Alabama Tag Number Lookup

By Mohamed SkhiriUpdated November 10, 2026Checked against Alabama Department of Revenue rule 810-5-1-.485

How Alabama releases vehicle records

The Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division sets the rules in its administrative rule 810-5-1-.485. Motor vehicle records may be released to an authorized requester for specific permissible uses, and that requester asks through the department's Records Request Portal and pays the fees electronically. The portal is also where certified title and registration records are requested. Third parties that need records regularly can be granted access through a memorandum of understanding with the department, at the rate and by the method it sets.

The practical effect: an Alabama license plate search isn't a walk-up service for anyone with a tag number. It runs through authorized accounts, each tied to a reason the law accepts.

MV-DPPA-2: the owner's side of the record

Alabama gives registrants a say in their own records. Form MV-DPPA-2 lets an owner opt in to, or out of, disclosure of their personal information. It's worth knowing about if you're a vehicle owner concerned about who can see your details, and it's one more reason a stranger's request for an owner's name usually goes nowhere.

Who can do a tag number lookup in Alabama

The permitted uses come from the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act: crash and theft matters, insurance claims, court cases, notices for towed and abandoned vehicles, and use with the owner's consent, among others. Insurers, attorneys, tow operators and government agencies are the typical authorized requesters. For an individual, the realistic path to the information behind an Alabama tag is through one of them, most often the police or your insurer after a crash.

The right move in common Alabama situations

After a crash or hit-and-run, call the police with the tag number and get the report; it gives your insurer what the claim needs. For a vehicle abandoned on your property, contact local police or a licensed tow operator, who can reach the owner through proper channels. Before buying a used car, ask for the title, compare the VIN with the car and run a free VIN decode and recall check; a tag lookup would tell you less than the VIN does.

Is there a free Alabama tag number lookup?

Not one that legally returns an owner. Records go to authorized requesters, through the portal, for fees and permitted uses. Sites offering a free Alabama tag number lookup with names are either selling general vehicle data or something they can't lawfully provide.

Alabama license plate search: what to do instead

Most people don't need an Alabama license plate search at all. After a crash, the police report carries what your insurer needs; before a purchase, the title and VIN tell you more.

Alabama tag lookup FAQ