FAQs
Ready to junk your vehicle in Alabama? Our FAQ explains everything from junking without keys and titles to how the process works.
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Ultimate Guide
HOW TO JUNK A CAR IN ALABAMA
Every form, address, and portal you need to junk your car – organized by situation. Whether you need help transferring ownership or figuring out what forms you need to junk an inherited car, choose the scenario that fits you and get everything you need at a glance.
WHAT SITUATION DO YOU NEED HELP WITH?
EXPERT SUPPORT
TOP 3 THINGS TO DO BEFORE JUNKING YOUR CAR IN ALABAMA
Check for outstanding liens
Run the vehicle identification number (VIN) using a lookup tool like Carfax to ensure the vehicle doesn’t have an outstanding lien.
Check title brand
If you don’t know the title brand, use the same history checker to confirm it. This will help you ensure you have the right paperwork to sell your vehicle.
Remove license plates
Remove your license plates before you sell the vehicle. Depending on your situation, you can surrender them to your Vehicle Licensing Office, transfer them, or keep them.
Before pickup, make sure your title is signed where required, remove your license plates, and take out any personal belongings. Keep your insurance active until the vehicle and plate have been properly handled. You may also receive a Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance (MLI) notice afterward, so keep your sale and pickup records in case you need to respond.
HOW TO TRANSFER A CAR TITLE IN ALABAMA
When junking a car in Alabama, the seller and buyer must sign the title to transfer ownership. If you have a title, read our section on title signing to learn how.
If you don’t have a title to transfer ownership, apply for one first using Form MVT-12-1 below, or read our guide to replacing missing titles in Alabama for more support.
Form MVT-12-1
IF YOUR TITLE IS MISSING, APPLY FOR A REPLACEMENT FIRST. YOU’LL NEED TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO THE BUYER.
Replacement Title Application
- Application method: Online or in person
- Fee: $15 + agent fee (varies by county)
- Processing time: In person – Instant. Online – 10-15 days.
HOW TO SIGN YOUR CAR TITLE
Transferring your title to a new owner? You’ll need to sign it correctly to avoid delays and legal confusion. How you sign depends on whether you are a single or joint owner.
The seller’s printed name(s), signature(s), and the odometer reading must be completed on the back of the title on the appropriate lines.
The buyer will complete the same information on their section.
KEY INSTRUCTIONS
Follow the instructions for single and joint owners below, using the annotated images to help.
SINGLE OWNERS
Single owners must sign their name once on the signature of sellers line, and print it once on the ‘printed name of sellers’ line.
joint OWNERS
Joint owners will need to put their printed and signed names next to yours on the appropriate lines.
Note: Alabama title designs have changed over the years, so your title may look different from the example shown. The seller information and signature sections are still located on the back.
JUNK A CAR WITH AN ETITLE
You can either use an electronic title (depending on the buyer) or request a physical copy using the replacement title application form.
If you’re selling your car to Wheels Away, you must request a physical title first.
JUNKING WITH AN ELECTRONIC TITLE
The buyer must record the title transfer through the Alabama SCRAP portal. You will then sign either a physical or digital transfer of ownership, depending on the buyer’s procedures.
If you had an electronic title (ELT) physically printed but have lost it, you cannot have it reprinted. Instead, you must apply for a replacement vehicle title using the form below.
REQUEST A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE TITLE
APPLY FOR A REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE OF TITLE USING FORM MVT-12-1.
Replacement Title Application
- Application method: Online
- Fee: $0 if requesting a physical print of an ELT. $15 for replacements or lost titles.
- Processing time: 10-15 days.
JUNK A CAR WITH NO TITLE IN ALABAMA
In Alabama, you’ll generally need a title to junk a vehicle that is less than 12 model years old or worth more than $1,000. If you don’t have the title, apply for a replacement using Form MVT 12-1.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE VEHICLE TITLE
APPLY FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE OF TITLE USING THE APPLICATION FOR REPLACEMENT TITLE FORM.
New/Replacement/Duplicate Title Application
- Application method: Online or in person
- Fee: $15 + agent fee (varies by county)
- Processing time: In person: Instant. Online: 10-15 days.
VEHICLES 12 MODEL YEARS OLD OR OLDER & WORTH $1,000 OR LESS
These vehicles can be junked without a title. The buyer will complete and submit the relevant paperwork through the Alabama SCRAP portal.
Check out our guide to junking without a title in Alabama for more information.
