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View All General - Titles, Titles FAQs

How long does a designated agent have to provide the title application paperwork to the department when you buy a car?

Designated agents should forward the completed title application packet to the department’s mailing address within 10 calendar days for processing.

If the designated agent is set up for document upload and are currently uploading their own title applications and supporting documents, then they should be uploading these applications within 10 calendar days for processing.

Designated agents are set up for document upload and are required to upload their own completed title applications and supporting documents to the department’s title system for processing within 10 calendar days of creating the title application.

 

Related FAQs in General - Titles, Titles

No, if the current title is an Alabama ELT there is no cost to print a physical title.

However, once an ELT is printed on physical title paper it can not be printed again. A replacement title application must be applied for if a replacement is needed.

Yes, Alabama does issue ELTs. If a designated agent (non-licensing official) is set-up for ELT, then any titles issued recording their lien will be issued as an ELT.

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.

Every motor vehicle not more than 35 model years old, which is domiciled in Alabama and is required to be registered in Alabama, is required to have an Alabama certificate of title. Travel trailers and folding and collapsible camping trailers not more than 20 model years old are required to have an Alabama certificate of title. Manufactured Homes with a 2000-year model and newer are required to be titled.

EXEMPTIONS (Section 32-8-31)- NO Alabama certificate of title shall be obtained for:

  • A motor vehicle more than 35 model years old
  • A trailer more than 20 model years old
  • Utility Trailers
    • A utility trailer is a vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by a passenger car or pickup truck.
  • Boat trailers
  • Bumper pull trailers
  • Modular Homes (Section 32-20-21)
  • Manufactured Homes (1999 and older models)

No Alabama certificate of title or registration shall be obtained for:

  • Farm Equipment
  • Special Mobile Equipment
  • An implement of husbandry

Trailers that are titled in Alabama include:

  • Travel Trailers
  • Folding and Collapsible Camping Trailers
  • Goosenecks
  • 18 Wheelers
  • Horse trailers with living quarters
  • 5th Wheels (Campers)
  • Log Trailers
  • Dump Truck Trailers
The Department currently does not offer same day title printing.

Please visit https://mydmv.revenue.alabama.gov/TAP/?link=AppStatus to track the status of your title application.

You may also contact the designated agent who submitted your application to the department for processing to inquire about your title application status.