Purchasing a trailer for utility or travel purposes in Alabama doesn’t end when you take your new trailer off the lot. Whether you need to register the vehicle with the state depends on the type of trailer you’ve purchased and how old it is at the time of sale.
Travel trailers, camping trailers, and commercial trailers are currently the only new trailers requiring registration in Alabama, but some older trailers still require license plates and tax payments. Buyers and sellers should check with their state and county offices when transferring any type of trailer.
Registering a Trailer in Alabama
All motor vehicles less than 35 years old are required to be registered in Alabama and have an Alabama certificate of title. Travel trailers and collapsible camping trailers less than 20 years old must also have a certificate of title.
Utility trailers, which are trailers intended to be pulled behind passenger vehicles or pickup trucks, do not need titles. Trailers that do not require titles do not have to be registered (Ala. Code § 32-8-31). Some utility trailers may need licensing. Owners should verify this with the county where they are located.
Vehicles (motor vehicles and trailers) are registered in the county where the owner resides. Buyers have 20 calendar days from the date of purchase to register their vehicles with the county. A new resident to Alabama has 30 days to register their vehicle with the state.
What Paperwork Is Required to Register a Trailer in Alabama?
Registrations are done in the county where the vehicle is located. Each county may have slightly different requirements. Owners should confirm the requirements before bringing their documents to their county office.
- Title
- Proof of insurance
- Proof of residency in the county
- Valid driver’s license or state ID for each owner
- Bill of sale.
The bill of sale must include the following:
- Seller’s signature
- Vehicle description, including VIN, year, make, and model
- Date of sale
- Sale amount
- Signatures of buyer and seller
Out-of-state purchases may need to be presented at the county office to verify VIN on the title and vehicle.
The county motor vehicle department will not accept any document that has been altered or corrected. If there has been an error in any application form, buyers and sellers must submit a request for a replacement title through the appropriate county’s website.
Trailer Registration Fees
Registration fee schedules for Alabama can be found on the Registration File Information page of the Alabama Department for Revenue site. Fees change, so owners should regularly check for changes in the fees.
Title for Trailer
Alabama requires a title for all travel trailers and collapsible campers. Homemade trailers that do not have a VIN must apply for a state-assigned VIN using a state form available on Alabama’s website.
Insurance
In Alabama, towed trailers do not require liability insurance, since they are covered by the towing vehicle. Self-propelled RVs require their own liability insurance.
Exemptions
The following vehicles are exempt from Alabama’s trailer registration requirements:
- Nonresident vehicles
- Trailers, semitrailers, and manufactured homes more than 20 years old
- Utility trailers
- Boat trailers
Alabama Trailer Bill of Sale Sample
Download an Alabama trailer bill of sale template below in PDF or Word format:
