Photo: S.MacMillen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
If you are pulled over in Alabama, signal, stop safely, turn off the engine and radio, and keep your hands on the wheel. Wait for the officer to ask before you reach for your driver license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration. This guide follows ALEA’s Alabama Driver Manual step by step. It also covers the documents, minimum insurance and window tint rules that often come up at a stop.
Key facts
- Documents an officer may ask for: driver license (or learner license), proof of insurance, vehicle registration.
- You must carry your license whenever you drive and show it to an officer on request.
- Alabama minimum liability insurance: $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000.
- No insurance: fine up to $500 (first violation), up to $1,000 (second or later), and/or a 6-month license suspension.
- Tint: at least 32% light transmission on passenger car side and rear windows. Only the top 6 inches of the windshield may be tinted.
What to do when you see lights behind you
- Stay calm and signal. Turn on your turn signal and pull off to the side of the road as soon as it is safe.
- Turn off the ignition and the radio.
- Stay in the car unless the officer tells you to get out.
- Hands on the steering wheel where they can be seen.
- Passengers stay calm, stay inside and keep their hands in plain view.
- Put down your phone and other devices, and give the officer your full attention.
- Tell the officer about any weapons in the vehicle at first contact.
- No sudden moves. Do not search for your license or papers until the officer asks.
- At night, turn on the interior light.
What the officer will do
- Identify themselves. An officer out of uniform will show credentials, and you may ask to see them.
- Ask to see your driver license, proof of insurance and registration. If they are out of reach (glove box, bag, back seat), say where they are before you reach.
- Ask basic questions about your trip.
If you get a ticket
- Do not argue at the roadside. You can contest the citation in court.
- Signing a traffic citation is not an admission of guilt. Refusing to accept a citation may lead to your arrest.
- If you feel the officer acted inappropriately, note the time, date, location and other details, and report it to the officer’s agency promptly.
Points and suspensions that can follow a ticket: Alabama hands-free law and point system. GDL drivers face extra consequences: see Alabama GDL rules for 16 and 17 year olds.
Documents required at an Alabama traffic stop
| Document | Tip |
|---|---|
| Driver license or learner license | Must be in your possession every time you drive |
| Proof of insurance | Keep the current card with the registration |
| Vehicle registration | Keep it in the same place every time so you are not searching |
Alabama mandatory liability insurance minimums
You may not drive, register or keep a vehicle registered in Alabama without liability insurance from an insurer licensed in the state, of at least:
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Death or bodily injury, one person | $25,000 |
| Death or bodily injury, two or more people | $50,000 |
| Property damage | $25,000 |
Penalties: a fine of up to $500 for a first violation, up to $1,000 for a second or later violation, and/or a 6-month driver license suspension. More: minimum car insurance for new drivers.
Alabama window tinting limits
| Window | Passenger cars (sedans, coupes, station wagons) | SUVs, trucks, vans, RVs |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Top 6 inches only, transparent material | Top 6 inches only, transparent material |
| Front side windows | At least 32% light transmission | At least 32% light transmission |
| Rear side and rear windows | At least 32% light transmission | Darker tint permitted (as allowed by the manufacturer under federal law). Outside mirrors on both sides required. |
ALEA’s tinting page adds a 3% tolerance on the 32% figure and says reflective material may not reflect more than 20% of light. Compliant tint must carry a compliance sticker fitted by a tinting dealer. A physician-certified medical waiver is available through ALEA’s Medical Records Unit. Separately, no sign, poster or other material may be placed on any window where it obstructs the view.
Related rule: moving over for stopped vehicles
When you pass a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights, or a wrecker with flashing amber lights, Alabama’s move-over law applies. On roads with 4 or more lanes, leave the lane closest to it. If you cannot, slow to at least 15 mph below the posted limit. On two-lane roads, move as far away as you can within your lane and slow to 15 mph below the limit when the limit is 25 mph or more. Where the limit is 20 mph or less, slow to 10 mph. See move over laws in the US and pulling over for emergency vehicles.
Common questions
Do I have to show my license to an Alabama police officer?
Yes. You must have your license or learner license with you while driving and present it when an officer asks.
Should I get out of the car?
No. Stay inside unless the officer tells you to get out.
What if my insurance card is in the glove box?
Tell the officer where it is before you reach for it.
What is the darkest legal tint in Alabama?
On passenger cars, side and rear windows must let through at least 32% of light (with a 3% tolerance). SUVs, trucks and vans may have darker tint behind the driver.
Is signing a ticket admitting guilt in Alabama?
No. ALEA says signing a citation is not an admission of guilt. You can contest it in court.
What if I am stopped on my learner license?
The same steps apply. Your supervising driver should also stay calm and keep their hands visible.
Back to the full guide: learning to drive in Alabama.
Sources
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Alabama Driver Manual” (November 2024), Chapters 1 and 6 (alea.gov)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, “Alabama Tinting Regulations” (alea.gov)