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How to Sell a Car in Alabama
There are three main ways to sell your car in Alabama:
Jump to: Sell Car Privately
Jump to: Sell Car to Car Buying Website
Jump to: Sell Car to Dealership
| Turnaroud | Effort needed | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privately | 7-14 days | Most | Used cars |
| Car Buying Website | 24-72 hours | Fill online form | Junk and old cars |
| Dealership | 7-10 days | Visit office | Mostly new cars |
Sell Car Privately in Alabama
When it comes to selling a Vehicle in the US, every state has its own requirements. Here are the steps to sell a car to a private buyer in Alabama.
Requirements To Sell a Vehicle in Alabama
- Completed Title or a bill of sale
- Your signature
- Signature of any lienholder
- Signature of the buyer
- Bill of sale which you can get here
- Odometer disclosure in Conforming Odometer Statement on the back of the titleÂ
- Remove license plates
5 Tips for Selling Your Car PrivatelyÂ
- Collect the important paperwork upfront
- Research the car’s value and set your price
- Make sure your car makes a good first impression
- Corporate with inspection requests
- Update your car’s insurance policy.
Step 1: Prepare Your Car For Sale
To sell your vehicle in Alabama, you need to prepare your car by doing the following;
- Car Wash. Make sure you wash your car, vacuum the inside of the car and clean the carpets. It’s also important to clean the back-seat pockets, under the car seats, the glove compartment, and the trunk. Also, do not forget to remove your belongings and keep them somewhere.
- Mechanical Fixes. If your used car requires mechanical fixes, you need to do that. You also need to check all hoses, change the oil, and top off all fluids.
More so, you need to find all the maintenance records, including the owner’s manual. This way, you can give the buyer confidence that your car is in good shape. In addition, you can include details such as vehicle history reports from services like Autocheck or CarFax.
If there is a lien on the car, you can either pay off the car or ask the lien holder to provide a letter of release.
If your vehicle is 35 years old and above, you won’t need a title, but you will need a bill of sale. By doing this you can get your car ready for potential buyers to assess it.
A bill of sale is an official receipt hence doesn’t transfer ownership. To legally transfer the vehicle, a title transfer must be completed. You should, therefore, keep a copy of your bill of sale for record-keeping purposes.
Step 2: Get a Pre-Sale Inspection
Although a pre-sale inspection is not required in Alabama, regardless of the make, you may decide to get a safety inspection prior to completing the sale process. Since most buyers who buy cars privately pay for pre-sale inspection, you need to agree with the buyer on when and where the inspection should be held.
You should also take your potential buyer to a test drive especially if they are not comfortable without it.
Step 3: Document the Sale
In case there is a title, you can reassign the ownership of the title to your name. But if no title is available, you require a bill of sale to help you register the vehicle.Â
Apart from the signatures of the two witnesses, a bill of sale must also contain the following information:
- Name and contact information for both buyer and seller
- Purchase price
- VIN
- Make, model, year of the vehicle
- Series number and body type
- Odometer reading
- Buyer signature
- Seller’s notarized signature
- Date of sale
- Odometer reading
Step 4: Bill of Sale
Although a bill of sale is not a state-wide requirement in Alabama, it’s a requirement in some counties. For instance, if your vehicle doesn’t have a title, you need a bill of sale to legally sell it.Â
For instance, Baldwin county in Alabama has a bill of sale where you can enter the year, made, and model of your car. Additionally, it includes the purchase date, chase price, signatures of both the buyer and the seller, and VIN.Â
To confirm whether a bill of exchange is required, you need to check with your county.
Step 5: Transfer the Title
If you’ve lost your vehicle title, you can get a duplicate and use it to apply for a replacement or new title. If the vehicle has two owners, they are both required to sign the application. By doing this, you can easily change the registration and get a new number plate.
To transfer the vehicle to the buyer, you need to sign out the title and fill out details such as Legal names, addresses, and signatures of both buyer and seller. You can do all of these by visiting Alabama Department of Revenue Plate Reservation and Ordering system.
