Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-5-1-.468 - Refunds Of Motor Vehicle Registration Fees

(1) Under the authority of Sections 40-12-23, 40-12-24, and 40-2A-7 Code of Ala. 1975, the license plate issuing official will determine whether any registrant has "by mistake of fact or law" paid registration fees that either were not due or were excessive. Generally, such refunds result from registrants paying registration fees for a vehicle that had previously been sold or from a registrant paying duplicate registration fees for the same vehicle in the same registration period.

(2) In accordance with 40-12-260, license plate issuing officials are not authorized to refund registration fees for the unexpired portion of the registration year. However, if a registrant, after having registered or reregistered his or her motor vehicle during the designated renewal month(s), and later, during the same designated renewal month(s), sells, totals, junks, or otherwise disposes of the motor vehicle, the registrant may request and is entitled to a refund of the registration fees paid for the upcoming registration year. The refund is due because the vehicle was disposed of prior to the effective date of the upcoming registration year.

(3) If a registrant secures non-apportioned registration through the county/city license plate issuing official, and subsequently secures Alabama apportioned registration, the registrant may be entitled to a prorated credit for the registration fees paid for the non-apportioned registration. In order to receive the credit, the non-apportioned license plate and registration receipt must be presented with the application for apportioned registration.

(4) In order to expedite the refunds of motor vehicle registration fees, the Department may, by mutual agreement, transfer its duties/responsibilities of refunding motor vehicle registration fees to county license plate issuing officials. Issuance fees and the commission accruing to the license plate issuing official are not refundable as provided in Section 40-12-23, Code of Ala. 1975.

(5) Applicants seeking refunds of registration fees must complete and submit a petition for refund, form MVR 40-12-23, to the license plate issuing official. The petition shall contain the facts on which the refund is sought and the reason(s) why the payment of registration fees was erroneous or excessive, as well as any other information needed to process the registrant's refund request.

(6) The decal and/or license plate, and registration receipt for which a refund is being sought must accompany the petition for refund. If this is not possible, a statement verifying the reason for not returning the registration credentials must be provided. Returned license plates/decals shall be retained by the license plate issuing official for audit by the Examiners of Public Accounts.

(7) Due to the time and expense involved in the refunding of registration fees, only refunds in the amount of $10 or more will be issued by the Department. Registration fees paid for license plates issued under Section 40-12-264 shall not be refunded.

(8) At the end of each reporting period, each license plate issuing official will prepare a summary of refunds given. This summary shall show the distribution of the monies collected and the credit taken for the refunds as a line item on the Motor Vehicle Report required under Section 40-12-269.

(9) A registrant may appeal the Department's denial of a petition for refund by filing a notice of appeal in accordance with § 40-2A-7, Code of Ala. 1975.

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-5-1-.468

Amended: Filed June 2, 2006; effective July 7, 2006. Amended: Filed October 22, 2010; effective November 26, 2010. Amended: Filed December 6, 2011; effective January 10, 2012. Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIII, Issue No. 04, January 30, 2015, eff. 2/27/2015.

Authors: Tyies Fleeting, James P. Starling

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 32-6-56, 40-2A-7(a)(5), 40-12-23.