SB 96 Alabama Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Motor vehicles; salvage certificate of title requirements, revised

SB 96 changes Alabama's rules for salvage vehicle titles, allowing owners to apply for a salvage certificate if their vehicle was declared a total loss (damaged beyond 75% of its value) in *any state*, not just Alabama. This directly affects Alabama residents who have had vehicles totaled in other states and wish to legally retain or repair them. The bill updates existing law to remove the requirement that the total loss must have occurred within Alabama, while keeping other provisions like the 72-hour application window for owners. Technical language adjustments to the statute are included but do not alter the core policy change.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed Apr 10, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 4 edits · Apr 10, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized for signature (Enrolled) after minor formatting updates. Substantively, the law now explicitly defines a vehicle as 'salvage' if an insurance company pays for a total loss, even if the frame or engine is not immediately replaced. It also clarifies that theft resulting in a total loss counts as salvage and requires the insurance company to forward the title once the vehicle is recovered.

Scope change

The scope of the salvage definition was expanded to explicitly include situations where a vehicle is declared a total loss by an insurer, regardless of whether the frame or engine was immediately swapped out.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition stating that a vehicle is considered 'salvage' when an insurance company pays for a total loss, even if the frame or engine is not immediately replaced.

Clarified that a vehicle stolen and declared a total loss is considered salvage, requiring the insurance company to forward the title to the department once the vehicle is recovered.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the bill version number from Engrossed to Enrolled and updated the bill identifier.

Fixed grammatical inconsistencies and formatting errors in the text, such as removing redundant 'person individual' phrasing and correcting sentence structures.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 600

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (State Government)

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 251

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Carnley motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 250

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Banking and Insurance 1st Amendment Offered (Banking and Insurance)

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Introduced

Banking and Insurance 1st Amendment (Banking and Insurance)

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Banking and Insurance)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors