How to Renew Your Vehicle Registration in Alabama

Requesting an Alabama car registration renewal is important for all vehicle owners in the state. As with many other documents, your car registration credentials need to reflect that your tax payments and auto insurance coverage are up-to-date. The Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), which is overseen by the state’s Department of Revenue (DOR), is responsible not only for all AL DMV car registration renewal procedures, but also for license plates and certificates of titles.

While many applicants choose to request a DMV registration renewal online, there are other available methods in the state, such as in person, by mail or over the phone. To learn more about this renewal procedure and the various ways you can request it, read the sections below.

Requirements for Car Registration Renewal in Alabama

Before discussing Alabama DMV registration renewal fees, it is important to identify whether you are eligible for this procedure. In general, you will need to fulfill certain requirements in order to renew this document in the state, which include having a certificate of title proving your ownership of the vehicle, submitting your vehicle identification number (VIN) and showing proof of auto insurance coverage.

What do you need to renew your car registration in Alabama?

To complete your Alabama DMV registration renewal status, you will need to present a number of documents to the ADOR. These include the following:

• Your title documentation and VIN card
• Proof of a mandatory liability insurance policy
• Any additional taxes, such as the federal heavy vehicle use tax for trucks and tractors
• Paying the applicable fees

Alabama Vehicle Registration Renewal Notice

An Alabama vehicle registration renewal notice is a document that is sent to car owners whose credentials are set to expire soon. Thus, these notices can generally help remind you of when you will need to address your registration. Overall, this helps to reduce the amount of cars with expired registrations that are being driven in the state. However, these documents are not always sent to all car owners.

If you receive a notice on how to renew a car registration in your AL county, you will need to pay close attention to the information listed on it. Not only will it inform you of the date that your registration is set to expire and the cost of your renewal, but it can also inform you of your different renewal options. Not all of the options listed below are applicable to everyone, so following the instructions on your notice is critical.

Alabama Car Registration Renewal Notice Lost or Not Received

Notification of your AL motor vehicle registration renewal is a useful tool that you can utilize, but it is common for residents to lose their notice papers. This can lead to confusion as to when you must renew a car registration, especially if you have not gone through this renewal process before. If this has happened to you, you may contact a Motor Vehicle Division office in your county and ask for a new one. Overall, you may need this form if you are planning on renewing online.

Alabama Car Registration Renewal Options

Most motorists choose to renew an auto registration online in Alabama. However, there are plenty of other renewal methods in the state, depending on your county. Each of these procedures have different pros and cons. For example, you may get your information faster online, but those who do not have a reliable internet connection may prefer to renew in person.

How to Renew Your Car Registration Online

Completing your vehicle registration renewal online is often the fastest and most efficient method available. Nearly all Alabama counties offer an online renewal service, but be mindful that certain counties may not. When you visit your county’s online portal, you will be asked to input your contact information, registration tag information and vehicle information.

Most online registration renewal methods offered by different counties in AL will require you to have a renewal notice on hand. This is so that you can enter your “online PIN,” which is unique to your registration documents.

How to Renew Your Car Registration by Mail

Certain drivers may wish to renew a car registration by mail. Certain counties allow for this to be done by sending the proper information to the appropriate Vehicle Registration Office. Generally, your nearest office is the one that was included in your received renewal notice.

Thus, contacting this location before submitting a motor vehicle registration renewal request by mail is highly recommended. Additionally, be advised that mail application can take longer to be processed due to extended delivery times.

How to Renew Your Car Registration in Person

Learning where to renew a car registration is an important step if you choose to request this procedure in person. Generally, this request can be filed through dozens of Vehicle Registration Offices in Alabama, as well as certain revenue commissioners’ offices. This renewal method is often preferred by applicants who wish to ask questions while at the MVD office, and wish to potentially receive their renewed credentials right away.

How to Renew Your Car Registration by Phone

Certain Alabama counties offer to renew an expired vehicle registration over the phone to eligible residents. For example, Marengo County encourages drivers to contact their Probate Judge office in order to see if they wish to renew their tags over the phone. If this application method is right for you, it is likely that you will need to provide all of the information detailed in previous sections.

Military & Out of State Vehicle Registration Renewal in Alabama

Questions pertaining to AL car registration renewal procedures are common among military service members and/or residents who are currently living out of state. If you are an active duty military member who is stationed in Alabama, you may choose to either title and register your vehicle in the state or keep using the credentials that were issued in your home state.

If you are moving to AL from out of state, you will have up to 30 days in order to register your vehicle in the state and renew a car registration when necessary.

Alabama Vehicle Registration Renewal Fees

Standard auto registration renewal cost in Alabama will vary depending on a variety of factors. These include the type of vehicle that you are registering and the time that has passed since your fee was due. Your required fee will be listed in your renewal notice, or can be requested from your Vehicle Registration Office.

Additionally, if you choose to renew online, there will often be a small processing/convenience fee of around two to three percent of the base cost added on to the fee. Some of the most common fees to renew an expired car registration in Alabama include:

• The standard fee for registrations of small passenger vehicles is between $15 and $23, depending on your county.
• The standard fee for lightweight trucks between 8,001 and 10,000 pounds is $35.
• The additional fee for all basic vehicles in Alabama is $50.
• The late fee for failure to renew within the time allotted on your notice is an additional $15, plus interest.