Crashes, insurance and registration in Alabama

By the end of this topic you can

• You can follow the correct steps at a crash scene.
• You can decide when a crash must be reported and when the SR-31 form is needed.
• You can state Alabama's minimum liability insurance amounts.
• You can explain the deadlines for registering a newly bought car or one brought from another state.
• You can name the three documents to show at a traffic stop.

What you need to know and understand

• If you are in a crash you must stop at once, help the injured and call for medical help if needed.
• Injury and fatal crashes must be reported by the quickest means to local police in a city or to state troopers on a state highway.
• An SR-31 form is due within 30 days after a crash with injury, death or $500 or more damage when the at-fault party was not insured.
• Minimum liability insurance is $25,000 per person injured, $50,000 per crash for injuries and $25,000 for property damage.
• A new resident with a valid out-of-state registration has 30 days to register the vehicle in Alabama.
• At a traffic stop you should have your driver license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration.

At the scene of a crash

1. Stop immediately. Leaving the scene of a crash that injures or kills someone leads to license revocation.
2. Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt. Do not move injured people unless they are in danger from fire or traffic.
3. Warn other traffic with hazard lights, flares or reflectors. At night, place flares or reflectors 100 to 500 feet behind your vehicle.
4. Give your name, address and registration number, and show your license to others involved. If asked, give your insurance company and agent details.
5. Collect the names and addresses of everyone involved and any witnesses.
6. If you hit an unattended vehicle, contact the police, try to find the owner, or leave a note with your name and address where it can be seen.

Reporting and the SR-31 form

Any crash with injury or death must be reported quickly to the police agency with jurisdiction. If a crash causes injury, death or at least $500 of damage and the at-fault party was not insured, the driver must send ALEA an SR-31 report within 30 days. It can be filed online or by mail to ALEA's Safety Responsibility Unit. If both parties were insured, the SR-31 is not needed.

Insurance you must carry

Alabama's Mandatory Liability Insurance Law says no one may drive, register or keep a vehicle registered without liability insurance from an insurer licensed in Alabama. The minimums are often written as 25/50/25. Driving without insurance can bring a fine of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a later one, and a six-month license suspension is possible.

Registering a vehicle

• Registration is handled by the Alabama Department of Revenue through county license offices, not by ALEA.
• The vehicle must be covered by Alabama liability insurance before it can be registered.
• After buying a vehicle you have 20 calendar days to title and register it without penalty.
• New residents with a valid out-of-state registration have 30 days from the day the vehicle enters Alabama. Late registration brings penalties and interest.

Common mistakes

• Driving away from a minor bump in a parking lot without leaving your details.
• Moving an injured person who is not in danger. Wait for trained help.
• Assuming a parent's insurance covers a new car automatically. Confirm coverage before driving or registering it.
• Missing the 20-day registration window after buying a car.

Test yourself: Crashes, insurance and registration in Alabama

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Alabama 50 Hours Driving
• Alabama GDL Law
• Alabama Hands-Free Law and Point System