810-5-75-.31.02  Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request (Form MVT 32-13).

            (1)        The term “department” as used in this regulation shall mean the Department of Revenue of the State of Alabama.

            (2)        The term “abandoned motor vehicle” as used in this regulation shall refer only to a motor vehicle as defined in Section 32-8-2, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended.

            (3)        Any person or firm in possession of an abandoned motor vehicle is required to give notice by certified mail to the current owner, secured parties, and lienholders of record at least 30 days prior to the date of the planned sale of the vehicle.  Information regarding the name and address of the current owner, secured parties, and lienholders of record shall be obtained only from the department by submitting the following:

            (a)        A completed Form MVT 32-13- Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request.

            1.         Up to 10 vehicles may be listed per form using the vehicle identification numbers (VIN), year, make, model and Alabama license plate number (if vehicle has a license plate) of the vehicle(s).

            2.         Name of individual, company, association, or firm as well as the telephone number and address of the requestor must be provided.

            3.         Form must be signed by the party requesting the information, or a representative of the company, association, or firm requesting the information.

            (b)        Fee(s) (See Section 32-8-6, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended, for Schedule of Fees and Commissions for title records, and Regulation 810-5-1-.231 for registration records).

            1.         Payment of record search fee(s) shall be in certified funds (personal checks will not be accepted).

            2.         Payment of record search fee(s) may be in cash, if paid in person at the department’s office (do not mail cash).

            3.         A record search fee(s) is due on each vehicle record requested on an Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Form MVT 32-13 (nonrefundable or transferable).

            4.         Records will be provided on a certified Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Response statement for the vehicle identification number (VIN) requested on an Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Form MVT 32-13.  It shall be the responsibility of the requesting party to submit an additional record search fee and a new Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Form 32-13 to obtain a corrected Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Response statement, if an incorrect vehicle identification number (VIN) is provided to the department.

            5.         Title and registration record search fees shall be charged for records requested on a vehicle required to be titled.  Only a registration record search fee shall be charged for records requested on a vehicle not required to be titled (See Section 32-8-31, Code of Alabama 1975, as amended).

            (4)        Upon receipt of a properly completed Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Form MVT 32-13 and the applicable record search fee, the department shall provide the requesting party a certified Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Response statement containing a vehicle identification number (VIN) record of all current owner(s) and lienholder(s) information (name and addresses) on file for the vehicle.

            (5)        In the event department records contain no information for a vehicle identification number (VIN) submitted on an Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Form MVT 32-13, the department shall provide the requesting party a certified Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Response statement that the department has no record for the vehicle.

            (6)        It shall be the responsibility of any party selling an abandoned motor vehicle to provide the purchaser of an abandoned motor vehicle with the original Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Response statement (either certifying current records or certifying that the department has no records) received from the department in response to the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Record Request Form MVT 32-13 submitted by the selling party.   (Authority:            Sections 40-2A-7(a)(5) and 32-8-3(b)(2), Code of Alabama 1975)  (History: New rule:  Filed March 17, 2004, effective April 21, 2004; Amended:  Filed December 27, 2006, effective January 31, 2007).

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