An Alabama bill of sale form can be used to officially record the sale of any item, such as a car, boat, firearm, or other personal property. Once the form has been filled out and signed by both parties, ownership is officially transferred to the buyer. After the sale is complete, both the buyer and seller should keep a copy of the bill of sale for their records.
Table of Contents
- Alabama Bill of Sale Requirements
- Alabama Vehicle Bill of Sale
- Alabama Boat Bill of Sale
- Alabama Gun Bill of Sale
1. Alabama Bill of Sale Requirements
In Alabama, a bill of sale is not always required by the Department of Revenue (DOR) for vehicles. It is, however, imperative when you are selling a vehicle and there is no title available. If there is a title, you will be able to reassign ownership on the title itself. Bills of sale are always required to register vessels in the state. All bills of sale must be notarized or have two witnesses to the requisite signatures.
While there are official bills of sale provided, there is no general form that covers all of Alabama. Instead, many counties have their own forms, and though you can draft your own, it is important that you meet your county’s requirements when doing so. For example, Baldwin County, Alabama’s largest county, provides their own form on their website.
Language Requirements
The DOR (and each individual county) does not provide bills of sale or any other forms in Spanish or any other language. They also do not provide translators, so if you must submit a bill of sale, and are not fluent in English, you will have to provide your own interpreter. If the bill of sale is only to be exchanged between the buyer and the seller, it can be written in any language as long as each party thoroughly understands their copy of the document.
Number of Copies
If the bill of sale is required for a sales transaction, then a copy must be provided to the state of Alabama. It is also a good idea to provide copies of the document to the buyer and seller for their records. If it is not required by the state, a copy for each of the parties should do.
Alabama Vehicle Bill of Sale
Because vehicle bill of sale requirements vary from county to county, you will have to visit your county’s DOR for your local requirements. However, most Alabama bills of sale must feature the following criteria:
- The names and contact information (no P.O. boxes) of both the buyer and seller (if this is a dealer, the licensed name must be listed)
- The vehicle identification number or VIN
- The make, model, and year of the vehicle
- The series number and body type
- The odometer reading
- The buyer’s signature
- The seller’s notarized seller
- The sales date
- The purchase price
Dealers should provide bills of sale when you purchase a vehicle from them. Be sure to ask for one in advance to aid you in registering and titling a vehicle that may have title issues.
After Purchasing a Vehicle
Besides having a proper bill of sale, there are many other documents that must be completed and submitted in order to register a vehicle or vessel in Alabama. Here is a list you can follow:
Dealership Sales
For buyers:
- The dealer may submit your title application after you purchase the vehicle. You must bring proof of the application at the time that you register the vehicle at your local county licensing office. If you are leasing your vehicle, in order to complete registration, you must also include a copy of your lease and a power of attorney form from your leasing company. You may then register your vehicle in the same manner as an individual who purchased his or her vehicle from a private party (see below).
- If a title is not required, bring a bill of sale with itemized tax information, and you will be issued a registration only.
- If the vehicle was purchased from a dealer in another state, a dealer’s affidavit is required for registration, along with a VIN/Ownership Documentation inspection.
Private Sales
For buyers:
- A VIN/Ownership Documentation inspection will be required if the vehicle originated from another state or if it does not require a title. In addition, a safety inspection will be required prior to the sale or transfer of any vehicle; however, Alabama does not require emissions testing.
- You must register your vehicle within 20 days of purchasing it or assuming ownership. If you are new to the state, you are allowed 30 days.
- When you register your vehicle with the Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division (DOR MVD), you will transfer the title to your name simultaneously. You must appear in person at your county licensing office with a completed title filled out by the previous owner, complete with the odometer reading, sales price, and seller’s signature (which may need to be notarized depending on the county), proof of residence and insurance, the current registration, an odometer disclosure if it is not written on the title and if the vehicle is under 10 years old and 16,000 pounds, and payment for all applicable registration and titling fees and taxes.
- You will receive your plates and stickers once the process is complete. You may also bring your old plates from another vehicle and transfer them.
- The registration renewal month is dependent upon the first letter of last name, and your initial registration will be prorated in accordance with the number of months left until your renewal. Your registration fees all depend on your vehicle’s weight, type, and model year. You will have to ask your county licensing office about the specific fees that they will charge, or you can visit the DOR MVD website to get a general estimate in advance.
- If you are active military stationed in Alabama, you do not have to register your vehicle in the state as long as you maintain your current registration and insurance in your home state. If you are an Alabama resident stationed outside of the state, you may submit your registration paperwork by mail, or have a family member fill out a power of attorney form so they can complete the process for you.
3. Alabama Boat Bill of Sale
As stated above, each county in Alabama has its own bill of sale form, and most counties allow you to use the same form for vessels that is used for vehicles. If you would like to draft your own, or use our boat bill of sale template, be sure to include what is deemed necessary by your county. That said, almost all vessel bills of sale in Alabama will contain:
- The names and contact information (no P.O. boxes) of both the buyer and seller (if this is a dealer, the licensed name must be listed)
- The hull identification number or HIN
- The make, model, and year the vessel was built
- The series number
- The buyer’s signature
- The seller’s notarized seller
- The sales date
- The purchase price
County-issued bills of sale in Alabama do not carry penalties of perjury on them, though many state-issued DOR forms do. However, Alabama takes perjury seriously, as stated in Alabama Code Section 13A-10-102, where it says, “A person commits the crime of perjury in the second degree when he swears with intent to mislead a public servant in the performance of his duty and his false statement is material to the action, proceeding or matter involved.” The crime is considered a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable by a jail sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $6,000.00.
After Purchasing a Vessel
Dealership Sales
For buyers:
- Once you purchase a new vessel, you must register it within the first 72 hours that you own it.
Private Sales
For buyers:
- In Alabama, you must register your vessel with the Alabama Marine Patrol Division (AMP) if it is a sailboat, a mechanically-propelled vessel, or a boat for hire. Exemptions include vessels registered in other states that will not use Alabama waters for more than 90 days, government owned vessels, lifeboats, commercial boats registered as such with the U. S. Coast Guard, boat trailers, and any boats, besides sailboats and boats for hire, that are not mechanically-propelled.
- Once you purchase a used vessel with a current Alabama registration, you have 15 days to register it in your own name. If the vessel does not have a current registration, you must register it before you first use it.
- To register your vessel in Alabama, you must go in person to see your local county probate judge or license commissioner and bring an Application for Boat Registration, Transfer & Replacement, the current registration, a completed bill of sale, and proof of paid sales taxes, as well as money for payment of additional applicable fees. You will receive your registration, which must be aboard the vessel at all times, and your decal, which should be placed on the vessel’s bow.
- The fees associated with vessel registration include a registration certificate replacement fee of $3, a transfer fee of $3, an application fee of $5, and an issuance fee of $2. Fees for the actual registration depend on the vessel’s length. They are as follows:
- 16 feet: $18
- 16 feet to 26 feet: $23
- 26 feet to 40 feet: $73
- 40 feet and longer: $98.
4. Alabama Gun Bill of Sale
You are not required to register a handgun or shotgun in Alabama, or apply for a permit for either. Therefore, a firearm bill of sale is not required by the state. However, it is best to keep a bill of sale for your personal records. . Most gun bills of sale feature the following:
- The buyer’s and seller’s names, contact information, and signatures
- The make, model, caliber, and serial number
- The purchase price
- The sales date
