['Registration and Permits - Motor Carrier']
['Registration', 'Vehicle Registration Permits']
10/24/2024
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All motor vehicles and trailers used upon the highways of Alabama must be registered. Alabama registers vehicles based on gross weight.
The registration of motor vehicles is performed by the Probate Judge or by the Commissioner of Licenses of the various counties.
License plate display
Alabama generally requires license plates to be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.
However, due to the configuration and use of certain vehicles, placement of license plates in this manner may not be practical. Therefore, license plates must be displayed on the front of the following types of vehicles:
- Truck tractors; or
- Trucks when:
- The license plate is difficult to read because of the truck bumpers or truck lift or other permanent obstruction;
- The license plate is subject to being bent, defaced, or mutilated because of the commodity hauled or the use made of the truck; or
- The license plate is subject to being covered with dirt, chemicals, etc., because of vehicle design or use (i.e., dump trucks, trash, or garbage trucks).
International Registration Plan
Alabama is a member of the International Registration Plan. The International Registration Plan provides for all carriers from participating jurisdictions, operating as a fleet to apportion fees. The IRP defines a fleet as one or more vehicles with three or more axles or having a gross vehicle weight or registered gross vehicle weight in excess of 26,000 pounds, operating in one or more member jurisdictions.
Commercial vehicles operating in interstate commerce and registered under the International Registration Plan are registered through the Department of Revenue.
Registration for apportioned vehicles is staggered, according to assigned registration month.
Temporary Permit: When the carrier wants to create an apportioned fleet, add vehicles to an apportioned fleet or make changes to an existing fleet, the Department of Revenue will issue a temporary permit. The temporary permit covers a specific vehicle and cannot be transferred to another vehicle. The registrant is required to pay for the registration prior to obtaining the temporary permit. A temporary permit is valid only until the date shown on the permit, and is in no case valid beyond a date sixty days from date of issuance. There is no fee to obtain a temporary permit.
Hunter's Permit: The IRP provides a means of registration for owner-operators when hunting for a carrier with whom they can lease. The Hunter’s Permit authorizes the operation of a vehicle for 20 days at the empty weight of the vehicle. An owner-operator may secure this 20-day temporary registration from the License Plate Issuing Official of the county in which the owner-operator is based.
Agency: Applications are faxed, mailed, or delivered to the Department of Revenue; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).
Fees
All carriers pay a registration fee based on gross vehicle weight. This means the weight of the empty truck or truck-tractor, plus the weight of the trailer with which the power unit shall be placed in combination, plus the heaviest load to be carried.
Ad Valorem tax must be paid at the county and proof of payment provided to the Department of Revenue as a prerequisite of registration.
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['Registration and Permits - Motor Carrier']
['Registration', 'Vehicle Registration Permits']
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Copyright 2025 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.