How Much Are Alabama Title Rates? Costs & Fees Explained

How Much Are Alabama Title Rates?

Most Alabama motor vehicle title transactions have a $15 state fee. The Alabama Department of Revenue charges $15 for an original certificate of title, title transfer, replacement certificate, corrected title, salvage title, title history, notice of security interest, and assignment by lienholder. A Notice of Junk Cancellation costs $5.

The $15 title fee is not necessarily the total amount you will pay to buy, transfer, title, and register a vehicle. Registration or tag fees, taxes, processing commissions, county charges, and other transaction-specific costs may be separate.

How Much Does an Alabama Car Title Cost?

The Alabama title application fee for a motor vehicle is $15. That is the state charge associated with issuing the applicable certificate of title, not an all-inclusive vehicle registration price.

Alabama motor vehicle title fee table

These are the state title rates currently published by the Alabama Department of Revenue.

A title application can also include processing charges. ALDOR states that designated agents add a $1.50 commission per application. License Plate Issuing Officials may collect an additional $1.50 commission for processing and mailing a title application. Certain counties can also impose local title fees.

Depending on the transaction, you may also need to budget for:

• Vehicle registration or tag fees
• Applicable state or local taxes
• County charges
• Dealer documentation charges, if applicable
• Other costs tied to the specific vehicle or transaction

That is why a $15 title fee can be accurate even when your final amount due is considerably higher.

Alabama Title Fees by Transaction

Original certificate of title

An original Alabama motor vehicle certificate of title carries a $15 state fee.

This applies when Alabama is issuing the applicable certificate of title for the vehicle. It is different from replacing an existing title or transferring ownership from one person to another.

Title transfer

The Alabama state fee to transfer a certificate of title is $15.

A transfer is commonly needed when ownership changes, such as after the purchase of a used vehicle. Taxes, registration costs, processing commissions, and other charges are not automatically included in that $15.

Replacement title

An Alabama replacement title costs $15. A titled owner or recorded lienholder can apply online through the Alabama Public Title Portal, or a replacement application can be processed by a designated agent. The application fee is non-refundable.

A replacement title generally reissues an existing title. It does not serve the same purpose as a corrected title, which changes or fixes information.

Corrected title

A corrected Alabama title costs $15.

If information on the face of the title is incorrect, the owner or lienholder of record must apply for a new certificate of title through a designated agent. ALDOR requires the current certificate of title and documentation supporting the requested correction.

An error in a title assignment is handled differently. ALDOR provides Form MVT 5-7, Affidavit to Correct an Assignment on a Certificate of Title, for assignment errors.

Salvage title

The Alabama salvage title fee is $15.

The $15 amount is only the title fee. Salvage or rebuilt vehicle situations can involve additional requirements depending on the vehicle and the transaction.

Title history

The Alabama title history fee is $15.

A title history request is a separate service from transferring or replacing the certificate itself.

Security interest and lienholder assignment

ALDOR lists a $15 fee for a Notice of Security Interest and a $15 fee for an Assignment by Lienholder.

These are title-related transactions. They are not interest or finance charges on an auto loan.

Notice of Junk Cancellation

A Notice of Junk Cancellation costs $5. It is the main exception to the $15 amount among the transactions on ALDOR's published title-fee schedule.

Original Title vs. Transfer vs. Replacement vs. Corrected Title

These transactions may carry the same state fee, but they solve different problems.

The amount may be the same, but the required documents and application process can differ.

How Much Does It Cost to Transfer a Title in Alabama?

The Alabama state title-transfer fee is $15. Your total cost may be higher because registration, taxes, processing commissions, county charges, and other applicable fees are separate from the title-transfer fee.

Example: Buying a used car

Suppose you buy a used vehicle and need the Alabama title transferred into your name.

For the title portion of the transaction:

ALDOR specifically identifies the $1.50 designated-agent commission, the possible additional $1.50 commission charged by License Plate Issuing Officials, and possible county title fees.

The example does not assign amounts to registration or taxes because those costs depend on the vehicle and transaction.

For a broader breakdown of the ownership process, see how to register a car in Alabama and the fees that may apply.

Alabama Title Fee Calculator: How to Estimate Your Cost

To estimate the title portion of an Alabama vehicle transaction, start with the applicable state title fee, usually $15, then add only the separate charges that apply to your situation.

A useful formula is:

Estimated transaction cost = title fee + processing commissions + applicable county charges + registration/tag fees + applicable taxes + other transaction-specific costs

For a standard title transfer, the state title component is $15. For a replacement title, it is also $15.

