Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-5-75-.01

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024

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.

(a) The department may authorize designated agents to electronically submit title applications and supporting documents in lieu of delivering the original documents to the department.

(b) The application fee shall be twenty dollars ($20) paid to the department and an additional $5 fee collected by the designated agent.

(c) The application must contain a Hull Identification Number (HIN). If a vessel does not have a HIN, an application for a state-assigned HIN must be submitted to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Marine Patrol Division prior to making application for title.

(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.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-5-75-.01

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLII, Issue No. 01, October 31, 2023, eff. 12/15/2023.

Author: Leslie Mackey, Lisa Blankenship

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 40-2A-7(a)(5); Chapter 5B of Title 33.