Ala. Code § 45-10-201.05
Before any vehicle can be assessed, the license commissioner shall be furnished the tag number presently on the vehicle unless the vehicle is new, in which case a bona fide bill of sale from the dealer showing when the new vehicle was bought shall be furnished. In the case of a used car brought into the state from a state which provides that upon sale or transfer of the motor vehicle, the tags are either surrendered to an appropriate authority or subsequently reissued by the seller, the commissioner shall be furnished a bona fide certificate of title properly assigned which shows when the car was sold to an individual, firm, corporation, or association living or operating in this state. If the tag number or bill of sale or certificate of title is not furnished, the vehicle shall be deemed to have been in the state the entire year for which taxes are being assessed.
Ala. Code § 45-10-201.05 (1975)