Your full estimate depends on questions such as:

• Are you transferring ownership or simply replacing a title?
• Are you registering the vehicle at the same time?
• Does your county charge an additional local title fee?
• Are taxes due on the transaction?
• Is a dealer or another business charging a separate documentation fee?

If your main concern is the registration side of the transaction, see how much car tags cost in Alabama.

Alabama Out-of-State Title Transfer

If an out-of-state vehicle must receive an Alabama certificate of title, the state title fee is generally $15. Registration costs, taxes, commissions, county fees, and other applicable charges may be separate.

For an Alabama certificate-of-title application, ALDOR says an applicant must surrender the outstanding manufacturer's certificate of origin or certificate of title that is in the applicant's name or properly assigned to the applicant, along with documents supporting the transfer.

If the previous jurisdiction does not title that type of vehicle, ALDOR allows outstanding registration documents that substantiate ownership to be used instead. Additional documentation may be necessary if the vehicle's compliance with applicable safety, emissions, or anti-theft standards cannot otherwise be established.

Basic out-of-state title transfer process

1. Gather the ownership documents. Bring the out-of-state title or other acceptable ownership documentation.
2. Make sure the title is properly assigned. Supporting transfer documents may also be required.
3. Apply through an Alabama designated agent. General Alabama title applications are processed through authorized designated agents.
4. Pay the title fee and applicable processing charges.
5. Complete registration requirements. Registration and title charges are separate parts of the transaction.

Do not assume every out-of-state title transfer requires identical paperwork. Vehicles from non-title jurisdictions, imported vehicles, unusual ownership situations, and other special cases can require additional documentation.

How to Apply for an Alabama Certificate of Title

Alabama certificate-of-title applications must be made through a Designated Agent of the Alabama Department of Revenue. Designated agents include County License Plate Issuing Officials, licensed Alabama motor vehicle dealers, and Alabama financial institutions such as banks and credit unions.

For a typical title application:

1. Gather your ownership documents. This can include the existing certificate of title or manufacturer's certificate of origin and documents supporting the transfer.
2. Take the documents to an authorized designated agent.
3. Complete the title application.
4. Pay the applicable title fee and processing charges.
5. Complete registration and tag requirements if necessary.

ALDOR notes that additional documentation may be required in some cases.

Can you apply for an Alabama title online?

Some Alabama title services are available online, but not every title transaction can be completed online by an individual.

For example, a titled owner or recorded lienholder can apply for a replacement certificate online through the Public Title Portal. Once completed, the application can be electronically uploaded and submitted for payment and ALDOR review.

General certificate-of-title applications must be made through a designated agent.

ALDOR also provides an online title-application status service for applications that have already been submitted.

How to Change a Name on a Car Title in Alabama

If information on the face of an Alabama title needs to be corrected, a corrected certificate of title generally requires a new title application through a designated agent. The state corrected-title fee is $15.

ALDOR states that the owner's name on a title application must be the owner's current legal name and must agree with the supporting documents.

For a correction to an existing title, the designated agent must submit:

• The corrected-title application
• The current certificate of title
• Documentation supporting the requested correction

A legal name change may require different supporting evidence from a simple typographical correction. Confirm the required documents with the designated agent processing the application.

Can You Get an Alabama Tag Without a Title?

If your vehicle is required to have an Alabama certificate of title, you must have either the certificate of title or an application for a certificate of title before license plates can be issued.

That means you do not necessarily need to wait for the completed physical certificate before obtaining a plate if a valid title application satisfies the requirement.

Alabama does not require every vehicle to be titled. Current ALDOR guidance states that:

• Motor vehicles not more than 35 model years old that are domiciled and required to be registered in Alabama generally require an Alabama certificate of title.
• Travel trailers and folding or collapsible camping trailers not more than 20 model years old require an Alabama certificate of title.
• Alabama law provides exemptions for certain older vehicles and specified vehicle or trailer types.

The motor vehicle title system is governed by Sections 32-8-1 through 32-8-88, Code of Alabama 1975.

If you are dealing specifically with renewal in Jefferson County rather than a new title transaction, the process is covered separately in this guide to Alabama Jefferson County tag renewal.

Which Alabama Vehicles Require a Certificate of Title?

A motor vehicle that is not more than 35 model years old, is domiciled in Alabama, and must be registered in Alabama generally requires an Alabama certificate of title.