You also need to provide;
- Date of purchase
- Odometer reading
- Purchase price
Step 6: Remove the Plates
Before handing over the vehicle, make sure you remove the plates. Failure to do this can make you responsible for any violation that the buyer commits after buying the vehicle.Â
You can either hand over the plates to the licensing officials or use them on another car. The new buyer of the vehicle is also required to get new plates within 20 days. Finally, you need to cancel the insurance so you can stop paying insurance for a car you don’t own.
Step 7: Ask for Temporary Tags
If your car is being driven to another state, your state might require you to provide the buyer with temporary registration documents and license plates.
To prove that the vehicle is sold to a licensed driver, you need to make a copy of their license. Making a copy of the license can also help you fill out transfers and other paperwork.
Step 9: Declare Your Car Sold
Once you’ve sold your car, you need to notify Alabama that the vehicle has been sold. Also, ensure that there aren’t any follow-up steps or any other thing to do.Â
Since Alabama requires that you keep the license plates, you need to remove them before you hand over the keys and the title. If you want to register your plates fresh, visit the Alabama Department of Revenue office.
Sell Car to Car Buying Website
Selling a car to a car buying website can be an easy way to cast your net wider and find a good buyer. Companies like Peddle and Wheelzy can help you buy or sell the car without you wondering how to transfer titles, make inspections, and more.
Car buying sites like Wheelzy or Peddle will not only provide you with an instant quote but also buy your car within 72 hours. Once you’ve got a quote you have 7 days to consider the offer and either accept or decline it. If you accept the offer, a company representative will schedule a pickup within 48 hours and pick up the car.
Peddle
Peddle Summary
- Buys used, damaged or junk car nationwide
- Get instant quote on (855) 925 4302
- Free towing within 48 hours after offer
- Receive payment upon car collection
How Much Peddle Will Pay for Your Car in Alabama
The table below shows a few of the cars Peddle has recently purchased in Alabama
| Make | Year | Offer value |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota (Celica) | 2000 | $400 |
| GMC (Envoy) | 2004 | $300 |
| Nissan (Sentra) | 2008 | $300 |
Wheelzy
Wheelzy Summary
- Wheelzy stores are open 7 days a week
- Get offer in minutes – (855) 510-1108
- Free towing of your car from your location
- Instant payment via cash or check
How Much Wheelzy Will Pay for Your Car in Alabama?
Here are a few examples of Wheelzy’s recent purchases:
| Make | Year | Mileage | Offer value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford (Explorer) | 2009 | Under 200, 000 | $269 |
| Jeep (Liberty) | 2006 | Under 200,000 | $248 |
| Acura (3.2TL) | 2006 | Under 300,000 | $400 |
Sell Car to Dealership
If you don’t prefer selling your vehicle privately, going to a dealership may be a good option. Selling the car via a dealership is both fast and convenient. You are also likely to get a higher price for your car. Before taking your vehicle to a dealership, you need to determine what it’s worth.Â
Depending on your vehicle’s mileage, condition, and equipment, you need to understand the value range and expect dealers to offer something close to trade-in value. Once they inspect your car, they will give you a price offer. If you accept the offer you can drop your car and receive payments.Â
The best dealership in Alabama includes;
Sell Car in Alabama FAQ
How do I know how much is my car in Alabama?
You can check Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book to help you figure out what your car is worth.
What do I need to sell a vehicle in Alabama?
You’ll need to sign the title, complete a bill of sale, pay the relevant fees and remove the plates from the vehicle.
Do I need a bill of sale to transfer the title to Alabama?
The recipient of the vehicle is the buyer. During the transfer process, you may be required to provide a notarized bill of sale or a vehicle gift affidavit during the transfer process.
How do I transfer a title in Alabama?
You can transfer your vehicle title by mail or in person at your local MVD agency.Â
How long do you have to register a vehicle in Alabama?
If you are new to Alabama, the vehicle must be registered within 30 days. But If you are a resident, you have 20 days to register the vehicle once you’ve bought it.
