Alabama Department of Revenue

News Release

Jan. 2, 2014

New Online License Plate Pre-commitment System

Goes Live January 1

            If you are an Alabama vehicle owner wishing to pre-order one of the currently-approved new distinctive license plate designs, the Alabama Department of Revenue has some important news for you. 

            Beginning this January, the method for accepting pre-commitments for new distinctive license plate categories, approved by the Legislative Oversight Committee on License Plates (LOC), will change.

“Pre-commitment purchases will now be handled online,” announced State Revenue Commissioner Julie P. Magee. 

“No longer will owners, who want to support an organization’s efforts to acquire the necessary number of pre-sale license plate commitments before the organization’s license plate can be manufactured, have to visit their county licensing plate issuing officials’ offices to do so.  Vehicle owners will now be able to use their computers to purchase the license plate pre-commitments at their convenience—on any day of the week and at any time,” explained Magee.

This is how the license plate pre-commitment process works.  An organization submits a proposed license plate design to the Legislative Oversight Committee on License Plates (LOC) for review and approval.  The design submitted determines the “quantity class” of the license plate design.  A Class 1 design license plate requires at least 250 pre-sale commitments over a one-year period.  A Class 2 design license plate requires at least 1,000 pre-sale commitments over a one-year period.  Once the required number of pre-sale commitments is reached for the particular license plate design, either 250 or 1,000, the license plate is manufactured and available for issuance.    

Currently, owners have to visit their county license plate issuing office to process the pre-commitment purchases.  Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the process moves to an online, electronic process. 

“We are very excited to offer this new online service to Alabama vehicle owners.  The pre-commitment process will be so much easier, quicker, and more convenient for vehicle owners wishing to acquire a new distinctive tag offered by their charity or other organization,” added Magee.

All organizations that are currently in the pre-commitment process will convert to the new online process effective Jan. 1, 2014.  The link for the new online system is https://precommit.mvtrip.alabama.gov. 

To view a listing of the currently-proposed license plates, visit ADOR’s Website at http://revenue.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/.  Click on “License Plate Information,” then “Commitment to Purchase” and view the different categories, marked by the specific dated pre-commitment periods.

For more information regarding Alabama’s distinctive license plate program, log on to the Motor Vehicle Division’s web page at http://revenue.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/.

Media contact for more information: 

ADOR Media Affairs Office:  Carla A. Snellgrove or Carolyn G. Blackstock

Telephone:  (334) 242-1390

Website address: www.revenue.alabama.gov