Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-5-1-.228

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 810-5-1-.228 - Temporary Tags And Registration

(1) Designated agents as defined in Section 32-8-2, Code of Ala. 1975, upon request through a portal provided by the Department and payment of required fees, shall be provided a supply of temporary tags for issuance in accordance with the provisions of Sections 32-6-211, 32-6-212, and 32-6-213, Code of Ala. 1975. Licensing Officials are not required to pay for temporary tags in advance, but are to remit the sum of $1.50 to the Department for each temporary tag issued.

(2) In accordance with Section 32-6-214, Code of Ala. 1975, each temporary license tag and temporary registration certificate issued shall be valid for twenty (20) days from the date of issuance and shall be used only on the vehicle for which issued. No temporary license tag shall be renewed nor shall successive temporary license tags be issued in connection with the same motor vehicle by any designated agent, other than a licensing official. A Licensing Official, may issue up to three (3) twenty (20) day temporary license plates to an owner/lessee of a motor vehicle for periods not to exceed a total of sixty (60) days under the provisions of Section 32-6-213, Code of Ala. 1975.

(3) Under the provisions of Section 32-6-213, Code of Ala. 1975, Licensing Officials are authorized "to issue a temporary license tag and a temporary registration certificate to the owner of a motor vehicle to be licensed in this state when, due to circumstances, a permanent license tag cannot immediately be issued or when, in the judgment of the Licensing Official... just cause exists for the issuance of such temporary license tag and registration certificate." With regard to this section, "just cause" has been determined to exist in, but not limited to the following instances:

(a) when the purchaser of a vehicle does not receive from the selling individual or dealer the documents necessary for application for title or proof of ownership for a non-titled vehicle;

(b) when the Alabama vehicle dealer delays in furnishing the buyer with an owner's permit copy of an application for title.

(c) "Just cause" does not exist when the applicant for temporary registration is resorting to that measure in an effort to avoid remission of regular registration fees, casual sales tax, or ad valorem tax in full.

(4) Temporary tags issued for a truck or truck tractor with a gross weight exceeding twelve thousand (12,000) pounds shall display the notation "UNLADEN WEIGHT ONLY." Operation of a truck or truck tractor with a temporary tag at a weight exceeding the unladen (empty) weight or "Valid for Gross Weight" of that truck or truck tractor plus the weight of the passengers and their personal luggage is prohibited.

(5) The following information will be displayed on the Temporary Tag Receipt (MVR: 32-6-211):

(a) the temporary tag number,

(b) the temporary tag issue and expiration dates,

(c) the vehicle owner and the owner's city, state, and zip,

(d) the vehicle year, make, model, and vehicle identification number,

(e) an inventory control number,

(f) indication of "Valid for Gross Weight" or "Unladen Weight Only" (as detailed in #4 above),

(g) the designated agent's name, designated agent number, city and county.

(6) The Temporary Tag Receipt shall be retained with the motor vehicle to which the temporary tag was issued for the time period that the temporary tag is valid. Any erasures or other alterations of the required information on the temporary tag or receipt will render the document void, and of no value to the person or vehicle described thereon. Electronic receipts are acceptable in lieu of a paper receipt.

(7) Temporary tags shall reflect the expiration date and tag number, and shall be displayed in accordance with Section 32-6-51, Code of Ala. 1975, on the vehicle for which it was issued.

(8) Designated agents shall utilize a portal provided by the Department to issue temporary tags. Upon issuance of a temporary tag, the temporary tag record shall be available in the state registration database. Temporary tag registration information shall be retained by the designated agent for audit purposes in accordance with Section 32-6-217, Code of Ala. 1975.

(9) In accordance with Section 32-6-219, Code of Ala. 1975, anyone providing false statements in making application for issuance of a temporary tag or operating a vehicle with an expired temporary tag shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall pay a fine of not more than $500.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-5-1-.228

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXII, Issue No. 12, September 30, 2014, eff. 10/10/2014.

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 03, December 29, 2017, eff. 1/1/2018.

Authors: James Starling, Sherry Helms

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 32-6-51, 32-6-211, 32-6-212, 32-6-213, 32-6-214, 32-6-217, 32-6-219, 32-8-2, 40-2A-7(a)(5).