Alabama Boat Registration Summary
Alabama boat registration summary is a free resource designed to inform the boating public about registration requirements, recording methods, and title search guidelines for the State of Alabama. The data is maintained as an open wiki forum where readers are encouraged to participate by sharing knowledge and experiences with this particular state. Simply click on the "Wiki-Share" link to contribute further details or suggest a revision.
This information is subject to change and should be confirmed with the respective agency.
Comments - Suggestions - Revisions .... Wiki-Share
State of Alabama
Alabama Law
Enforcement Agency
Marine Patrol Division
Boat Registration Website
Registration Overview -
Alabama is a registration only state and does not issue boat titles. Registrations on non-exempt boats are administered by the Marine Patrol Division in Montgomery and can also be handled from county offices. Although the MPD offers little by way of registration information, such details can be found on the county websites. Titles are not available in Alabama for outboard boat motors. However they can be optionally listed on the underlying boat registration record. Titling and registration is not required for boat trailers in Alabama.There are approximately 248,260 boats registered in the State of Alabama. This accounts for 2.1% of all nationwide registrations.
Registration Requirements -
Unless otherwise exempted, all mechanically propelled vessels, sailboats and boats for hire must become registered in Alabama. USCG documented vessels are also subject to registration unless endorsed for commercial usage. Exceptions include vessels which are registered in another state for a period not to exceed 90 consecutive days, foreign registered vessels, and lifeboats. A complete listing of exemptions may be found on the Marine Patrol website. Alabama does not have provisions for conditional boat registrations where sufficient proof of ownership is not otherwise available. Under these circumstances it will be necessary to petition a court of local jurisdiction for an award of ownership.Marking Requirements -
Boat registration numbers in Alabama begin with an "AL" designation which is followed by four numbers and then two letters. These must be displayed on all non-documented boats along with registration sticker tab decals.Coast Guard documented vessels may not display the state registration numbers. However they must display the state registration tabs, an owner designated vessel name, and a hailing port. An official documentation number must also be affixed to a visible interior location in the hull itself or an integral part of the hull. Boats manufactured after 1972 are required to have a 12 digit hull identification number affixed to the vessel by the manufacturer. Owners with older boats may apply with the Marine Police Division for a state issued hull number assignment. These begin with the letters "ALZ" and are available for home made boats or those without factory designations.Ownership and Lien Recordings -
Alabama is a registration only state and does not issue boat titles. Registration certificates may however serve as quasi-proof of ownership unless the vessel is Coast Guard documented. Security interests in boats that are neither titled or documented are therefore recorded through Uniform Commercial Code filings. Tax liens are sometimes flagged in the state's registration database, recorded as UCC filings, shown on state revenue records, or filed with a county clerk's office. There are no provisions in Alabama for recording mechanic's liens or other non-secured claims against registered boats. If the vessel is USCG documented, a security interest is perfected by filing a preferred vessel mortgage. These are recorded with the National Vessel Documentation Center with the earliest submissions taking priority. Other lien claims can be filed in the same manner although these function as notifications only. All such filings are indexed on the vessel's underlying abstract of title.Ownership and Lien Searches -
Boat registration records in Alabama are maintained by the Marine Patrol Division. This agency does not facilitate online searches for the general public, but registration information may be obtained by submitting a boat record request form. It is also reported that the registration office will confirm hull identification numbers and provide telephone verifications on registration certificates in hand.Alabama is a registration only state and does not issue boat titles. Security interests in non-documented boats are accordingly filed with the Secretary of State as Uniform Commercial Code recordings. Online UCC searches are available from their web site or by using a public record vendor.State and Federal tax liens on boats are not always recorded in a consistent manner and are therefore difficult to identify. They may show up as a red flag on state registration records, as UCC filings, in state revenue records, in a county clerks records, or on a vessel's abstract of title for documented boats. Given these disparities, it may be worth obtaining the services of a public record vendor that has access to a broad range of personal property lien recordings. Ownership, mortgage, and lien search recordings for Coast Guard documented vessels can be obtained by ordering an abstract of title and a copy of the certificate of documentation from the National Vessel Documentation Center. However, these are encoded and can be difficult to interpret, especially on older vessels with numerous recordings. It may be worthwhile to contact a professional vessel documentation company for assistance. Non-recorded maritime liens may also be a factor when conducting boat title research in Alabama. These include liabilities for items such as services, equipment, fuel, storage, parts, supplies, and damages which can become attached to the boat itself regardless of ownership. One of the most useful tools for doing this kind of research is our premier boat history search database. It is a gathering of eight nationwide databases into a single interface which can be searched by numerous criteria. These include records for stolen boats, marine lien claims, boating accidents, pollution incidents, auctioned boats, factory recalls, and documented vessels. Yacht brokers, documentation companies, and attorneys do not warrant or guarantee titles. There is, moreover, no such thing as boat title insurance in the marine industry. It is therefore incumbent on the owner to stand behind any such representations. Of course it will be of no consolation if a guarantor is insolvent, non-cooperative, or can not be located. This calls for a thorough background check to ensure the owner's wherewithal for making good on any hidden liens or title deficiencies.Advertisement
