810-5-1-.238 Registration of Motor Vehicles Not Subject to Titling

(1) The following motor vehicles are generally not manufactured to comply

with federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations governing safety, emissions, and

antitheft standards, and cannot be titled or registered in Alabama unless they meet the

requirements in paragraph two (2) below:

(a) A dune buggy defined as an open chassis off-road recreational vehicle

primarily designed or modified for off-road use on sand dunes or beaches. A dune

buggy may also be referred to as a rail buggy, air buggy, or sand rail.

tires, with a steering wheel, non-straddle seating, seat belts, an occupant protective

structure, and engine displacement up to 1,000 cc.

(d) An All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) also known as a quad, quad bike, three-

wheeler, or four-wheeler, defined as a vehicle that travels on low-pressure tires, with a

seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control. Engine

sizes usually range from 49 to 1,000 cc (3 to 61 cubic inches).

(2) In order to determine if a motor vehicle not subject to titling may be

registered, the license plate issuing official must physically inspect the vehicle and

for off road use only, which indicates that the vehicle is not intended for use on the

public roadways and cannot be registered.

(b) A certification label meeting the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567 that,

among other things, identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer (i.e., the actual assembler of

the vehicle), vehicle identification number that conforms with 49 CFR Part 565

requirements, the vehicle’s date of manufacture (month and year), and containing the

following statement: “This vehicle conforms to all applicable federal motor safety

standards in effect on the date of manufacture shown above.”

(4) A motor-driven cycle as defined in §32-1-1.1, Code of Ala. 1975, is

plate. Every motor-driven cycle is required to have a vehicle emission control

information label. This label includes the engine displacement. The label should be

permanently affixed to the cycle and readily accessible. Locations may vary; however,

the most common locations are under the seat and on the frame rails. In addition, the

MSO should contain the engine displacement. If the MSO is not available and the decal

has been removed or altered and unreadable, the engine displacement may be

established using a title history that included the MSO or a statement from the

manufacturer attesting to the cycle's engine displacement.

(5) A low speed vehicle (LSV) is exempt from titling; however, a LSV may be

(7) All motor vehicles not subject to titling that are eligible to be registered

must have proper ownership documentation. This documentation includes a bill of sale,

court order, properly assigned certificate of origin or certificate of title, or any other

documentation as specified by the department.

and 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500

History: New rule: Filed July 26, 2013, effective August 30, 2013.