Selling a car in Alabama: the paperwork
| Alabama seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| Notarized title signature | Not required |
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Report the sale | No separate seller notice form |
| Duplicate title | MVT 12-1 (Application for Replacement Title); $15 |
| Older cars without a title | Vehicles more than 35 model years old are not titled; a bill of sale documents the sale. |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases (MVT 5-18, Notice of Motor Vehicle Acquisition for Purpose of Dismantling or Recycling into Metallic Scrap (filed through the ALDOR SCRAP portal)) |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Alabama
We buy cars in Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville, Mobile and Tuscaloosa, and in every other town in Alabama a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in Alabama
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Alabama, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Cities we serve in Alabama
Local pickup details for these cities are below. We buy everywhere else in Alabama too, from the suburbs to the smallest towns.
Alabama car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Alabama?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Alabama title, apply to the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division with MVT 12-1 (Application for Replacement Title). The fee is $15. For older vehicles, Alabama has an exception: Vehicles more than 35 model years old are not titled; a bill of sale documents the sale.
Can I junk a car without a title in Alabama?
Sometimes. Recyclers may file form MVT 5-18 instead of a title for vehicles 12+ model years old worth $1,000 or less when the owner has not obtained a title in their name (Ala. Admin. Code 810-5-75-.48). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Alabama title, apply to the Alabama Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division with MVT 12-1 (Application for Replacement Title). The fee is $15.
Does the title need to be notarized in Alabama?
No. Alabama doesn't require the seller's signature on the title to be notarized. Sign the seller section exactly as your name appears on the front of the title, and add the odometer reading and sale date where the title asks for them.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Alabama?
In Alabama, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Remove plates at sale; you may be able to move them to another vehicle you acquire.
How do I tell the Alabama DMV that I sold my car?
Alabama has no separate seller notice form. In Alabama, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Remove plates at sale; you may be able to move them to another vehicle you acquire. Keep a bill of sale and a photo of the signed title as your record of the sale, in case a ticket or toll arrives later.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Alabama?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Alabama a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- ADOR FAQ: Does the license plate remain on the vehicle when sold?
- ADOR FAQ: Is the assignment of an MSO or title required to be notarized?
- ADOR FAQ: How do I apply for a replacement title?
- ADOR Rule 810-5-75-.15: Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (MVT 12-1)
- ADOR FAQ: What vehicles are required to be titled in Alabama?
- ADOR Rule 810-5-1-.246: Bill of sale requirements for vehicles not subject to title
- Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-5-75-.48, Junk, Parts Only and Scrap Motor Vehicles (Alabama Legislature)
- Alabama Department of Revenue, Rule 810-5-75-.48 (PDF)
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.