SURRENDER OR TRANSFER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
In Alabama, license plates should be removed when you sell or dispose of your vehicle. You can choose to keep the plate, voluntarily surrender it, or transfer an eligible plate to another vehicle.
For more information on what happens to your registration after junking your car, skip to the next section.
SURRENDER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
If you do not plan to transfer the plate to another vehicle, you can keep it or voluntarily surrender it to your local Vehicle Licensing Office.
TRANSFER YOUR LICENSE PLATES
If you’re getting another vehicle, you may be able to transfer your existing plate. The Alabama state transfer fee is $1.25, and additional county issuance fees may apply.
You may also need:
- Current registration
- Bill of sale
- Title
- Proof of insurance
Plate transfers are handled as part of registering the new vehicle. Depending on the county, this may be handled by the revenue commissioner, license commissioner, or another local title and licensing office. Contact your local office to confirm the documents and fees that apply.
Form MVT-12-1
TO TRANSFER YOUR OLD PLATES TO A NEW CAR, START BY APPLYING FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE OF TITLE.
Certificate of Title Application
- Application method: Online or in person
- Fee: $15 + agent fee (varies by county)
- Processing time: In person – Instant. Online – 10-15 days.
CANCEL YOUR ALABAMA REGISTRATION
When you junk your car in Alabama and sign your title over to the buyer, your registration will be canceled. You can voluntarily surrender your plates to your local Alabama license plate issuing office or keep them. Just remember to cancel your insurance.
In other situations, such as out-of-state moves, you may need to respond to a Mandatory Liability Insurance Notice (MLI) to prevent future registration renewals. You must reply to an MLI within 30 days.
moving out of state
When you cancel your insurance and register your vehicle in a new state, you may receive a Mandatory Liability Insurance Notice (MLI) from the state of Alabama. This law requires all drivers to be insured and carry minimum liability limits.
If you receive an MLI from the state after you’ve registered your vehicle in a new state, log in to the MyDMV portal to respond with proof. Otherwise, you may have to pay a $200 reinstatement fee.
PRIVATE SALES
Sign the title over to the buyer, remove your plates, and cancel your insurance. Make sure you get a bill of sale and keep it for future reference. You may receive an MLI within 6 months of canceling your insurance. Respond to this with proof of sale to prevent future liability for the vehicle.
NOTIFY ALDOR OF VEHICLE SALE
When you junk a vehicle in Alabama, there’s no separate notice of sale form to file. Transferring the title notifies the Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR) of the change when the buyer reports it through the SCRAP portal. Here’s what to do on your side.
Transfer the title
Sign the appropriate sections of the title to transfer ownership to the buyer. ALDOR will be notified.
Cancel your insurance
Once the title is signed and the sale has been processed, cancel your insurance.
Respond to MLI notice
You may receive a Mandatory Liability Insurance (MLI) notice within 6 months of canceling your insurance. Respond to it within 30 days to confirm the vehicle has been junked.
JUNK AN ABANDONED CAR IN ALABAMA (PRIVATE PROPERTY)
ALDOR considers vehicles abandoned if they’ve been parked on private property for more than 48 hours without the owner’s permission.
Got an abandoned vehicle on your property? Report it using the MyDMV portal below, or ask a vehicle removal company like Wheels Away to tow it for you.
Once reported, law enforcement becomes responsible for it, so you can’t use removal services like Wheels Away to tow it for you.
REPORT ABANDONED VEHICLES ONLINE
REPORT THE VEHICLE USING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE’S UNCLAIMED/ABANDONED VEHICLES PORTAL.
MyDMV Portal
YOU WILL NEED
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Physical location of vehicle
- Contact information
JUNK AN ABANDONED CAR IN ALABAMA (PUBLIC PROPERTY)
If a vehicle is considered unclaimed, you must report it to the Alabama Department of Revenue within five calendar days using the Unclaimed/Abandoned Vehicle Portal. ALDOR will then place a 60-day hold on the title.
Once reported, law enforcement becomes responsible for it, so you can’t use removal services like Wheels Away to tow it for you.
You can find more information on the portal below.
REPORT ABANDONED VEHICLES ONLINE
REPORT THE VEHICLE USING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE’S UNCLAIMED/ABANDONED VEHICLES PORTAL.
MyDMV Portal
YOU WILL NEED
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Physical location of vehicle
- Contact information
JUNK AN INHERITED VEHICLE
If you’ve inherited a vehicle through survivorship rights, follow the instructions below.
