No notary is required.
No. The Department of Revenue says a title assignment doesn't have to be notarized.
In the official wording
"No, the state of Alabama does not require the assignment of an MSO or title to be notarized."
From the official pages listed below, checked November 2026.
What else the signing needs
- Odometer
- The mileage on the buyer's title application has to match the mileage written in the title assignment exactly.
"the mileage on the application must agree exactly with the mileage listed in the title assignment."
- Buyer's deadline
- The buyer gets a plate within 20 calendar days of buying, and the title application comes first.
"shall obtain a license plate within twenty (20) calendar days from the date of acquisition"
- Plates
- The registrant removes the plate at the sale; it may move to a replacement vehicle.
"License plates are to be removed by the registrant upon the sale or disposal of the vehicle."
- Title fee
- $15 title application fee; a designated agent may add a $1.50 commission.
"The title application fee is $15 for each application for Alabama certificate of title for a motor vehicle."
Next step
No notary appointment needed for the title on the agency's page. If another paper in the sale needs one, such as a lost-title affidavit, a local notary or our mobile notary request can help.
If a local notary in Alabama does it: A reasonable fee of not more than $10 per notarial act, under the state's fee rules (Alabama notary fees).
Official sources
- Alabama Department of Revenue: Titles FAQs (checked November 2026)
- How many days do I have to title and register this vehicle? (checked November 2026)
- Alabama DOR: Does the license plate remain on the vehicle when I sell it? (checked November 2026)
We are not lawyers, and this is general information, not legal advice. Checked November 2026. Rules change, and whoever receives the document decides what it accepts; we can't guarantee acceptance.
Common questions
Is notarization required to sign over a Alabama car title?
No notary is required. The Department of Revenue says a title assignment doesn't have to be notarized.
How long does the buyer have to title the car in Alabama?
The buyer gets a plate within 20 calendar days of buying, and the title application comes first.
Keep going
A car title in another state: Arizona · every state