Alabama Bill of Sale

Because the state delegates: transfers run through county license plate issuing officials (probate judges and license commissioners), and county practice genuinely varies — some require a bill of sale outright, some require notarization, some accept a seller's signature alone. What the state standardizes is the content: Rule 810-5-1-.246 requires both parties' names and addresses, the date, and a full vehicle description with VIN.

In the case that matters most — when the bill of sale substitutes for a title — county officials generally expect it notarized or carrying two witness signatures (county practice rather than a statewide statute, so confirm with yours). That case matters here more than most states — Alabama doesn't title vehicles more than 35 model years old (the line rolls forward each January 1), so for classics the notarized bill of sale plus the old registration IS the ownership package.

Casual sales tax at 2% state plus county and city rates, computed on the purchase price and collected by the county official at registration. Alabama's state rate is among the lowest — the local add-ons decide the real number, so the same car costs different tax in different counties.

Twenty calendar days to register after acquisition, with a $15 penalty plus interest for missing it. At the counter, Alabama verifies liability insurance electronically through its Online Insurance Verification System — if OIVS can't confirm coverage, you'll need proof in hand before a plate is issued. Plates never convey with the vehicle — the seller keeps them, transferring to a replacement vehicle or surrendering them to the county official.