle Registrations, for more details.

The name of the owner(s) to be shown on the application for certificate of title must be the current legal name of the owner(s) of the motor vehicle, manufactured home, or vessel for which a certificate of title is requested. Owner name(s) on the title application must agree with the name on supporting documents. The seller information listed on the title application must agree with supporting documents.

In lieu of handprinted names and signatures, an electronic signature is acceptable when authorized by the department.

See Administrative Rule: 810-5-75-.40 Requirements for Names and Signatures on Title Applications, Title Assignments, and Motor Vehicle Registrations, for more details.

Related FAQs in Title Applications, Titles, Vessel Titles

ALDOR’s titling system, ALVIN, features a VIN decoder that populates this information.

However, there will be occasion where it will not be pre-populated. Sometimes it will populate the information after a vehicle trim is selected.

It is recommended to look up the vehicle year, make, model, and specifications in a Google-type search to see if you are able to find the unladen weight or GVWR.

Another alternative is the NHTSA VIN decoder (https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/). It will sometimes provide this information for vehicles.

If all else fails and you still can’t determine the unladen weight, then you can enter the same amount as was entered or pre-populated for the GVWR.

If there is joint-ownership and the names are joined by “or,” only one owner is required to sign the title application.

If there is joint-ownership and the names are joined by “and,” then both owners are required to sign the title application.

No, a bill of sale is not required to be provided for a leased vehicle.
Yes, a physical address located in Alabama must be provided for the owner on the application. A P.O. Box address may be provided for the special mailing address if there is no lienholder listed on the title application.
No, the state of Alabama does not require the assignment of an MSO or title to be notarized.
Yes, the lienholder’s name on the title application must agree exactly with the lienholder’s name provided on the back of the MSO or title.