The Alabama Motor Vehicle Division says that no person shall operate, register or maintain registration of, and no owner shall permit another person to operate, register or maintain registration of, a motor vehicle designed to be used on a public highway unless the motor vehicle is covered by a liability insurance policy.

So unless you already have insurance coverage on other cars or traded a car for the car you bought from an individual that will extend to this car you bought there is not a grace period in which to purchase insurance for this car. If you already have an auto insurance policy in place on another vehicle or traded a vehicle for this car that you bought from a private party than your current insurance may extend to it for a certain period of time. The period of time differs from one insurance company to another so it could be 7 days, 14 days up to 30 days.

If you are not replacing a car on your car insurance policy but adding one to it than there may not be any coverage extended to your "new car." Insurance company policy terms for adding or replacing a car on your policy differ so before buying a car you should read through your policy and speak to your agent to see if you have any grace period with them to call and add the car to the policy or if you will need to inform them before you take possession so that you are properly covered to operate the vehicle (even just to drive it home or to the MVD to get it registered) on the roadways of AL.

You may already know that Alabama law does not require registrants to show proof of insurance prior to registering a vehicle. Registrants are required, however, to maintain liability insurance by a company licensed to conduct business in Alabama. Registrants affirm, by signing the registration receipt, that the vehicle being registered is insured.

In AL to obtain plates one must for any motor vehicle requiring a certificate of title, the vehicle owner must apply for an Alabama certificate of title. Title applications are completed through designated agents of the Alabama Department of Revenue. The title fee is $15 plus any other commissions due the designated agents.

If you know you are going to buy a car and want to know if your current auto insurance policy will cover the car for any length of time before you must formerly place the car on the policy speak to your agent about how and when to add the car for it to be properly covered.

If it is your first time buying a car and you do not have a policy in place than you should shop around for car insurance before purchasing the car so that you can then call up the agent with the pertinent information when you take possession of the vehicle so that insurance is on the car before you drive on the roadway with it.