I, Vernon Barnett, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Revenue, pursuant to the power granted to me under §40-2-11, Code of Alabama 1975, hereby declare that due to the extreme hardships placed on Alabama motor vehicle registrants in certain counties who may be unable to register their motor vehicles,  renew their motor vehicle registrations or pay property taxes on their motor vehicles due to Hurricane Ida, which resulted in the closing of county licensing official’s offices during normal business hours, it is necessary to assist and expedite all efforts of relief. In order to accommodate this need and provide assistance to Alabama citizens, I hereby issue the following order: 

A. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR OBTAINING  MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS AND PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON MOTOR VEHICLES. 

For the purposes of applying Alabama’s motor vehicle registration laws and property tax laws as related to the annual registration and renewal of vehicles, the registration deadline has been extended to the last business day of the subsequent month that the registration was otherwise due for registrants in counties where the county license plate issuing official’s office was closed due to Hurricane Ida at any time during normal business hours in the month the registration was originally due, and the closure resulted in the registrant not having access to the county licensing office during normal business hours for the entire month that the registration was originally due. The extension shall also apply to the following:

1. Alabama’s motor vehicle registration laws and property tax laws are related to the registration of vehicles purchased or otherwise acquired which are subject to the twenty (20) day registration requirement as provided for in §32-6-61, Code of Alabama 1975, when the county license plate issuing official’s office was closed during normal business hours anytime within the twenty (20) day registration period and the registrant did not have access to the county licensing office for the entire twenty (20) days that the registration was originally due.
2. Alabama’s motor vehicle registration laws and property tax laws as related to motor vehicle registrations and renewals for vehicles registered pursuant to the International Registration Plan (IRP) when the ad valorem tax was due in a county where the county license plate issuing official’s office was closed anytime during normal business hours during the month the registration was originally due which resulted in the registrant not having access to the county licensing office for the entire month that the registration was originally due.

B. PENALTY CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS/RENEWALS AND PAYING PROPERTY TAXES ON MOTOR VEHICLES.

Penalty charges associated with motor vehicle registrations and renewals extended through the last business day of the subsequent month that the registration was otherwise required, will not be charged until after the last business day of the subsequent month. Additionally, penalty charges associated with motor vehicle property tax payments through the last business day of the subsequent month that the registration was otherwise required, will not be charged until after such date.

Entered this 1st day of September 2021.

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