HB251 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Randy WoodRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Motor vehicles, license plates, validation decals to include year and month, electronic format for receipts, dealers, issuance of temporary plates, renewals not required to verify vehicle identification number, Secs. 32-6-63, 32-6-65, 32-6-211, 32-7A-17, 40-12-253, 40-12-258, 40-12-260 am'd.
Summary: HB251 updates Alabama's motor vehicle registration rules by adding year and month to validation decals, allowing electronic receipts, letting designated dealers issue temporary tags, and clarifying ID verification for initial registration only.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, the bill requires metal license plate validation decals to show the expiration month and year; registration receipts may be given in paper or electronic form; designated motor vehicle dealers can issue temporary license tags for vehicles that will be permanently licensed in Alabama; and the requirement to verify a state or federal identifying number applies to the initial registration, not to renewals.

Who It Affects
Vehicle owners/registrants who will see new decal requirements, optional electronic receipts, and ID verification scope changes for initial registration.
Designated motor vehicle dealers/agents who may issue temporary license tags and temporary registration certificates for vehicles they sell or temporarily license in Alabama.

Key Provisions
Validation decals on metal license plates must indicate both the month and the year of expiration and include a bright, reflective background; the month and year front must be visible on the decal, and the digits are for accounting purposes, not vehicle identification.
Registration receipts may be provided in either tangible (paper) or electronic format, and the state will record vehicle details like color in permanent records; centralized state-wide registration is explicitly prohibited, keeping registration at the county level.
Designated dealer agents may issue temporary license tags and temporary registration certificates for motor vehicles that will be permanently licensed in Alabama; such authority is limited to the vehicles sold by the appointing dealer.
The renewal process is clarified to not require the ongoing verification of identification numbers that applies to initial registration, meaning ID verification is not mandated for annual renewals.
The bill preserves county-level registration control and prohibits shifting to a centralized state registration system.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Motor Vehicles