Alabama Administrative Code
Title 810 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Chapter 810-5-75 - TITLE PROCEDURE
Section 810-5-75-.01 - Procedures for Titling a Vessel

(1) In accordance with Chapter 5B of Title 33, Code of Ala. 1975, effective January 1, 2024, every vessel, for which Alabama is the state of principal use and of which construction was completed after December 31, 2023, must be issued a certificate of title unless exempted.

An owner of a vessel that is 26 feet or longer that was constructed on or prior to December 31, 2023, for which Alabama is the state of principal use may voluntarily apply for a certificate of title.

(2) Application Requirements and Fees. An application for a vessel title must be filed by a designated agent using the department's title system within 20 days of the date of transfer or the date Alabama becomes the state of principal use, whichever is later.

(3) Surety Bond Requirements. If the department is not satisfied as to the ownership of the vessel or that there are no undisclosed security interests in it, the department may, as a condition of issuing a certificate of title, require the applicant to file with the department a surety bond. The value of the bond will be one and a half times the fair market value of the vessel as determined by a nationally recognized valuation system used by the department.

(4) Stolen Vessel Requirements. If a vessel is reported stolen, the department must be provided a copy of the police report so that the title record can be updated to protect the owner's interest.

(5) Record Requests. Vessel record requests and applicable fees must be submitted electronically through the department's record request portal. The request fee shall be twenty dollars ($20) paid to the department as provided in § 33-5B-26.