ALDOR lists several title exemptions, including:

• Motor vehicles more than 35 model years old
• Trailers more than 20 model years old
• Utility trailers
• Boat trailers
• Bumper-pull trailers
• Certain other vehicle and trailer categories specified by Alabama law

Travel trailers and folding or collapsible camping trailers not more than 20 model years old are among the trailer types that require an Alabama certificate of title.

Vehicle age is not the only factor. Always check the rule for the specific vehicle type rather than assuming an older or unusual vehicle needs the same paperwork as a standard passenger car.

Alabama Title Fee vs. Tag Fee vs. Taxes

The $15 Alabama title fee should not be treated as the total cost of putting a vehicle in your name and on the road.

ALDOR confirms that processing commissions and, in some counties, additional local title fees can apply on top of the state title application fee.

This explains why both of these statements can be true:

“The Alabama title transfer fee is $15.”

“My title and registration transaction cost much more than $15.”

The first statement refers specifically to the state title-transfer charge. The second may include other costs that are legally or practically separate.

Alabama Title Insurance Rates Are Different From Vehicle Title Fees

Alabama real-estate title insurance rates have nothing to do with the $15 motor vehicle certificate-of-title fee.

Title insurance is an insurance product used primarily in real-estate transactions. An owner's policy protects the insured owner's interest in the property against covered title risks, while a loan policy protects an insured lender's interest.

Premiums can depend on the insurer, policy type, amount of insurance, and transaction.

For example, Stewart Title Guaranty Company's Alabama Schedule of Charges, effective April 27, 2026, lists a basic charge for a standard ALTA owner's policy of $3.25 per $1,000 of liability up to $500,000, subject to a $325 minimum. Higher liability amounts use additional rate tiers.

A $300,000 standard owner's policy under that basic Stewart schedule would therefore have a basic charge of:

300 × $3.25 = $975

That figure is a real-estate title-insurance calculation. It is not an Alabama vehicle title fee.

Stewart's manual also states that its basic title-insurance charges do not include separate costs such as searches, abstracts, attorney fees, escrow or closing services, inspections, and certain other services.

What About Alabama Title Loan Rates?

An Alabama title-loan rate is a borrowing cost, not a state title fee.

Certain vehicle-title lending transactions in Alabama can fall under the state's pawnshop laws. Section 5-19A-7 of the Alabama Code permits a pawnbroker to contract for a pawnshop charge in lieu of interest or other charges of up to 25% of the principal amount per month for covered pawn transactions.

That statutory limit does not mean every lender charges the maximum. It also has no connection to the $15 Alabama motor vehicle certificate-of-title fee.

If you are comparing title-loan rates, focus on the actual dollar charge, repayment or redemption terms, renewal terms, required disclosures, and consequences of nonpayment.

Common Alabama Title Fee Misunderstandings

A few distinctions can prevent budgeting mistakes and unnecessary trips.

“A title transfer should cost exactly $15 total.”

Not necessarily. $15 is the state title-transfer fee, but processing commissions, county fees, registration, taxes, and other charges can apply separately.

“A replacement title and corrected title are the same.”

They are different transactions. A replacement generally reissues an existing title, while a corrected title fixes information on the certificate. Both currently carry a $15 state fee.

“Every Alabama title application can be completed online.”

No. ALDOR specifically provides online replacement-title applications through the Public Title Portal. General certificate-of-title applications go through designated agents.

“I must have the finished paper title before I can get a tag.”

Not necessarily. For vehicles subject to Alabama title requirements, ALDOR states that a registrant must have a certificate of title or an application for one before license plates can be issued.

“Every vehicle registered in Alabama needs a title.”

No. Alabama has age-based and vehicle-specific exemptions.

What Should You Do Next?

The right next step depends on the title transaction you need.

1. Identify the transaction. Determine whether you need an original title, ownership transfer, replacement, correction, salvage title, or another service.
2. Check whether the vehicle must be titled. Alabama has age-based requirements and exemptions.
3. Gather the ownership documents. This commonly includes an existing title, manufacturer's certificate of origin, or other documents supporting ownership and transfer.
4. Use the appropriate application method. General title applications go through designated agents. Eligible replacement-title requests can use the Public Title Portal.
5. Budget for more than the state title fee if necessary. Processing commissions, county charges, registration costs, taxes, and other transaction-specific expenses may apply.

For most ordinary vehicle-title transactions, the most useful number to remember is $15 for the Alabama state title fee. Just do not mistake that figure for the complete cost of registering or transferring the vehicle.