IF YOU HAVE THE VEHICLE TITLE
If you already have the title, as the surviving co-owner, you can deal with the junking directly and do not have to make amendments to the title. You must explain the situation to the buyer and be prepared to supply the death certificate.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Sign the title (seller section) as the surviving owner
- Provide the junkyard with any additional paperwork, such as the death certificate, to prove you are now the sole owner of the vehicle.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE VEHICLE TITLE
APPLY FOR A DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE.
FORM 1
Duplicate Title Application
- Application method: Online or in person
- Fee: $15 + agent fee (varies by county)
- Processing time: In person – Instant. Online – 10-15 days.
SUBMIT ALABAMA AFFIDAVIT FOR ASSIGNMENT OF TITLE FORM
SUBMIT THIS AS PART OF YOUR APPLICATION FOR A DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE.
FORM 2
Form MVT 5-6
- Application method: Online or in person
- Fee: Free
- Processing time: In person – Instant. Online – 10-15 days.
JUNK A CAR THAT’S REGISTERED OUT OF STATE
If your vehicle is in Alabama but is registered/titled elsewhere, you can still junk it in Alabama by either transferring the title to the buyer or requesting a replacement or duplicate from the state it was originally registered in.
Form MVT-12-1
IF YOU HAVE THE TITLE, TRANSFER IT TO THE BUYER USING APPLICATION FOR REPLACEMENT TITLE.
Transfer Title Application
- Application method: Online or in person
- Fee: $15 + agent fee (varies by county)
- Processing time: In person: Instant. Online: 10-15 days.
If you’ve lost your title, you’ll need to apply for a replacement in the state it was registered in. Use our state replacement title finder below to select your state and see everything you need to replace your title at a glance. Forms, fees, processing times, application methods, and more.
JUNK A CAR WITH AN EXPIRED REGISTRATION
You can junk a vehicle with an expired registration as long as you can prove ownership with the title. An expired registration only prevents you from driving the vehicle on public roads.
No title? Whether it’s missing, damaged, or you’ve never had one, apply using the form below.
IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE VEHICLE TITLE
APPLY FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE OF TITLE USING THE APPLICATION FOR REPLACEMENT TITLE FORM.
New/Replacement/Duplicate Title Application
- Application method: Online or in person
- Fee: $15 + agent fee (varies by county)
- Processing time: In person: Instant. Online: 10-15 days.
VEHICLES 12 MODEL YEARS OLD OR OLDER & WORTH $1,000 OR LESS
Got an older car with an expired registration? If it meets the requirements above, you may be able to junk it without a title. Check below for other ownership documents that may be accepted.
Photo ID
Like your driver’s license or passport.
Bill of sale
You may need to show this as well as your photo ID.
JUNK A CAR WITH A LIEN
If you’ve already paid off your loan, you can get a new title below and junk your ride.
Wheels Away and other vehicle brokers and buyers can’t buy vehicles with active liens. If your car still has a lien on it, it must be cleared before you can junk your car. This usually means:
-You need to pay off the loan in full.
-You must get the lender’s permission to junk the vehicle and use the profits to pay the loan (this is rare).
Once the loan is paid, the lender issues a lien release confirming the debt has been cleared, and you’re free to sell the vehicle.
Form MVT-12-1
IF THE LIEN HAS BEEN RELEASED, APPLY FOR A NEW TITLE USING THE FORM BELOW.
New/Replacement/Duplicate Title Application
- Application method: Online or in person
- Fee: $15 + agent fee (varies by county)
- Processing time: In person – Instant. Online – 10-15 days.
NOT SURE IF IT HAS A LIEN? RUN THE VIN.
If you’ve inherited a vehicle or you’re junking an abandoned vehicle, check for liens before selling or junking.
You can check by running the VIN through an NMVTIS provider or using a lookup service like Carfax. If you need help finding the VIN, here are the most common locations (may vary by age, make, and model).
HELP CENTER
Got questions? We’ve got answers. From junking without a title to getting the best offer for your car, get everything you need to know about junking your car in Alabama from our specialist help centre.
From surrendering your license plates to junking an inherited car, get all the forms, tips and expert support you need to junk a car in AL. Need to junk a car with no title in Alabama? Discover state requirements, and how Wheelsaway can support you through the process. Scrap car prices in Alabama explained – see how offers are made, why it’s good for the planet, and what parts are most valuable.
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